TrustRadius: an HG Insights company

HPE Aruba Networks Wireless WAN vs. Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers

Save this comparison

Save this comparison

Add Product

Recommended Comparisons

    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    HPE Aruba Networks Wireless WAN

    Score8.6 out of 10
    N/AAruba Networks offers wireless WAN.N/A

    Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers

    Score9.1 out of 10
    N/ACisco offers wireless LAN.N/A
    Pricing
    HPE Aruba Networks Wireless WANCisco Wireless LAN Controllers
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    HPE Aruba Networks Wireless WANCisco Wireless LAN Controllers
    Free Trial
    NoNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional Details
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    HPE Aruba Networks Wireless WANCisco Wireless LAN Controllers
    Considered Both Products
    Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
    Chose HPE Aruba Networks Wireless WAN
    Aruba Networks Wireless WAN stacks really well against its other competitors for its features, ease of implementation, and administration. The pricing is very competitive with great vendor support and excellent documentation. The centralized management feature is really good as …
    Incentivized
    Cisco
    Chose Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers
    Cost and ROI over Meraki was better with the Cisco gear even though Cisco owns Meraki.
    HPE Aruba AP's were also considered but due to being a Cisco switch site ROI was also in Cisco's favor.
    Incentivized
    Chose Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers
    Not sure why "Ruckus WLAN controllers" is not listed above but that is another major WLAN controller solution I've used in the past. Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers provide the most flexibility when it comes to designing a large WLAN deployment. They also have some of the best …
    Incentivized
    Chose Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers
    Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers are easy to manage, and easy operate. Also Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers devices can manage lots of Access Points at the same time. And they have lots of wireless features especially Cisco specific ones (application visibility control). Last but …
    Incentivized
    Chose Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers
    Cisco provides better security and ease of use with multiple solutions compared to other vendors. Cisco also has additional features which can support small businesses. It also offers cloud-based solutions at a cheaper rate compared to other solutions available. Another …
    Incentivized
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    100%
    Would buy again
    8 Answers
    96%
    Would buy again
    64 Answers
    Delivers good value for the price
    100%
    Delivers good value for the price
    8 Answers
    98%
    Delivers good value for the price
    56 Answers
    Happy with the feature set
    100%
    Happy with the feature set
    8 Answers
    97%
    Happy with the feature set
    65 Answers
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    100%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    7 Answers
    98%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    57 Answers
    Implementation went as expected
    71%
    Implementation went as expected
    5 Answers
    94%
    Implementation went as expected
    58 Answers
    Best Alternatives
    HPE Aruba Networks Wireless WANCisco Wireless LAN Controllers
    Small Businesses
    No answers on this topic
    WatchGuard Secure Wi-Fi Cloud
    Score9.1 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    Cisco Meraki MG
    Score9 out of 10
    Cisco Aironet 1800 Series Access Points (discontinued)
    Score8.5 out of 10
    Enterprises
    No answers on this topic
    Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points
    Score9.2 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    HPE Aruba Networks Wireless WANCisco Wireless LAN Controllers
    Likelihood to Recommend
    9.0
    (8 ratings)
    9.2
    (89 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    -
    (0 ratings)
    8.3
    (3 ratings)
    Usability
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    8.9
    (26 ratings)
    Availability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    8.2
    (1 ratings)
    Performance
    -
    (0 ratings)
    8.2
    (1 ratings)
    Support Rating
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    10.0
    (5 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (2 ratings)
    Configurability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    7.3
    (1 ratings)
    Ease of integration
    -
    (0 ratings)
    8.2
    (1 ratings)
    Product Scalability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    7.3
    (1 ratings)
    Vendor post-sale
    -
    (0 ratings)
    8.2
    (1 ratings)
    Vendor pre-sale
    -
    (0 ratings)
    8.2
    (1 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    HPE Aruba Networks Wireless WANCisco Wireless LAN Controllers
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
    Aruba Networks Wireless WAN is an excellent solution for small to medium-sized implementation, especially on-premise. The ability to centrally manage all policy-based access requirements for both registered users as well as guests using the portal is effortless. This is backed up by good documentation which is available and excellent vendor support (HP).
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cisco
    I believe that Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers are well suited for the enterprise environment for medium sized to very large companies. While there are smaller WLC appliances for smaller sized businesses, a case can be made for simpler or more cost effective wireless licensing solutions (e.g. Cisco Meraki). Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers are extremely well suited for dense deployments like stadiums, arenas, hospitals, theaters, and large offices because of their ability to support a large number of APs with a very diverse technology feature set.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pros
    Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
    • modern and high-tech Wireless access points
    • Faster and more secure data
    • One unified gui providing information for the whole wireless network.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cisco
    • The cisco wireless controller allows for very granular access to internal and external systems.
    • The system allows for allowing special needs uses (medical, security, guest) very easy.
