Cisco Meraki vs Ubiquiti: Products, Features, Cost

An organization is only as strong as its wireless capabilities. In other words, if the WiFi goes down, so does the business. Luckily, several wireless hardware vendors provide top-tier solutions. However, it is not always easy to determine which one is the fastest, cheapest, and most reliable.

This post will explore some differences between two major wireless appliance players: Meraki and Ubiquiti. We'll also discuss which one will ultimately fit your needs.

What is Cisco Meraki?

Cisco Meraki was established in 2006 and focuses on wireless appliances. After operating independently for six years, it was purchased by Cisco in November 2012.

Cisco Meraki offers three umbrellas of technology: access, WAN (Wide Area Network), and IoT (Internet of Things). Their access-centric appliances focus on leveraging the cloud to build more globally accessible solutions. For example, Meraki offers MDM (Mobile Device Management) solutions to help mobile phone users access the applications they need. On the flip side, it blocks unwanted guests from accessing or snooping on the VPN.

One of the best solutions Meraki provides is SD-WANs or software-defined WANs. SD-WANs are cloud-integrated networks that reduce latency by communicating directly with the cloud instead of going through a central server. Eliminating these unneeded traffic hops reduces latency and increases security. Because SD-WANs are cloud-integrated, they can intelligently route traffic to adapt to changing network conditions, thereby ensuring VoIP or otherwise time-critical data is prioritized.

Finally, Cisco Meraki offers numerous IoT devices to integrate into your organization. For instance, they provide a cloud-centric security camera to oversee the organization's physical perimeter. It comes standard with features such as license plate recognition and EVERYANGLE, which provides suspicious person detection. 

EVERYANGLE integrates machine learning into security cameras, and will send SMS, Slack messages, or phone calls if it sees suspicious people. For instance, it will trigger an alarm if an individual is seen wearing a mask with a baseball bat. That may seem pretty suspicious in a bank!

What is Ubiquiti?

Ubiquiti was founded in 2003, around the same time as Meraki. It provides numerous software solutions and hardware appliances to fit a small—to medium-sized organization's networking needs. Similar to Cisco Meraki, Ubiquiti divides its products into three general lines: IoT, Access, and Routing.

One of Ubiquiti's flagship products is the Dream Machine Pro. It's an enterprise-grade, scalable, all-in-one networking device with handy features such as a built-in security gateway, WAN support, an 8-Port Gigabyte switch, and a video recorder. This is a convenient device that is not offered by many others at this price and level of simplicity.

The Dream Machine Pro, among other Ubiquity hardware, also comes with a great piece of software: UniFi OS. The UniFi OS is a modern and convenient UI that integrates seamlessly with all your Ubiquiti appliances. For example, let's say you purchase a Dream Machine Pro, some security cameras, and some routers. All of these devices can be easily managed from one device with UniFi. It will provide all the data needed to start, stop, configure, and troubleshoot these devices.

Ubiquiti is focusing more on its UniFi branding and other solutions, such as Identity, which allows IT managers to manage physical and network access from a centralized app. This includes EV charging, door access, and WiFi and VPN access.  

Now that we understand what each vendor provides, let's discuss what to consider when choosing one over the other.

What to Consider When Choosing a Networking Solution

Ubiquiti and Cisco Meraki are both reputable, high-quality vendors. However, each one is tailored to certain business needs. It is ultimately up to you or your IT professional to decide which is right for you.

Pricing Structure

Cisco Meraki requires a license to operate most of its appliances, such as its security gateway, cameras, and more. Meraki requires licenses based on the hardware you purchase and quantity. Keep in mind, though, that this is not a hard and fast rule. You could upgrade an MR18 Access Point to an MR33 and keep the same license.

The price of each device may vary — ranging from around $150 to $400 per year — but you get the idea that the licensing price will grow high rather quickly. With all that being said, if you can afford their annual price, then Meraki is an excellent solution.

Ubiquiti, on the other hand, has zero licensing fees. So once you buy it, it's yours. This is an excellent solution for small to midsize businesses looking for a cost-friendly solution. Also, since Ubiquiti has no license fee, it is perfect for a work-from-home setup.

Customer Support

Cisco Meraki has top-notch customer support. When purchasing Meraki, it is advisable to opt into their Meraki Now—Advanced Hardware Replacement plan. The Cisco Meraki service plan has technicians on call 24/7/365 to assist with any technical issues. 

Additionally, hardware can be replaced or troubleshot to satisfaction in days. It's in their SLA. Meraki Now is priced based on the value of the appliance itself. For example, a wireless appliance warranty is priced at 8.5% of the cost of the device itself. A security appliance, on the other hand, is 19.13% of the device.

If you opt out of Meraki Now altogether, you will have only the standard 1-year warranty on some devices and a lifetime warranty on others. 

Now, let's talk a bit about Ubiquiti customer support. Ubiquiti's standard warranty does not appear to be as robust as Meraki Now. However, there is a good chance a small to midsize business will not need the level of support offered by Meraki. That sort of warranty is for businesses that could potentially lose millions of dollars from downtime. If you do not fall into that category, then Meraki Now may be overkill.

However, just because Ubiquiti's customer support is not on par with Cisco's does not mean Ubiquiti will leave you in the lurch. Ubiquiti has a vibrant community forum where questions can be fielded. Additionally, their support technicians are available on-call 24/7 to answer any questions that may arise.

Scalability

More people work, shop, and bank online than ever before. As an online business, it is critical that your network infrastructure can support the varying loads on your systems. With that being said, Cisco Meraki will generally offer a more robust scaling environment. However, as mentioned earlier, you will certainly be paying for it.

One thing to remember, however, is that you can easily mix and match Ubiquiti devices with Cisco Meraki appliances. That way, you can get the best of both worlds. Find out which piece of hardware is required for high availability and scalability. Use Meraki for that, and use Ubiquiti for your other networking needs.

Meraki vs Ubiquiti: Which Should You Use?

When considering the two options, it is important to understand your budget and overall network needs. Will millions of people, involving millions of dollars worth of transactions, be passing through your network? If that is the case, then go with Meraki. Are you a small to midsize business looking for an easy, reliable infrastructure? Then, Ubiquiti is certainly worth looking into.

Overall, Ubiquiti shines with its price model and ease of use. They have expanded their offerings to include more enterprise-level hardware. Meraki, on the other hand, is well-suited for enterprise-level networking and top-tier customer support.

Want to learn more about Cisco Meraki? Consider our Implementing Cisco Meraki Networks Online Training with Knox Hutchinson.