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Fortinet FortiWLM vs Ubiquiti Wireless comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

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
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.3
Number of Reviews
27
Ranking in other categories
Wireless LAN (14th)
Ubiquiti Wireless
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
7.0
Number of Reviews
76
Ranking in other categories
Wireless WAN (1st)
 

Mindshare comparison

While both are Enterprise Networking solutions, they serve different purposes. Fortinet FortiWLM is designed for Wireless LAN and holds a mindshare of 1.9%, down 2.1% compared to last year.
Ubiquiti Wireless, on the other hand, focuses on Wireless WAN, holds 39.6% mindshare, up 39.7% since last year.
Wireless LAN
Wireless WAN
 

Featured Reviews

Mohammad Talha Talkin Alam - PeerSpot reviewer
Reliable network creation and management with an efficient setup process
My primary use case involves creating SSIDs and defining VLANs within the VLAN using Fortinet FortiWLM. I have been working with Wi-Fi access points for network connectivity I primarily use Fortinet FortiWLM for creating SSIDs and defining VLANs. While there isn't much focus on security, layer…
Alejandro Del Rosal - PeerSpot reviewer
Software controller is very nice and provides excellent performance
Ubiquiti products are really good. I am a B2B wholesaler, and my type of business requires profit to sell to my installers or for my installers to sell to the end customers. Right now, Ubiquiti doesn't offer that. They are selling the product on their website. We face difficulties with Ubiquiti's supply chain because their products are usually out of stock. I would recommend Ubiquiti Wireless as a brand. However, we are no longer recommending it in my business. I am a wholesaler who recommends installing wireless or network solutions for other companies. I no longer recommend Ubiquiti Wireless because it is not profitable. Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"Having the single pane of glass, by using the Fortinet Security Fabric, allows us to tighten security, and more easily and quickly create additional VLANs to help protect data. Rules in the firewall mean we can protect data and systems so that, should anything go wrong, any security issue is held to an individual device."
"The most valuable features of this solution are its speed, reliability, and integration with the firewall."
"The most valuable features are central management and the many other features available."
"Seamless roaming by leveraging Virtual Cell is a major advantage which reduces roam times and issues related to roaming. Code stability has been excellent and the hardware quality is second to none."
"The solution is controlled from one device and one GUI for all devices."
"The firewall integration is very important for the security of the connection."
"The most valuable features are the roaming profile, the mesh, and the performance."
"The Fortinet FortiWLM system can be controlled through the cloud controller, which is convenient when the solution is not installed in our environment, as it allows us to manage the entire WiFi or access points and provides more adaptability."
"It is a highly scalable platform."
"Easy to set up and maintain and simple to configure."
"The UniFi Controller Software provides excellent statistical and monitoring facilities."
"Ubiquiti Wireless is easy to use, it's stable and flexible, and the performance is great. It is scalable as well."
"The indoor WiFi connection works well."
"The most valuable feature is the ease of setup."
"We have found the product to be scalable."
"Ubiquiti is about money. If you don't have the budget for IT, you go with Ubiquiti."
 

Cons

"The pricing model can be improved to encourage use by small business and individuals and the hardware could stand to be redesigned."
"In terms of improvements, the price is higher than I would like. A reduction in pricing would be beneficial."
"There are currently issues with Fortinet's software quality."
"Improving support and firmware upgrades is necessary."
"In the next release, they could improve by adding a controller-less server, or architecture that is provided in other solutions, such as Aruba. This would be a great benefit for customers."
"Licensing is the only area that I think they are below average. They need enterprise licensing, an all-encompassing license to cover all products for a company."
"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."
"Areas for improvement would be the compatibility with Apple products and cross-platform integration."
"Maybe our Ruckus access points are easier to deploy. When I want to deploy a Ubiquiti access point with the centralized appliance, we can't do all the configuration in our lab and send it to the shop. Ruckus seems easier to deploy for the moment."
"Central monitoring is the main functionality that should be included in the product."
"Some of our customers have reported problems with their outdoor WiFi connections."
"We have an issue with Ubiquiti Wireless every three to five months for one of the access points."
"Could be more secure and the controller more user-friendly."
"The solution needs to improve its features and offer more to the customer."
"I would prefer if the solution offered more integration capabilities."
"It's hard to get stuff delivered on time."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Fortinet would do something with their pricing model to attract smaller business users and eliminate the mandatory service contracts."
"The price of Fortinet FortiWLM is reasonable compared to the other vendors. We are using a five-year license."
"There is a perpetual license required for this solution and the price could be reduced."
"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."
"The solution is fairly priced."
"Support contracts typically cost approximately $100.00 per year."
"In the last few years, due in part to the impact of COVID on the market, Fortinet has increased its prices by 35 percent."
"Fortinet FortiWLM's pricing is regular and competitive."
"The solution has a reasonable price but a very low profit margin."
"We mostly use Ubiquiti solutions due to their affordable price."
"It's a cost-effective solution."
"Its price is more attractive when compared to competitor pricing."
"The product is neither expensive nor cheap. It is an averagely priced product."
"I rate the price of Ubiquiti Wireless a three out of five."
"From a pricing point of view, Ubiquiti is excellent."
"The most valuable aspect of Ubiquiti is the price. Compared to competing solutions like Cisco Aironet, HP Aruba, ExtremeWireless, or Ruckus, Ubiquiti is the cheapest by far. It's not even close. That's their biggest selling point."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
14%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Comms Service Provider
7%
Computer Software Company
11%
Comms Service Provider
8%
Real Estate/Law Firm
6%
Government
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 FortiWLM?
While the pricing of Fortinet FortiWLM is a bit high, it remains effective. However, the cost could be better if reduced.
What needs improvement with Fortinet FortiWLM?
In terms of improvements, the price is higher than I would like. A reduction in pricing would be beneficial.
Is Ubiquiti Wireless better than Ruckus Wireless WAN?
Ubiquiti Wireless is extremely easy to set up and is an excellent option for small businesses, offering enterprise features for a one-time fee and no ongoing licensing fees. Ubiquiti Wireless is ve...
Which is better - Cambium or Ubiquiti Wireless?
For me, Ubiquiti was easy to install, configure, set up, and maintain, while also providing solid coverage and better handoffs between APs. This is especially relevant if you are using Apple produc...
Which is better - Ubiquiti Wireless or Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN?
Ubiquiti Wireless offers a wide range of WLAN products. We tested their devices before ultimately choosing Cisco Meraki. Ubiquiti devices have good outdoor performance and the connection is very st...
 

Also Known As

FortiWLM, FortiAP, Fortinet AP/OAP, Meru Wireless LAN
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Black Gold Regional Schools, Amadeus Hospitality, Jefferson County, Chunghwa Telecom, City of Boroondara, Dimension Data
NASCAR Grand-AM, Maritime Parc, Outdoor Music Festival, British Armed Forces, Arcadia School District, Moscow - Enforta
Find out what your peers are saying about Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Ruckus, Cisco and others in Wireless LAN. Updated: June 2025.
860,632 professionals have used our research since 2012.