TrustRadius: an HG Insights company

Save this comparison

Save this comparison

Add Product

Recommended Comparisons

    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    Cisco Meraki MX

    Score9.2 out of 10
    N/ACisco Meraki MX Firewalls is a combined UTM and Software-Defined WAN solution. Meraki is managed via the cloud, and provides core firewall services, including site-to-site VPN, plus network monitoring.

    $595

    per appliance

    Cisco Meraki vMX

    Score8.7 out of 10
    N/ACisco's Meraki Virtual MX (vMX) is a virtual instance of a Meraki security & SD-WAN appliance, dedicated specifically to providing the simple configuration benefits of site-to-site Auto VPN for customers running or migrating IT services to an Amazon Web Services or Microsoft Azure Virtual Private Cloud (VPC).N/A
    Pricing
    Cisco Meraki MXCisco Meraki vMX
    Editions & Modules
    MX64
    $595
    per appliance
    MX67
    $695
    per appliance
    MX68
    $995
    per appliance
    MX84
    $1,995
    per appliance
    MX100
    $4,995
    per appliance
    MX250
    $9,995
    per appliance
    MX450
    $19,995
    per appliance
    No answers on this topic
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    Cisco Meraki MXCisco Meraki vMX
    Free Trial
    YesNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional Details
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    Cisco Meraki MXCisco Meraki vMX
    Considered Both Products
    Cisco
    Chose Cisco Meraki MX
    It is easier to implement and affordable. If you like Cisco products and you believe in their ecosystem and future, you will not be wrong selecting Cisco Meraki MX or Viptela from their portfolio.
    Incentivized
    Chose Cisco Meraki MX
    Flexibility, scalability
    Incentivized
    Chose Cisco Meraki MX
    I have used Sonicwall and Meraki, and they are very similar and functional, but they go about it in different ways. Meraki is a little more user-friendly with less of a learning curve, but it comes at a little steeper price. I do like the online dashboard of Meraki better, …
    Incentivized
    Chose Cisco Meraki MX
    Meraki is more entailed towards larger businesses and allow much quicker support remediation. Meraki does have a yearly license, whereas UniFi does not. UniFi is really nice and I would use it in smaller single SOHO applications, but wouldn't use it for larger organizations …
    Incentivized
    Chose Cisco Meraki MX
    When comparing the Cisco Meraki line to other products it became nearly an incomparable argument. While Fortinet and SonicWall were very comparable to the Meraki MX series, there were just too many tangible and intangible factors that led to us choosing Meraki. The biggest …
    Incentivized
    Cisco
    Chose Cisco Meraki vMX
    The VMware SD wan does give some better WAN metrics, but the interface is super clunky and doesn’t support a full stack. If Meraki could give some more QoE link metrics, it would be perfect.
    Incentivized
    Chose Cisco Meraki vMX
    Cisco Meraki vMX is great for small to medium businesses. It is easy to use with little out-of-the-box configuration. There is an easier learning curve on the Cisco Meraki vMX than on the SonicWall devices. We went with the Cisco Meraki vMX because we had the physical …
    Incentivized
    Chose Cisco Meraki vMX
    Meraki vMX is the most simple and intuitive platform to implement. It does though miss some security features that you get in Checkpoint CloudGuard og Palo Alto Next Generation firewalls.
    Incentivized
    Chose Cisco Meraki vMX
    Cisco Meraki vMX is fantastic. The only downside is cost. Licensing really is a crutch here.
    Incentivized
    Chose Cisco Meraki vMX
    SD-WAN AutoVPN and price.
    Incentivized
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    95%
    Would buy again
    124 Answers
    100%
    Would buy again
    10 Answers
    Delivers good value for the price
    96%
    Delivers good value for the price
    118 Answers
    100%
    Delivers good value for the price
    10 Answers
    Happy with the feature set
    94%
    Happy with the feature set
    122 Answers
    90%
    Happy with the feature set
    9 Answers
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    96%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    108 Answers
    90%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    9 Answers
    Implementation went as expected
    95%
    Implementation went as expected
    119 Answers
    100%
    Implementation went as expected
    10 Answers
    Features
    Cisco Meraki MXCisco Meraki vMX
    Firewall
    Comparison of Firewall features of Cisco Meraki MX and Cisco Meraki vMX
    Feature
    Cisco Meraki MX
    7.9
    109 Ratings
    9% below category average
    Cisco Meraki vMX
    -
    Ratings
    Identification Technologies8.3104 Ratings00 Ratings
    Visualization Tools8.7102 Ratings00 Ratings
    Content Inspection8.1101 Ratings00 Ratings
    Policy-based Controls7.5100 Ratings00 Ratings
    Active Directory and LDAP7.990 Ratings00 Ratings
    Firewall Management Console6.4103 Ratings00 Ratings
    Reporting and Logging7.6107 Ratings00 Ratings
    VPN8.8102 Ratings00 Ratings
    High Availability9.1103 Ratings00 Ratings
    Stateful Inspection7.397 Ratings00 Ratings
    Proxy Server6.857 Ratings00 Ratings
    Virtual Private Network
