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Aruba Instant vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 9, 2025

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

Aruba Instant
Ranking in Wireless LAN
10th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.4
Number of Reviews
51
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN
Ranking in Wireless LAN
4th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
5.1
Number of Reviews
119
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Wireless LAN category, the mindshare of Aruba Instant is 2.0%, down from 2.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is 12.6%, up from 12.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Wireless LAN
 

Featured Reviews

Alessandro Salvadori - PeerSpot reviewer
Comes at a good price and has a good cloud console
We usually sell Aruba Instant where there is no need for more than four or five switches. It is generally recommended for very small companies where we don't need more than three or four switches We are using it only for very small companies. We have had a reduction in time, but it is not that…
RezaPradipta - PeerSpot reviewer
Streamline network management with a unified dashboard for seamless device integration
The primary use case for Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is mostly for enterprise wireless, including guest Wi-Fi and enterprise Wi-Fi. I use it across various industries with a focus on retail Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN offers a single pane of glass management. It only comes with a controller on the…

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"Aruba Instant is cloud-based, and thus, it improves wireless network performance on cloud platforms. The solution allows network monitoring through devices like mobiles and desktops, which is a feasible option. The tool also has Bluetooth settings so a user can deploy Aruba Instant through a serial number or the Bluetooth option."
"The deployment is easy."
"Works automatically in terms of setup with the product finding its master wifi access point."
"I would rate the stability a ten out of ten."
"If you don't need heavy-duty filtering and things like that, it's a cheap solution. And, you have central management, and it works."
"The most valuable feature is that it provides a redundant wireless connection for a client."
"The most valuable feature of this product is that it is easily deployed."
"The most beneficial features for network management are the price and the cloud console."
"Stability-wise, I rate the solution a nine out of ten...The solution's initial setup process was straightforward."
"For Meraki, the ease of deployment and management is most valuable."
"The interface makes it easy to manage."
"We're able to automate as well as manually control as necessary."
"The visibility of the site is most useful."
"Its ease of use and flexibility are most valuable. It is cloud-based software."
"The most valuable feature is cloud management."
"The functionalities are quite professional and complete. It offers good integration with other Meraki products, like switches and the firewall. You can get an overview of all networks and the host. It's really great; nobody else can do that."
 

Cons

"It uses a different portal and has limitations from the customer side as it's not refined for MSP."
"The wireless coverage should be increased"
"We have faced delay in customer support which has affected our business performance. So the customer support needs to be prompt in their responses."
"Aruba Instant's visibility, firewalling, L3 functionality, and DHCP services could all be improved."
"The product can be improved by adding a clear interface."
"There was only ever one case in which an access point failed, but it was reintegrated. The issue was more of a matter of oversight. One part of the network had covered ten access points."
"The connectivity of the solution can use some improvement."
"It is not powerful enough and lacks features recommended for larger dimensions, making it unsuitable for big companies with requirements like 100 access points."
"The only concern is when the license has expired and it will no longer function, the entire network goes down, without any notification, or warning."
"If you lose connectivity with the controller, your Wi-Fi network is immediately impacted."
"This solution could benefit from a heat mapping ability so that you can tell where the hotspots are, and where the good signals are."
"The solution’s pricing could be improved."
"Despite being enabled, I've encountered an issue where the alert main dashboard fails to detect when any of the devices go down. Hence, the tool's notification feature should improve. We have also faced issues with integration."
"The initial setup could be made easier."
"The stability could be better. We have experienced many instances where we have experienced a lag in our network, and I am not sure if it is due to their devices or our network."
"It would be useful to have a service management platform integrated within this solution where we can measure the customer experience."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The cost was affordable."
"I purchased the hardware and there are no monthly or yearly licenses to buy."
"Two years ago, I paid INR 12,000 for access points, but now, I will have to pay double the amount, which comes up to INR 24,000, making it a costly product."
"The solution's pricing is reasonable."
"Aruba Instant is a free subscription with a limited lifetime warranty."
"It's a one time cost, including the upgrades, but you have to pay on a yearly basis if you want support. The price is in the middle in comparison to that of competitors' products."
"Aruba Instant is affordable."
"It is not expensive. Its price is fair. You get many features with the normal licensing. If I look at Cisco, it is very expensive if I need similar things."
"Cisco products are generally recognized for their performance and quality, which may justify the higher price point compared to other options on the market."
"Having a good price is important when we are providing quotations for projects."
"The platform is highly priced."
"The platform is more expensive than other solutions."
"It's a pretty good value, but not great. Pricing is on a yearly basis for the Meraki solution."
"When compared to other vendors, Cisco's pricing is higher."
"We pay a yearly license fee for the solution."
"It could be more affordable than other solutions."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
16%
Comms Service Provider
9%
Financial Services Firm
7%
Healthcare Company
6%
Computer Software Company
18%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Financial Services Firm
7%
Comms Service Provider
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

Which is better - Ubiquiti WLAN or Aruba Instant?
We researched Ubiquiti and Aruba when looking for a WLAN solution. Ubiquiti offers good WLAN access both indoors and outdoors. It provides an enterprise-level WIFI while remaining cost-effective. U...
What do you like most about Aruba Instant?
I find network management features related to monitoring Wi-Fi usage and visited sites particularly valuable. Content filtering is also important to prevent access to malicious or inappropriate web...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Aruba Instant?
In my experience, Aruba Instant's price is reasonable compared to premium products like Ruckus, Cisco, or Juniper. However, when compared to entry-level market segments, the price is higher. Overal...
What are pros and cons of Aruba 515 Series AP vs. Cisco Meraki or Extreme Networks?
Depends. I have personally used both Cisco and Aruba so I am familiar with them. Extreme I am not, so unless they have some feature that I need or want, I wouldn't consider them. Do you have expe...
Which is better - Cisco Wireless or Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN?
Cisco Wireless is very robust, very rugged, and can handle indoor and outdoor coverage extremely well. We found it to be very reliable and to consistently run very efficiently. Cisco Wireless helpe...
How does Ruckus Wireless compare to Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN?
Cisco’s Meraki Virtual MX is a virtual instance of the Meraki SD-WAN appliance. We liked the Meraki. The Wifi APs are a great feature. The dashboard is a simple interface and easy to learn. It feat...
 

Also Known As

No data available
MR18, MR26, MR32, MR34, MR66, MR72, Meraki Wireless LAN, Meraki WLAN
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Purdue University, Orlando Magic, Brussels Airport Company, Molecaten Holiday Parks
Advanced Medical Transport, Banco de Guayaquil, Baylor Scott & White Health, BH Telecom, Bowling Green State University, Calligaris, Children's Hospital Colorado, City of Biel, Del Papa Distributing, Department of Justice, Dimension Data, Dualtec Cloud Builders, Electricity Authority of Cyprus, Grupo Industrial Saltillo (GIS), Hertz, K&L Gates , LightEdge, Lone Star College System, Management Science Associates, Mindtree, NBC Olympics, Quest, Sony Corporation, The Department of Education in Western Australia, Valley Proteins
Find out what your peers are saying about Aruba Instant vs. Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
856,278 professionals have used our research since 2012.