Fortinet FortiWLM vs SonicWall SonicWave Access Points comparison

Fortinet and SonicWall are both solutions in the Wireless LAN category. Fortinet is ranked #12 with an average rating of 8.6, while SonicWall is ranked #25. Fortinet holds a 2.9% mindshare in Wireless LAN, compared to SonicWall’s 1.0% mindshare. Additionally, 96% of Fortinet users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of SonicWall users who would recommend it.

Fortinet FortiWLM

Read 30 Fortinet FortiWLM reviews

2,499 Views
2,274 Comparison Views

96% willing to recommend

SonicWall SonicWave Access ...

Read 4 SonicWall SonicWave Access Points reviews

697 Views
697 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Fortinet FortiWLM

SonicWall SonicWave Access ...

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 31, 2024

Fortinet FortiWLM and SonicWall SonicWave Access Points are competing in the network security space, focusing on secure wireless network management and access. Fortinet FortiWLM offers competitive pricing and excellent support, while SonicWall SonicWave provides superior features, making them worth the investment.

Features: Fortinet FortiWLM includes centralized Wi-Fi management, customizable reporting, and support for network analytics, providing comprehensive insights. SonicWall SonicWave Access Points offer advanced security protocols, seamless integration with SonicWall security services, and high-speed throughput ideal for demanding environments.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: SonicWall SonicWave enables straightforward deployment with cloud-based tools and efficient service for quick resolutions. Fortinet FortiWLM, while more complex with extensive configuration options, has a responsive support team to address setup challenges.

Pricing and ROI: Fortinet FortiWLM features an attractive price point with long-term efficiency and strong ROI due to lower maintenance costs. SonicWall SonicWave, despite higher initial costs, offers significant ROI through performance and security features that justify the investment.

To learn more, read our detailed Fortinet FortiWLM vs. SonicWall SonicWave Access Points Report (Updated: March 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Fortinet FortiWLM vs. SonicWall SonicWave Access Points

March 2026

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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 FortiWLM

Ranking in Wireless LAN

12th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

SonicWall SonicWave Access ...

Ranking in Wireless LAN

25th

Average Rating

10.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2026, in the Wireless LAN category, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiWLM is 2.9%, up from 2.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SonicWall SonicWave Access Points is 1.0%, up from 0.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Wireless LAN Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Fortinet FortiWLM	2.9%
SonicWall SonicWave Access Points	1.0%
Other	96.1%

Wireless LAN

Featured Reviews

LuayHlaleh

Information Technology Team Lead at IT Solutions AE

Offers robust network management with cost considerations for large deployments

Large enterprises typically invest in FortiAnalyzer, though our company and SMB clients don't require this analysis tool. We use Ekahau for floor planning and Wi-Fi coverage analysis rather than Fortinet FortiWLM's built-in features. Ekahau helps us perform site surveys and plan access point placement. Fortinet FortiWLM is a flexible and common solution in Dubai. It's one of the best-selling products, with Etisalat, the largest ISP, installing Fortinet FortiGate for approximately 70-80% of their clients. The solution offers different series to accommodate various needs. The triple radio model costs around $1,000 (3,500 dirham) and supports 40-50 connected devices. The 231F model suits smaller deployments of 20-25 devices. I rate Fortinet FortiWLM a seven out of ten. While it's an excellent solution, Cisco remains the market leader.

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Winsley De Oliveira

Owner at ANOC

An industry-leading security and wireless solution packaged in one box

We make our customers SonicWall clients. We have a solution package: If you have a contract to network with us, we will deliver SonicWall firewalls, access points, VPN clients, and all the other equipment with the SonicWall solution. We have been selling this solution for the past 30 years. We had a customer three months ago struggling with a Fortinet solution. We convinced them that the Fortinet solution would not work perfectly during renewal. We made a bet and delivered SonicWall equipment for free for one week, and if they had no more issues, they would buy it. That's precisely what happened. The customer ended up purchasing an $80,000 SonicWall solution. The SonicWall SonicWave Access Points are a good product compared to Cisco, Sophos, and Fortinet. In Brazil, Ruckus is taking market share in some key areas, such as hotels and hospitals. They are into big solutions with thousands of access points. Overall, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"I was extremely surprised by the single-pane-of-glass management; you don't really realize, until you're actually working with it, how powerful it is and how much time it saves you, and how much, in the long run, by going with the Security Fabric, you get increased security cost savings, and a better view of what's going on."

