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Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center vs MikroTik Routers and Switches comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 3, 2024

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data...
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
15th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
25
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
MikroTik Routers and Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
6th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
68
Ranking in other categories
Routers (1st)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center is 1.9%, up from 1.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of MikroTik Routers and Switches is 7.1%, up from 4.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches
 

Featured Reviews

Vishwajeet Pandey - PeerSpot reviewer
Management and monitoring efficiencies from a single platform increase network control and flexibility
I use Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center as it is a more flexible switch compared to normal switches. It allows me to manage and monitor all switches through a single pane of management Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center offers flexibility and control over the entire network from a single pane of…
AnikIslam - PeerSpot reviewer
Cost-effective protocol support and a straightforward setup with room for login enhancements
In the network operations center, I manage our client's bandwidth. We connect with our clients through BGP and OSPF based on client demands. We also manage routing protocols, policies, internal firewalls, and other details like QE bandwidth, client manage bandwidth management, PoE, PPPoE, and DNS…

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"I have found the solution to be scalable."
"The interface is very straightforward."
"It allows us to manage all necessary services, such as data centers, networking, and cybersecurity."
"FortiSwitch Data Center allows for centralized management of both Fortinet switches and firewalls from a single interface."
"All the features are necessary, like tracking evidence and IPS. However, I appreciate the ability to connect the logs and the dashboard functionality."
"SD-WAN and the security fabric are essential features of the product."
"I like the solution's technical support. I rate the technical support a ten out of ten."
"The initial setup was simple."
"I use the tool to block external attempts."
"The product is simple to use."
"The solution offers very good multi-routing."
"The flexible IP firewall and IP network address translation make it very easy to give access to internal services."
"I have seen a return on investment since we didn't have to pay a licensing fee."
"Load balancing is one of the valuable features of the solution...In short, MikroTik provides a very user-friendly GUI option."
"The price is a big factor. They are very affordable, and the quality is high."
"The most valuable feature is controlling the bandwidth."
 

Cons

"Compatibility with infrastructure from other vendors like Cisco and Sophos can be further improved."
"When there are many switches being used, the speed declines noticeably."
"The stability of the solution is impacted when integrating parts from different vendors such as Cisco, which can lead to performance problems and disconnections."
"With IT products, there is always room for improvement."
"The solution can improve by upgrading QSFP+, it is very limited and must be supported more than it is now. If we need FortiSwitches to support all the QSFP ports our budgets would have to be very large."
"Before using FortiSwitch, you need several certifications."
"They could improve availability and security by detecting and preventing switch attacks."
"The commercial aspect presents challenges, particularly with pricing, as customers often ask for Juniper or Cisco, brands they are more aware of, which makes awareness about Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center another weak point."
"I would like to have some additional filtering options added in the future."
"Improvements could be made in terms of SD-WAN capabilities and zero-touch provisioning."
"There are limitations to how many users you have simultaneously."
"We'd like for them to improve the UI and improve on speed."
"The user interface allows you to do a lot of things, but it is not user-friendly."
"When we have a problem and reach out to MikroTik support, it's not very fast. Usually, you have to speak in English, so my technicians need to have strong English skills to communicate."
"The solution's website isn't that good. When I go to it, I can't find what I'm looking for. However, if I go to a third party's website, I can easily find the information."
"f they can improve the OpenVPN, to make that a bit more straightforward, that would be ideal."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The product is less expensive than one of its competitors."
"We pay a yearly licensing fee for the solution, which is expensive."
"Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center is expensive."
"The product has a mid-range price."
"This solution is expensive but it does not require a license."
"Cost-wise, Fortinet solutions are cheaper than those offered by Cisco."
"It is reasonably priced."
"The solution is not expensive."
"There are not any external or hidden costs."
"It's reasonably priced. It's not the most cheap solution, but also, it's not the most expensive one."
"Here in Bangladesh, MikroTik Routers and Switches cost 90,000 Taka, or converting that figure to dollars is $1,000."
"MikroTik's equipment is very cheap compared to Cisco and Huawei."
"When I compare the price of this solution to competitors it is priced a little high. There is not a license required for this solution."
"In our last project, we used two hundred units and the price was approximately 500 Shekels ($140 USD)."
"The tool's pricing is competitive."
"There is a lifetime subscription already embedded when you buy the product."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
17%
Government
10%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Financial Services Firm
7%
Comms Service Provider
16%
Computer Software Company
14%
Hospitality Company
7%
Manufacturing Company
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center?
The Fortinet switches come with no additional cost as they are open source, with only hardware warranties applicable.
What needs improvement with Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center?
There is room for improvement in customer support and device speed. Sometimes, customer support does not provide prompt assistance, leaving projects hanging. Additionally, improving the speed of th...
How do Cisco Enterprise routers compare with Mikrotik routers and switches?
Cisco Enterprise Routers are very stable and easy to use. They offer a very solid performance and are very secure. They also have a very good, long lifespan. We feel the command configuration is ve...
Which are better - Ubiquiti UniFi switches or MikroTik routers and switches?
Ubiquiti Unifi is a great solution. For starters, it is easy to configure and implement, and doesn’t require a learning curve because it is easy to use. It is also simple to reconfigure an AP or ga...
What do you like most about MikroTik Routers and Switches?
The price is a big factor. They are very affordable, and the quality is high.
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Black Gold Regional Schools, Amadeus Hospitality, Jefferson County, Chunghwa Telecom, City of Boroondara, Dimension Data
ABB, Boingo Wireless, JPL, HP, Allied Telesis, iPass, Mips Technologies, MicroAge, Matsushita, Telia, undp, WFP, NASA
Find out what your peers are saying about Fortinet FortiSwitch - Data Center vs. MikroTik Routers and Switches and other solutions. Updated: July 2025.
865,295 professionals have used our research since 2012.