We performed a comparison between Cisco Enterprise Routers and MikroTik Routers and Switches based on our users’ reviews in five categories. After reading all of the collected data, you can find our conclusion below
Comparison Results: MikroTik Routers and Switches comes out on top in this comparison. It is robust and easy to use. In addition, MikroTik Routers and Switches are considered significantly less expensive compared to Cisco Enterprise Routers. One area where Cisco Enterprise Routers did come out on top was in the Support category.
"It's an ideal gateway solution for small and medium businesses, i.e., around 300 devices can be easily handled."
"The solution has good performance."
"The solution is flexible."
"I think Cisco Enterprise Routers are excellent."
"The solution is mostly stable."
"Something I like about the solution is all the options it offers and ways it can be configured."
"Its performance and stability are most valuable. We are using it for the last five years, and it is constantly up. It didn't create any problems for us."
"Provides good capabilities and performance."
"The feature that I have found most valuable is its ability to implement layer three protocols and layer two protocols like OSPS in BSS and BSC environments, with the Nexus Cisco 7000."
"I extensively used site-to-site VPNs, access control, etc., linking remote sites to the central location to create a highly distributed organization."
"They use wireless and wired connections that include all of the features."
"It has a lot of features. I haven't explored them all yet."
"The cost and versatility are the solution's most valuable features. You can do anything with them if you know how to. The solution has a whole portfolio of routing features available."
"Load balancing is one of the valuable features of the solution...In short, MikroTik provides a very user-friendly GUI option."
"We have not had any downtime with it. It has been a solid performer that way."
"The most valuable feature is controlling the bandwidth."
"It's pretty stable."
"The most valuable feature is the ease of use."
"There must be a more easy-to-use GUI."
"Their support has room for improvement. The regional agents are not that great."
"We'd like to see some better UI."
"It would be better if Cisco had a User Interface (UI) that we could configure from a web browser. Right now, we only have a Graphical User Interface (GUI). I would like to see a new UI with a dashboard for configuration in the next release."
"The automation capabilities need improvement."
"I would like it if Cisco Routers had a longer lifecycle. That's what we need. We don't want to renew or implement a new model. One model should be available for at least five years. This seems impossible nowadays."
"The only other thing we struggled with from time to time is when we were configuring access points through a controller."
"Cisco has acquired other companies, and due to this, there are many API-based integrations. There should be one platform that will enable a smooth integration. For example, Cisco acquired ThousandEyes, AppDynamics and Viptela. These are ideal solutions for big companies in terms of WAN connectivity. Cisco needs to ensure that there is a smooth integration mechanism in order to ease this process or point of integration."
"In terms of room for improvement, I think that there is a need for additional administration."
"MikroTik Routers and Switches needs to improve stability."
"I would like to have some additional filtering options added in the future."
"The solution is a complicated device."
"The product's setup process could be easier."
"I would like to see some content filtering with MikroTik Routers and Switches."
"I would appreciate enhancements to impose more restrictions on VPN connections."
"If the reporting functionality of the solution is considered, I think it is not good."
"The solution needs to improve its security firewalls and mirror that of, for example, Sophos, or FortiGate."
More MikroTik Routers and Switches Pricing and Cost Advice →
Cisco Enterprise Routers is ranked 2nd in Routers with 101 reviews while MikroTik Routers and Switches is ranked 1st in Routers with 61 reviews. Cisco Enterprise Routers is rated 8.6, while MikroTik Routers and Switches is rated 7.8. The top reviewer of Cisco Enterprise Routers writes "Allows us to configure NAS through Cisco activities and to create GRE channels with different sites". On the other hand, the top reviewer of MikroTik Routers and Switches writes "A cost-effective networking solutions with a robust feature set, but its interface may have a steeper learning curve". Cisco Enterprise Routers is most compared with Huawei Enterprise Routers, Juniper MX Series Routers, HPE Enterprise Routers, OneAccess Enterprise Routers and MikroTik Cloud Router Switch, whereas MikroTik Routers and Switches is most compared with Ubiquiti UniFi Switches, MikroTik Cloud Router Switch, Huawei Enterprise Routers, Aruba Switches and Juniper MX Series Routers. See our Cisco Enterprise Routers vs. MikroTik Routers and Switches report.
See our list of best Routers vendors.
We monitor all Routers reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.
Mikrotik, as Cisco is not for everyone ... While this popular OS-based router, is simple, it is not for all applications.
When one wants complex results, MK is useful. it is an assistant to ADMs who do not have much knowledge.
But not everything is simple or can be solved with a single team. The particularity of its Agile and intuitive interface makes MK lose in the middle to high segment.
Cisco has years of experience, one may or may not agree with its pricing and especially licensing policy, but its products are made to last, its IOS, is powerful in many areas.
One turns on a Cisco and if the initial configuration is optimal, it does not turn off that router anymore.
MK is a team that must be seen, controlling and above all optimizing. The reasons for choosing one and the other are simple, money, knowledge and, above all, projection.
Cisco can be planned and completed, but it is not for everyone. MK plans to buy and update the HW sooner or later. His continuous releases are tedious but necessary. Cisco in the Enterprise range is clearly superior, as is Juniper or Huawei.