# Cisco Meraki vs FortiGate-VM NGFW Comparison
---
## AI Generated Summary
- **G2 reviewers report** that FortiGate-VM NGFW excels in user experience, particularly highlighting its **intuitive GUI** which is described as "best in class" compared to competitors. Users appreciate the **speed and responsiveness** of the interface, making it easy to navigate and manage settings without lag.
- **Users say** that Cisco Meraki offers a **centralized cloud dashboard** that simplifies the management of firewalls and network policies. Reviewers find it particularly beneficial for **real-time visibility** across multiple devices, making it easier to monitor and configure settings from a single location.
- **According to verified reviews** , FortiGate-VM NGFW has a higher overall satisfaction score, reflecting its strong performance in areas like **quality of support** and **product direction**. Users have noted that the support team is very helpful, enhancing the overall experience.
- **Reviewers mention** that while Cisco Meraki is easy to deploy and integrate, some users feel it lacks the **granularity** in monitoring application utilization compared to FortiGate-VM NGFW, which offers more detailed insights through its SD-WAN capabilities.
- **G2 reviewers highlight** that FortiGate-VM NGFW provides robust features for **content and web filtering** , scoring notably higher in these areas. Users appreciate the effectiveness of these features in enhancing security and managing internet usage.
- **Users report** that both products are user-friendly, but Cisco Meraki edges out slightly in **ease of setup**. Many users find the initial deployment process straightforward, which is a significant advantage for teams looking to get up and running quickly.



| | Cisco Meraki | FortiGate-VM NGFW | 
|---|---|---|
| **Star Rating** | 4.3 out of 5 | 4.6 out of 5 | 
| **Total Reviews** | 217 | 230 | 
| **Largest Market Segment** | Mid-Market (62.4% of reviews) | Mid-Market (58.9% of reviews) | 
| **Entry Level Price** | No pricing available | No pricing available | 

---
## Top Pros & Cons

### Cisco Meraki

Pros:
- Ease of Use (7 reviews)
- Device Management (6 reviews)

Cons:
- Expensive (7 reviews)
- Limited Customization (3 reviews)

### FortiGate-VM NGFW

Pros:
- Ease of Use (12 reviews)
- Features (10 reviews)

Cons:
- Difficult Learning Curve (4 reviews)
- Expensive (4 reviews)

---
## Ratings Comparison
| Rating | Cisco Meraki | FortiGate-VM NGFW | 
|---|---|---|
  | **Meets Requirements** | 8.8 (177 reviews) | 9.2 (182 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Use** | 9.1 (178 reviews) | 9.0 (185 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Setup** | 9.2 (154 reviews) | 8.9 (151 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Admin** | 9.2 (147 reviews) | 9.1 (138 reviews) | 
  | **Quality of Support** | 8.4 (166 reviews) | 8.7 (180 reviews) | 
  | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | 8.7 (142 reviews) | 9.1 (134 reviews) | 
  | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 8.5 (174 reviews) | 9.4 (182 reviews) | 

---
## Pricing

### Cisco Meraki

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

No information available

### FortiGate-VM NGFW

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

Yes

---
## Features Comparison By Category

### Unified Threat Management (UTM)

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Cisco Meraki** | 9.0/10 | 84 |
| **FortiGate-VM NGFW** | 9.3/10 | 118 |

#### Security - Unified Threat Management

| Feature | Cisco Meraki | FortiGate-VM NGFW | 
|---|---|---|
| **Antivirus** | 8.8 (47 reviews) | 9.3 (95 reviews) | 
| **Whitelists** | 9.1 (58 reviews) | 9.4 (97 reviews) | 
| **Antispam Filtering** | 8.8 (49 reviews) | 9.0 (89 reviews) | 
| **Content Filtering** | 8.9 (60 reviews) | 9.3 (95 reviews) | 
| **Web Filtering** | 8.9 (61 reviews) | 9.7 (96 reviews) | 
| **Firewall** | 9.2 (62 reviews) | 9.8 (100 reviews) | 