    • The system allows for various levels of bandwidth to a variety of users.
    • The security, flexibility and ease of use is phenomenal.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cons
    Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
    • Licensing is slightly complicated and not bundled, separate costs for cloud controller is a no-no.
    • UI needs an uplift.
    • Coverage is good but can be better.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cisco
    • Configuring wireless settings is very confusing because various settings are scattered all over the interface in different tabs
    • Lots of settings use Cisco's technical verbiage rather than common phrasing, so it's confusing what a lot of settings will do and requires researching the meaning before modifying the setting
    • The interface could be easier to use to do simple tasks such as reboot an access point
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Likelihood to Renew
    Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
    No answers on this topic
    Cisco
    Although it is a very good product, support is easy and can manage by Level 1 support persons and downtime is too much less but still there is a cost factor matters which is consider by each organization. Furthermore, organizations also compare with other competitors so it is hard to pursue and defend the high prices.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Usability
    Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
    The unified network cloud webpage offers many visibilities for the entire network. From routers, SDWAN and SDWAN edges to check and monitor each interface for failover. Aruba usually provide credit for learning, and this will help give the admin more visibility to use and manage the entire network from the single point of cloud based web Gui
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cisco
    As I said before, the only thing we miss in our old model is the fact that the management interface never received an improvement in design. It has the same look and feels since it was launched. It's not that it's hard to use. It's just the case of could be modernized.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Reliability and Availability
    Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
    No answers on this topic
    Cisco
    Downtime fear is the first fear which IT persons look and want to eliminate as much as they can but eventually you have to face it as nothing is perfect. Cisco Wireless Lan controller are feasible to use and easy to manage and other than this their issue reported are pretty low so you can get the best up time. now it also depends on scenario as well as environment.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Performance
    Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
    No answers on this topic
    Cisco
    Cisco Wireless Lan controller are feasible to use and easy to manage and other than this their issue reported are pretty low so you get the better uptime. if your get the uptime then it means its a stable product in your environment. Product performance also depends on the product management and Cisco Wireless Lan controller management is easy so you can get the great output.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Support Rating
    Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
    In the least concern we have, the support team has always been available and responds very quickly.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cisco
    As usual, the support from Cisco's TAC (Technical Assistance Center) is lacking. Granted, they always get the job done, but the amount of lead time on a non-emergency is enough to make you just handle it yourself. The good news is that if you ask for Cisco's assistance and forget about it, they'll jump on by the time you've forgotten where you were in troubleshooting it and have it fixed for you.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Implementation Rating
    Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
    No answers on this topic
    Cisco
    Originally, when we deployed our first controller it was on a very limited basis. We only deployed it to our administration building and our High School. It was pretty straight forward. Because this was new to us we leaned heavily on our Cisco partner to assist us. With our last upgrade, we upgraded the controllers, added redundancy and expanded the building count along with new SSID's and restrictions. It went much easier, but again, we did rely on Cisco TAC and our partner to clarify and assist as needed. Having already been familiar with the product help tremendously.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Alternatives Considered
    Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
    We used Xirrus wifi before we moved to Aruba. Xirrus is a great niche brand that has been sold to other companies a few times in the life we used the products. This negatively impacted the product availability in our country, local support, and amount of implementation partners. Due to Aruba their broad product range, availability in the market, and knowledge with implementation partners we feel that we can build upon their products not only for a product cycle but for the decade to come.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cisco
    The Aironet access points are used for employee WiFi access, and they integrate well with Meraki. They would offer a separate guest network, too, but the decision was made to physically separate the guest network, so even if a bad actor would gain access to the ethernet port of the AP, they'd still not see any company traffic.
    Read full review
    Scalability
    Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
    No answers on this topic
    Cisco
    Cisco is a brand name and people trust on it. if any one thing about the networking then Cisco is among those brand which is count as trusted brand and people rely on it. Also it support is good so people can use it. Cisco Wireless Lan controller are easy to use and manage so it requires less effort.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Return on Investment
    Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
    • We have better coverage for our visitors and during trainings
    • We have enough bandwidth to accommodate everyone
    • No more dead spots in the building that effects our users.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cisco
    • We have had our [Cisco Wireless LAN Controller] 5508s for a very long time now and although they are getting dated, they have earned us our money's worth with consistency, stability, and ease of use. Users have minimal wireless complaints and when they do seldom are they WLC-related.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    ScreenShots