"We're using SD-WAN at all of our locations now, which helps increase and aggregate and lower response time and improve application performance."

"We innovate the business process, we innovate how employees work in their companies, and in the case of stores we are bringing new results and new income, helping them grow their sales with customers who like to go to their stores because they can access the information they need, connect to the wireless LAN, compare prices, and engage with the retail store."

"I have not faced any issues with stability or downtime."

"Security is the feature we like most from Fortinet. In general, their security architecture is really great, because it involves everything: firewalls, wireless LANs, the user. Everything is really secure."

"I found that It's really good when comparing it to any other product or it is much better in terms of features that the customer requires."

"The Access Points work with two radios (2.4GHz and 5GHz) and it was the best feature because some scanners are new with AC wireless support."

"The most useful aspect of Fortinet FortiWLM is that you can manage all the Fortinet products from one portal, from one device."

More Fortinet FortiWLM pros

"The security features of SonicWall are highly valued."

"A good management tool that can be managed through the cloud or firewall."

"The platform's most valuable feature is the ability to provide cloud access to configure and manage devices."

"Unlike the Cisco solution that needs a dedicated wireless controller outside of a firewall, SonicWall has everything in one box. Fortinet is close to it."

"I rate SonicWall a nine out of ten."

Cons

"Improving support and firmware upgrades is necessary. Firmware upgrades and bug improvements need to be tested well."

"There is very little publicly available information about Virtual Cell and Single Channel Architecture."

"There are currently issues with Fortinet's software quality."

"The platform's pricing needs improvement."

"There is one thing that I find extremely strange, and this something that is unique to Fortinet, and it isn't a positive at all."

"The guest management features need to be improved by adding automation."

"The price could be reduced by 20%. In Dubai, UniFi costs 700 dirham for the UniFi Pro 7th generation. For Fortinet FortiWLM, a similar model would cost around 1,300 dirham."

"There is very little publicly available information about Virtual Cell and Single Channel Architecture. Promotion of the overall technology is limited as well. Being more vocal about a product that has many advantages would go a long way to eliminating a lot of the confusion and negative perception about Virtual Cell and Single Channel Architecture."

More Fortinet FortiWLM cons

"The main issue is the management of the access points. They are sometimes difficult to manage from the end-user side because they are not yet familiar with the configuration."

"They are sometimes difficult to manage from the end-user side because they are not yet familiar with the configuration."

"Integrating with the firewall and management console was a little complex."

"We have a lot of overlapping wireless networks with a lot of cheap equipment that does not run on any rules or regulations. The best way to improve the wireless network, like in SonicWaves, is to defeat these networks by isolating, preventing them, or overcoming their wireless signal. We try to do that, but I live near an airport, and the AirPortRadar glitches my wireless network every nine seconds."

"The product's pricing is high and could be improved."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The product is highly expensive. I rate the pricing a ten."

"The solution is expensive. I give the solution a one out of ten for the price."

"If a customer already is a FortiGate customer, the cost to go to the FortiAP is incredibly affordable, because you already have the controller."

"Support contracts typically cost approximately $100.00 per year."

"Fortinet FortiWLM's pricing is regular and competitive."

"Licensing costs are reasonable. There are so many different types of licenses with Fortinet, but the licensing and the 24/7/365 support are so reasonable that I automatically include it with every transaction. I never line item it without it. There are no additional costs."

"Fortinet would do something with their pricing model to attract smaller business users and eliminate the mandatory service contracts."

"There is a perpetual license required for this solution and the price could be reduced."

