NETGEAR Switches and MikroTik Routers and Switches compete in the networking hardware category. NETGEAR seems to have the upper hand in terms of pricing and customer support, whereas MikroTik is preferred for its versatile features and good value for money.
Features: NETGEAR Switches are notable for low power consumption, easy setup, and robust remote management, featuring capabilities like QoS and PoE+. They cover diverse port needs from 5 to 24 ports. MikroTik offers extensive routing features, requiring no additional licensing, with strengths in load balancing and traffic management, making them ideal for complex configurations.
Room for Improvement: NETGEAR Switches would benefit from enhanced traffic management and better VLAN management, as well as improvements in hardware reliability. Firmware updates can also be problematic. MikroTik could improve in user interface design, support, and documentation, while also enhancing security features and ease of setup.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Both brands support easy on-premises deployment. NETGEAR is generally praised for its straightforward setup, although post-sale support can be inconsistent. MikroTik deployment is reportedly manageable, but their customer service can be challenging, particularly for complex issues.
Pricing and ROI: NETGEAR offers competitive pricing and a straightforward licensing model, suitable for cost-effective solutions, with value-added warranties. MikroTik provides cost-effective solutions with no recurring costs and a lifetime license, offering notable initial savings, making it a favorite for budget-conscious clients.
Their support team knows their product very well.
I sometimes need technical support from my ISP company, or else I gather information from YouTube.
There are issues distinguishing which switches support cloud features.
I would rate their scalability ten out of ten.
It's easy to scale MikroTik Routers and Switches; you can add more and have a cluster.
The scalability of NETGEAR Switches is easy and very beneficial for us.
We used to use a lot of the 4300 switches and they're not completely compatible with the new AV line.
NETGEAR's scalability through its Insight Cloud system is on par with Ubiquiti's, although it must offer features beyond its competitors.
MikroTik Routers and Switches have very high stability.
MikroTik Routers and Switches are very stable.
We've experienced failures such as a 16-port dying after three to four years.
I rarely see glitches, but we had some minor glitches over the past years, and they were easily resolved.
The most important thing is maintaining and enhancing their strong security features.
It would be better for me if I could establish filter rules within MikroTik.
Real-time analytics would be helpful regarding the analytics aspect, and this feature is not yet present and would be an improvement regarding analytics.
They should introduce features like dual firmware or dual boot that allow systems to be updated without downtime.
They can improve on the commercial part, specifically the cost, as it is higher than other brands.
MikroTik Routers and Switches are expensive, but they are the best products in terms of quality.
Some high-end switches required for specific advanced features, like precision time protocols, can be more expensive.
It is an expensive product.
MikroTik Routers and Switches are some of the best routers around, security-wise, followed by Cisco.
They simplify the process of creating access lists, allowing me to understand my network's activities effectively.
The precision time protocol feature caught our interest for future use in specific settings like churches, where low latency is required.
The most valuable features are routing and access control.
The best things about NETGEAR Switches are the support they provide and the ease of implementation.
| Product | Market Share (%) |
|---|---|
| NETGEAR Switches | 7.7% |
| MikroTik Routers and Switches | 6.3% |
| Other | 86.0% |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 43 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 16 |
| Large Enterprise | 9 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 43 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 4 |
| Large Enterprise | 11 |
MikroTik Routers and Switches provide all the features necessary for network administrators to secure and monitor their networks and are suitable for companies of any size. The solution is ideal for creating Wi-Fi hotspots, connecting multiple servers, setting up firewalls and VPNs, and distributing bandwidth. MikroTik's user-friendly dashboard helps you interact easily with your hardware. With MikroTik's user interface, you can obtain real statistics by user or IP address and monitor bandwidth consumption.
Benefits and Key Features of MikroTik Routers and Switches
Reviews from Real Users
MikroTik stands out among competitors for a number of reasons. Two major ones are its reasonably priced products and its user-friendly user interface, which makes it easy to work and communicate with its hardware.
Parameshwar P., a director at Navyug Networks, writes, "I like MikroTik's GUI. It's completely handy and easy to handle because of its GUI. Despite other brands like Cisco urging me to switch, I didn't because they don't have a GUI. This is the most comfortable thing in my project that anyone can use easily. It’s effortless to maintain MikroTik routers because both screens make it very easy in GUI mode. You can easily interact with your hardware.”
Rodney T., the chief solutions architect at Tech2go Strategic IT Solutions, says, "They are very good at providing the bandwidth for multi-tenants and multi-dwelling units. We're managing Wi-Fi hotspots for hundreds of locations, and the speed and performance are quite there. They also have very cheap 10G products that come with really good and flexible software. They are way cheaper than the top brands, and they're able to deliver the same performance and capabilities."
A principal consultant at a tech services company notes, "The most valuable aspect of this solution is the combination of value for money. They're extremely cost effective, yet they provide you with an extensive feature set of things you can do across the board. Also, they're pretty reliable, as far as equipment goes."
NETGEAR Ethernet Switches is an Ethernet solution that offers businesses of all sizes the ability to easily set up secure and highly scalable networks. Small to medium-sized companies have the option to choose from three different switching options. The three options that are most appropriate for businesses of this size are the NETGEAR Unmanaged, Plus, and Smart Switch solutions. If you're managing a large enterprise network or a campus network, then NETGEAR Fully Managed Infrastructures is the solution for you. All the NETGEAR Ethernet Switches and solutions are innovative, easy to install and use, reliable, and very cost-effective.
NETGEAR Ethernet Switches have many features that make them a most effective product. Included in these is the ability to virtually stack IP addresses in such a way that users can scale their network up with ease. These IP addresses are grouped together. Once additional data ports are connected, you have only a single switch to manage and you gain both a much higher level availability of data and a greater level of network resilience.
Benefits of NETGEAR Ethernet Switches
Some of the benefits of using NETGEAR Ethernet Switches include:
Reviews from Real Users
There are a number of characteristics that make NETGEAR Ethernet Switches extremely effective. Two major ones are its inherent flexibility and its user-friendly nature.
PeerSpot user Kevin W., a network delivery architect at a tech-services company, notes that NETGEAR Ethernet Switches gives users the ability to tailor the switches to fit their needs. He writes, "The big winner for NETGEAR is their modular switch: the 96X version. That is something that you don't see in the market anywhere else, except for Cisco who has it at a high level for a high expense. The ability to customize your own switch with their modules is a big plus for what we do in the market right now. Instead of having to piece together standardized switches, trying to make something work, or fitting the design into the mold, the modular switches are aware that you can make a mark in the industry because you purchased one switch and design with different modules added and removed later on for functionality."
PeerSpot user Chris W., a system engineer at Diversified, notes just how easy they are to use when he writes, "The ease of use of these switches is very good because of the Cisco CLI. If you are familiar with CLI, then you can configure the switch that way. It also has a relatively straightforward web interface. Using the web interface is good for beginners or people who aren't familiar with Cisco CLI. However, having a common command line interface method is great for some of our more advanced guys who are familiar with it."
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