    Comparison of Virtual Private Network features of Cisco Meraki MX and Cisco Meraki vMX
    Feature
    Cisco Meraki MX
    -
    Ratings
    Cisco Meraki vMX
    8.7
    7 Ratings
    4% below category average
    AES 256-bit Encryption00 Ratings9.77 Ratings
    Kill Switch00 Ratings10.01 Ratings
    Multi-Platform Support00 Ratings8.35 Ratings
    Split Tunneling00 Ratings7.55 Ratings
    IP Address Masking00 Ratings8.34 Ratings
    No-Logs Policy00 Ratings6.62 Ratings
    Multiple Server Locations00 Ratings9.05 Ratings
    Simultaneous Connections00 Ratings9.76 Ratings
    Customer Support Services00 Ratings9.46 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    Cisco Meraki MXCisco Meraki vMX
    Small Businesses
    SonicWall NSA Series
    Score8.5 out of 10
    No answers on this topic
    Medium-sized Companies
    Barracuda CloudGen Firewall
    Score9.4 out of 10
    No answers on this topic
    Enterprises
    Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software
    Score9 out of 10
    No answers on this topic
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    Cisco Meraki MXCisco Meraki vMX
    Likelihood to Recommend
    9.3
    (145 ratings)
    8.7
    (10 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    9.0
    (6 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Usability
    9.5
    (7 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Availability
    9.1
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Performance
    9.1
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Support Rating
    8.9
    (15 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    7.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Product Scalability
    9.2
    (112 ratings)
    9.2
    (10 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    Cisco Meraki MXCisco Meraki vMX
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Cisco
    The Meraki MX lineup is well suited for organizations that need centralized management of multiple locations, as it allows for both quick deployment and simple/easy remote administration all from a single pane of glass. It also works very well for providing VPN access for remote workers and helps monitor end-device uptime. It does, however, fall a bit short in its firewall's customization, compared to traditional appliances (like our WatchGuard Firebox), so perhaps less suited for organizations that need more customization, as the Meraki MX lineup is primarily designed for simplicity and straightforward cloud-based management.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cisco
    I think for us in our deployment model where it spoke to the hub, it certainly makes ideal sense. I would probably say with anyone that's signed in Azure or a cloud platform, obviously VMX appliance may not be suited. Anyone on Old Legacy MPLS may struggle to see a purpose for SD-WAN overlay of the top. But I think if you really want to introduce network communications that are low cost effective, solid in terms of availability and performance, a Meraki sdwan solution with the VMX appliance in the cloud is ideal.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pros
    Cisco
    • The Cisco Meraki MX series is phenomenal at allowing us to remotely manage networks. So the devices usually act as the brain behind our client's networks, which makes it really, really easy for our team to take a look at what's going on in those client network environments, resolve any issues, and make sure that our client's networks are staying secure.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cisco
    • Works well with physical Meraki MX devices
    • Site-to-Site VPNs are easy to set up with other Meraki devices
    • Cisco Meraki vMX provides a great solution for a virtual environment, like Azure
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cons
    Cisco
    • Layer seven firewall rules. Just making them more granular. We've been in meetings with Cisco SES where I've said feature requests many times and that's one of the big ones where it's just a little cumbersome to implement layer seven rules right now.
    • Just making them more granular. We've been in meetings with Cisco SES where I've said feature requests many times and that's one of the big ones where it's just a little cumbersome to implement layer seven rules right now.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cisco
    • Client VPN: Cisco Meraki vMX in general needs to implement multiple VPN profiles/ group policies for client VPN
    • Alerts: Cisco Meraki vMX in general should be more consistent in sending alerts. We should receive alarms instantly.
    • Event logs: More in-depth event logs for all Meraki products, such as system crashes, etc.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Likelihood to Renew
    Cisco
    The simplicity and ease of use for the Meraki Dashboard make it an easy choice for our organization to renew our Meraki Enterprise Agreement. We will likely continue using the Meraki MC67-C, MX450, and other MX models in their catalog until we shift away from Meraki completely
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cisco
    No answers on this topic
    Usability
    Cisco
    Some features simply aren't there, but the ones that are there are pretty easy to use. Sometimes it is easy to get lost when trying to find the specific device you want to work on, but that's mostly due to how rarely we have to go into the interface.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cisco
