Logo of Cisco Meraki

Cisco Meraki

Website LinkedIn Twitter

Last updated on

Ratings

G2
4.3/5
(194)
Capterra
4.5/5
(114)

Cisco Meraki description

Cisco Meraki provides a simple way to manage your company's entire network, including computers, mobile devices, and Wi-Fi, all from one easy-to-use dashboard. It's particularly helpful for understanding how people behave in locations with Wi-Fi, like retail stores, offering insights into customer traffic and engagement. You can track visitor numbers, see how long they stay, and even target them with promotions. Cisco Meraki is known for its user-friendly interface and cloud-based management, simplifying your IT operations.


Who is Cisco Meraki best for

Cisco Meraki simplifies network management with an intuitive dashboard. Users praise its ease of use and comprehensive network visibility but dislike the high licensing costs and limited advanced features. Perfect for businesses wanting to understand customer behavior in physical locations, offering features like guest WiFi and footfall analysis.

  • Best for small to medium-sized businesses.

  • Ideal for retail, consumer goods, and IT companies.


Cisco Meraki features

Type in the name of the feature or in your own words tell us what you need
Supported

Meraki supports MAC address tracking for WiFi devices.

Supported

Meraki offers traffic monitoring and analysis features for threat detection and network optimization.

Supported

Meraki allows creating isolated guest WiFi networks with firewall rules and access controls.

Supported

Meraki supports footfall analysis by tracking WiFi-enabled devices.

Qualities

We evaluate the sentiment that users express about non-functional aspects of the software

Value and Pricing Transparency

Rather negative
-0.69

Customer Service

Rather positive
+0.43

Ease of Use

Strongly positive
+0.94

Reliability and Performance

Neutral
+0.14

Ease of Implementation

Strongly positive
+1

Scalability

Strongly positive
+0.75

Cisco Meraki reviews

We've summarised 303 Cisco Meraki reviews (Cisco Meraki GetApp reviews, Cisco Meraki Capterra reviews and Cisco Meraki G2 reviews) and summarised the main points below.

Pros of Cisco Meraki
  • Intuitive and user-friendly cloud-based dashboard simplifies network management.
  • Easy deployment and setup of devices, often described as "plug and play."
  • Comprehensive network visibility and monitoring capabilities.
  • Seamless site-to-site VPN setup and functionality.
  • Real-time alerts and notifications for network events.
Cons of Cisco Meraki
  • High licensing costs are a major concern for users, especially with the subscription model that renders devices unusable without active licensing.
  • Limited advanced networking features, including issues with granular firewall policies and lack of features like BGP.
  • Cloud dependency creates management challenges during internet outages.
  • Sluggish dashboard updates and occasional UI glitches affect user experience.
  • Technical support (TAC) is considered subpar by some, with slow response times and unhelpful agents.

Cisco Meraki pricing

The commentary is based on 49 reviews from Cisco Meraki Capterra reviews and Cisco Meraki G2 reviews.

Reviews frequently cite Cisco Meraki's high licensing costs as a significant drawback, particularly for smaller organizations. While some users find the pricing justified by the features and ease of use, others find the cost prohibitive, especially with the shift away from a free tier for the first 100 devices. The cost of Meraki equipment is also mentioned as a concern.

Users sentiment

Rather negative
-0.69

Cisco Meraki alternatives

  • Logo of Entuity
    Entuity
    Better for comprehensive network monitoring and root cause analysis. More customizable and scalable. Stronger customer support. Has more momentum.
    Read more
  • Logo of CallTower
    CallTower
    Better for unifying communication tools, especially for mid-sized companies using Microsoft Teams or Cisco Webex. Focuses on cloud-based phone systems and simplified communication management. Serves a broader range of company sizes. Is growing faster.
    Read more
  • Logo of Scrut Automation
    Scrut Automation
    Better for compliance management in SaaS, Fintech, and Healthtech. More suitable for small to medium businesses. A Cisco Meraki competitor focused on security and compliance automation. Growing faster than Cisco Meraki.
    Read more
  • Logo of Spiceworks Inventory Online
    Spiceworks Inventory Online
    Better for basic network visualization and device tracking. A Cisco Meraki alternative for simpler network management, but with less robust features and declining momentum.
    Read more
  • Logo of Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN
    Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN
    More focused on secure network routing and cloud connectivity for enhanced application performance. Lacks the WiFi analytics and location-based features.
    Read more
  • Logo of Solarwinds Network Management
    Solarwinds Network Management
    Better for troubleshooting and performance analysis with PerfStack and NetPath. Offers more comprehensive monitoring capabilities including servers. On-premise and cloud-based deployments are available. Rated higher by users on G2. More complex setup and potentially higher cost.
    Read more

Cisco Meraki FAQ

  • What is Cisco Meraki and what does Cisco Meraki do?

    Cisco Meraki is a cloud-managed IT solution simplifying network management. It provides a central dashboard to control and monitor Wi-Fi, devices, and network security, offering insights into user behavior and location analytics. This makes it valuable for businesses wanting to understand customer engagement and optimize network performance.

  • How does Cisco Meraki integrate with other tools?

    Cisco Meraki integrates with various tools through APIs and webhooks, enabling automation and data sharing. It connects with platforms like Slack for alerts, and offers pre-built integrations for CRM and other business applications. This enhances network management and streamlines workflows.

  • What the main competitors of Cisco Meraki?

    Top alternatives to Cisco Meraki include Datadog, JumpCloud, and Domotz. These competitors offer similar network management, monitoring, and security features, often with different pricing models and focuses. Some may be better suited for specific business sizes or needs.

  • Is Cisco Meraki legit?

    Yes, Cisco Meraki is a legitimate and safe cloud-based network management solution known for its user-friendly interface. It simplifies network management, offers comprehensive visibility, and provides real-time alerts. However, potential users should be aware of the high licensing costs and cloud dependency.

  • How much does Cisco Meraki cost?

    I cannot find pricing details for Cisco Meraki. Contact their sales team for a customized quote based on your specific needs. Consider exploring alternatives if budget is a primary concern in your product selection.

  • Is Cisco Meraki customer service good?

    Cisco Meraki customer service receives mixed reviews. While some users praise the helpful and responsive support, others report slow response times and unhelpful agents, especially for complex issues. The support experience seems to vary depending on the specific issue and agent.


Reviewed by

MK
Michal Kaczor
CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

TT
Tymon Terlikiewicz
CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.