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HPE Ethernet Switches vs Ubiquiti UniFi 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

HPE Ethernet Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
9th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.3
Number of Reviews
103
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Ubiquiti UniFi Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
3rd
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
56
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of HPE Ethernet Switches is 2.5%, up from 2.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Ubiquiti UniFi Switches is 6.8%, down from 7.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches
 

Featured Reviews

LuisSilva6 - PeerSpot reviewer
Provides ease of management and has an easy initial setup process
Primarily, we use the product for network and VLAN segmentation across our hospitality property. It forms the backbone of our network, providing connectivity to devices like TVs, phones, access points, and even electrical switches within guest rooms The product's most valuable feature is the ease…
John Balogh - PeerSpot reviewer
Centrally managed solution makes it easy to build one configuration and apply it to new devices
We have one or two UniFi switches, but they don't really compete with the Ciscos. It's a nice environment as far as keeping track of things and being able to manage ports, turn off rogue users, and stuff like that. The access points have been pretty convenient compared to Meraki, Lucent, Cisco, or any of the other bigger vendors that I used to deal with for other consulting projects. Ubiquiti is one step above the consumer level. They cost a little bit more, but they just seem to be drop-dead reliable, and they're keeping up with the latest standards. Their latest versions of access points are all Wi-Fi 6, and they don't take very much power when there aren't a lot of users. It's really easy to build one configuration and just apply it to new devices. It's a check mark box: Do I want this to be the staff VLAN, or the public VLAN, or the Voice over IP VLAN, or the security VLAN, or the house wiring VLAN, or the building logistics VLAN? You just check things off and then you make groups, so if you click on it, it applies all the appropriate things automatically. It makes it very easy. This solution is good for the prosumer, small office, medium office, under 500 people range, but probably over 50 people and maybe distributed around five or 10 sites. That's a pretty good sweet spot as far as the price for the equipment and the configurability, and it's just drop-dead reliable. It's been boring, which is what I love because I don't get any calls in the middle of the night that something isn't working.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"We found the installation process to be simple."
"These are the basic access layer switches used for connectivity among users, and they are cost-effective."
"HPE Ethernet Switches offer a good return on investment. They offer a lifetime warranty, which is good. Cisco SMB level only declares a one-year warranty, and for the enterprise level, you need to get a service pack, which costs extra."
"I like that HPE's management functions are GUI-based, so it doesn't rely on command lines."
"The speed is very fast."
"It is a stable product."
"HPE Ethernet Switches are easy to configure."
"It's straightforward to set up."
"I like the control one has with this solution."
"We have integrated the tool for PoE switches and non-PoE switches. Its most valuable feature is SD-WAN. UniFi SD-WAN can access all statistics and performance data in one interface, enabling us to support clients across different locations remotely. Additionally, we can even restart devices remotely through the UniFi SD-WAN."
"The switches' PoE capabilities have made device deployment very easy."
"For the world where you have to balance traffic and traffic loads and bandwidth, their GUI makes it really easy because the switches, though they are enterprise grade level two or level three switches, the GUI is designed so that it's easy to set up VLANs where you need to control your traffic so that your phones don't break up and get choppy because of other people loading the network down too heavily."
"The product’s most valuable features are stability and scalability."
"One of the most valuable features of Ubiquiti UniFi switches is their graphical interface and plug-and-play capability."
"Managing the switches, such as the main server router, is straightforward. If you use UniFi, it’s easy because everything is integrated into the product. You can discover and manage any connected device with just one piece of equipment, like the UniFi controller. This applies to both the wireless LAN and the wired LAN. UniFi products are simple to manage and help maintain a good network profile."
"The two most valuable features are the remote access user and the side-to-side connection."
 

Cons

"There could be features for ransomware attack detection and enhanced anomaly detection to identify and mitigate anonymous traffic."
"They should have more control tools for controlling the bandwidth."
"This solution needs to support software-defined networking."
"The pricing could be lowered."
"If there is any fluctuation in power then we will face an outage with our POE switches, so this is something that should be improved."
"The security of the solution always has room for improvement."
"They should continue to work on new features."
"The pricing is expensive."
"I would like to see improvements in their PBX-related features."
"Functionalities can change quite quickly without notice."
"The product needs to improve its pricing."
"If Ubiquiti UniFi Switches had some live support instead of community support, that would go a long way."
"It's expensive."
"In terms of improvement, sometimes we have bugs."
"UniFi lacks the granularity."
"The support is pretty much email-based and that's horrible for an enterprise product. I can't call anybody right away."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"They are affordable and less expensive than Cisco. Their price was the decider at the time."
"I like HPE switches because you get a perpetual license with the hardware. The initial cost is about the same as other switches, but it starts beating the competitors after three or four years because you don't have to pay for additional annual licensing costs."
"There are free software updates and there is a lifetime warranty for a few of the switch series."
"The price of the solution is expensive."
"The price is fair."
"We have to see only the security part when considering licenses because the licenses upgrade."
"The tool's pricing is very cheap."
"The box itself is cheap, but when we have to install new features, it becomes very expensive."
"It's challenging to compare Ubiquiti UniFi Switches and other brands directly due to the significant price difference, especially between US brands like Cisco and Aruba versus others. However, compared to US brands, Ubiquiti UniFi Switches are more cost-effective. On the other hand, if compared with brands from China, it might seem expensive."
"Ubiquiti UniFi Switches are more expensive than other competitors."
"I rate the tool's pricing a five out of ten."
"UniFi Switches are cost-effective compared to Cisco."
"Everything was bought in a one-time buy as a capital investment, so there isn't any licensing."
"The price of the solution is fair compared to others. However, it is expensive."
"The price of Ubiquiti UniFi Switches is really good. We have deployed a few Ubiquiti UniFi Switches in New Zealand, and they are a value for money. They are cheaper and stable, but if you have the budget, I would recommend Meraki switches."
"There are no licensing fees; you just purchase it and run it."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
15%
Educational Organization
9%
Government
8%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Computer Software Company
12%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Comms Service Provider
7%
University
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about HPE Ethernet Switches?
The solution is very stable and easy to use.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for HPE Ethernet Switches?
When compared to Cisco, Aruba is about 40% cheaper. However, Huawei would be even cheaper than Aruba. We can't compare HPE Ethernet Switches with Huawei directly because of different price ranges.
What needs improvement with HPE Ethernet Switches?
HPE Ethernet Switches have room for improvement in the initial setup and integration process, especially when incorporating them into an existing infrastructure with competitor products. It's a cha...
Which switches are better - Ubiquiti Unifi or Netgear?
Ubiquiti Unifi offers a great set of features. For starters, it is easy to configure and implement, and also doesn’t require a learning curve because it is easy to use. It is also simple to reconfi...
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 Ubiquiti UniFi Switches?
We have integrated the tool for PoE switches and non-PoE switches. Its most valuable feature is SD-WAN. UniFi SD-WAN can access all statistics and performance data in one interface, enabling us to...
 

Also Known As

HP Ethernet Switches
UniFi Switches
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Emirates Palace Hotel
Staypineapple
Find out what your peers are saying about HPE Ethernet Switches vs. Ubiquiti UniFi Switches and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.
851,604 professionals have used our research since 2012.