    No answers on this topic
    Reliability and Availability
    Cisco
    Meraki MX devices support high availability (HA) configurations, which ensures minimal downtime if one device goes offline. This feature has helped us maintain a stable and reliable network, even in cases of hardware failures. ince Meraki is cloud-managed, we've noticed that the cloud infrastructure is generally highly reliable, with minimal service interruptions or downtime. This makes it easier to manage the network remotely without significant availability concerns. Meraki automatically pushes firmware updates and patches, which helps maintain system stability without requiring manual intervention. These updates are rolled out in a manner that ensures minimal disruption to service.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cisco
    No answers on this topic
    Performance
    Cisco
    The interface is pretty responsive. The lower end devices are easy to overwhelm if you have a lot of throughput. Be sure the model you get is rated for the amount of traffic you will have. Overbuild if possible, otherwise you won't be fully leveraging the connection from your ISP.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cisco
    No answers on this topic
    Support Rating
    Cisco
    I haven't ever had a bad experience with Meraki support. On the few occasions where I wasn't understanding the UI or needed some clarification about what a setting actually would do, I contacted them and they were very quickly able to provide help. Returns are simple and fast, too. We had to return a defective device one time and they shipped the replacement before we had even un-racked the one that was faulty. Unlike many other vendors, they didn't ask use to a do long list of scripted diagnostics, they just took my word for it that the device was broken and sent out a replacement immediately
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cisco
    No answers on this topic
    In-Person Training
    Cisco
    great when they offered it, really tested your knowledge with hands on and see what your peers from other orgs know. glad to see that we were ahead of the curve of what our peers knew
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cisco
    No answers on this topic
    Online Training
    Cisco
    it was okay as it was moderated but still better than nothing and done via semi self paced webex meeting
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cisco
    No answers on this topic
    Implementation Rating
    Cisco
    Implementing Meraki MX devices in phases—starting with a pilot group or select branch offices—was invaluable. This allowed us to identify potential configuration issues, troubleshoot problems, and refine our setup before rolling it out company-wide. It also helped to get feedback from early users and adjust the deployment strategy accordingly. The SD-WAN capabilities in Meraki MX were essential for optimizing our WAN traffic and ensuring better application performance across various locations.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cisco
    No answers on this topic
    Alternatives Considered
    Cisco
    Cisco Meraki MX provides simplicity and scalability while cutting costs. With Meraki MX, you get a Security appliance, router, and Firewall in one appliance and managed with one GUI. These features enable the network engineers to maintain large-scale enterprises with a single dashboard from a remote site or anywhere with internet, all thanks to the Meraki cloud dashboard
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cisco
    The VMware SD wan does give some better WAN metrics, but the interface is super clunky and doesn’t support a full stack. If Meraki could give some more QoE link metrics, it would be perfect.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Scalability
    Cisco
    When I first started with my company we had various infrastructure and a mix of tech. Since going to Cisco Meraki MX we have noticed better network performance and our new sites are much easier to bring online. Users have noticed an improvement in VPN connection and getting into all our systems.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cisco
    We have over 350 locations and growing. We chose Cisco Meraki vMX because of ease of use and how it scales.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Return on Investment
    Cisco
    • From a positive impact? Basically it allows us to set up shop very quickly. It allowed us to add sites to our network very quickly. From a negative perspective, I think the only thing is that I can see from a negative perspective is I have a preference to working with ACLI in terms of how I engage with the youth tool At the moment, the only way to actually engage with a tool is on a gui and sometimes what I'd actually like is more detailed information in terms of actual configuration that you'll actually get out of ACLI.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cisco
    • Some users it knocks down on maintenance labor/cost
    • Negative would be if you didn't really vet the feature set to the customers needs and end up having to replace it short notice.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    ScreenShots