More Fortinet FortiWLM pricing and cost advice

"The pricing of the SonicWave Access Points solution is different in the US and Brazil. In the US, the solution is priced more competitively than other vendors. In Brazil, the exchange rate is a problem. To address this, SonicWall managers in Brazil are running several sales promotions and improving the price of new units."

"The platform offers yearly licenses."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

Healthcare Company

Educational Organization

Computer Software Company

12%

Manufacturing Company

10%

University

Financial Services Firm

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	18
Midsize Enterprise	5
Large Enterprise	5

No data available

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Fortinet FortiWLM?

I do not have knowledge about the pricing or the cost of Fortinet FortiWLM because the license is for the package of the firewall, FortiGate.

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What needs improvement with Fortinet FortiWLM?

Overall, I find it useful, though I have concerns because after every update, some functionality is deleted or closed. For the moment, I don't have anything else in Fortinet FortiWLM that I would l...

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What is your primary use case for Fortinet FortiWLM?

I use this solution for the enterprise to segment the department.

See all answers

What needs improvement with SonicWall SonicWave Access Points?

The main issue is the management of the access points. They are sometimes difficult to manage from the end-user side because they are not yet familiar with the configuration.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for SonicWall SonicWave Access Points?

I am using the SonicWall SonicWave Access Point for our Proof of Concept (POC) to our customers.

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering SonicWall SonicWave Access Points?

I rate SonicWall a nine out of ten. It should provide training to end users to enhance their knowledge.

See all answers

Comparisons

Aruba Wireless vs Fortinet FortiWLM

Compared 16% of the time

Cisco Wireless vs Fortinet FortiWLM

Compared 9% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Fortinet FortiWLM

Compared 8% of the time

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Fortinet FortiWLM

Compared 6% of the time

Aruba Networks Wireless WAN vs Fortinet FortiWLM

Compared 5% of the time

More Fortinet FortiWLM Competitors

Ruckus Wireless vs SonicWall SonicWave Access Points

Compared 16% of the time

Ubiquiti WLAN vs SonicWall SonicWave Access Points

Compared 12% of the time

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs SonicWall SonicWave Access Points

Compared 9% of the time

Aruba Wireless vs SonicWall SonicWave Access Points

Compared 9% of the time

Dell Technologies Ruckus vs SonicWall SonicWave Access Points

Compared 4% of the time

More SonicWall SonicWave Access Points Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Fortinet FortiWLM

March 2026

Download Fortinet FortiWLM product report

Buyer's Guide

Wireless LAN

February 2026

SonicWall SonicWave Access Points report

Download SonicWall SonicWave Access Points product report

Also Known As

FortiWLM, FortiAP, Fortinet AP/OAP, Meru Wireless LAN

SonicWave 200 Series, SonicWave 200 Series Access Points, SonicWave 400 Series, SonicWave 400 Series Access Points

Overview

Consolidate security and wireless LAN management with our integrated wireless solutions. Single-pane-of-glass management for security and access without the need to add point products simplifies deployment and reduces management complexity. These solutions are highly scalable to support even the largest organizations and distributed enterprises.

Fortinet

SonicWall SonicWave series wireless access points (APs) combine high-performance IEEE 802.11ac Wave 2 wireless technology with flexible deployment options. These APs can be managed via the cloud using SonicWall WiFi Cloud Manager (WCM) or through SonicWall's industry-leading next-generation firewalls.

SonicWall

Sample Customers

Black Gold Regional Schools, Amadeus Hospitality, Jefferson County, Chunghwa Telecom, City of Boroondara, Dimension Data

St. Dominic's School for Girls

Buyer's Guide

Fortinet FortiWLM vs. SonicWall SonicWave Access Points

March 2026

Free Report: Fortinet FortiWLM vs. SonicWall SonicWave Access Points

Find out what your peers are saying about Fortinet FortiWLM vs. SonicWall SonicWave Access Points and other solutions. Updated: March 2026.

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