#### Administration

| Feature | Cisco Meraki | FortiGate-VM NGFW | 
|---|---|---|
| **Reports & Analytics** | 8.8 (68 reviews) | 8.7 (96 reviews) | 
| **Dashboard** | 9.4 (77 reviews) | 9.4 (98 reviews) | 

### Data Center Security Solutions

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Cisco Meraki** | N/A | N/A |
| **FortiGate-VM NGFW** | 9.4/10 | 74 |

#### Prevention

| Feature | Cisco Meraki | FortiGate-VM NGFW | 
|---|---|---|
| **Intrusion Prevention** | Not enough data | 9.6 (58 reviews) | 
| **Firewall** | Not enough data | 9.5 (60 reviews) | 
| **Encryption** | Not enough data | 9.2 (54 reviews) | 
| **Security hardening** | Not enough data | 9.4 (55 reviews) | 
| **Cloud Data Protection** | Not enough data | Feature Not Available | 

#### Detection

| Feature | Cisco Meraki | FortiGate-VM NGFW | 
|---|---|---|
| **Intrusion Detection** | Not enough data | 9.4 (56 reviews) | 
| **Security Monitoring** | Not enough data | 9.4 (53 reviews) | 
| **Anti-Malware / Malware Detection** | Not enough data | 9.3 (54 reviews) | 

#### Administration

| Feature | Cisco Meraki | FortiGate-VM NGFW | 
|---|---|---|
| **Compliance** | Not enough data | 9.4 (53 reviews) | 
| **Administration Console -** | Not enough data | 9.4 (58 reviews) | 
| **API / integrations** | Not enough data | 9.0 (51 reviews) | 

### Visitor Behavior Intelligence

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Cisco Meraki** | 8.9/10 | 29 |
| **FortiGate-VM NGFW** | N/A | N/A |

#### Reporting

| Feature | Cisco Meraki | FortiGate-VM NGFW | 
|---|---|---|
| **Visit Tracking** | 8.7 (23 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Visitor Retention** | 8.1 (22 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Visitor Engagement** | 8.1 (23 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Segmentation** | 8.7 (24 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Dashboards** | 9.3 (25 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Administration

| Feature | Cisco Meraki | FortiGate-VM NGFW | 
|---|---|---|
| **Integration** | 9.3 (22 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Performance and Reliability** | 9.4 (26 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **User, Role, and Access Management** | 9.3 (25 reviews) | Not enough data | 

### Firewall Software

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Cisco Meraki** | N/A | N/A |
| **FortiGate-VM NGFW** | 9.0/10 | 122 |

#### Administration

| Feature | Cisco Meraki | FortiGate-VM NGFW | 
|---|---|---|
| **Policy Management** | Not enough data | 9.2 (101 reviews) | 
| **Logging and Reporting** | Not enough data | 8.9 (101 reviews) | 
| **Application Gateway** | Not enough data | 9.2 (92 reviews) | 
| **Concurrent Sessions** | Not enough data | 9.3 (98 reviews) | 

#### Agentic AI - Firewall Software

| Feature | Cisco Meraki | FortiGate-VM NGFW | 
|---|---|---|
| **Autonomous Task Execution** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Adaptive Learning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Functionality

| Feature | Cisco Meraki | FortiGate-VM NGFW | 
|---|---|---|
| **Virtual Private Network (VPN)** | Not enough data | 9.4 (104 reviews) | 
| **Antivirus** | Not enough data | 9.0 (96 reviews) | 
| **URL Filtering** | Not enough data | 9.4 (101 reviews) | 
| **Availability** | Not enough data | 9.5 (98 reviews) | 

#### Monitoring

| Feature | Cisco Meraki | FortiGate-VM NGFW | 
|---|---|---|
| **Load Balancing** | Not enough data | 9.2 (92 reviews) | 
| **Continuous Analysis** | Not enough data | 9.0 (93 reviews) | 
| **Intrusion Prevention** | Not enough data | 9.2 (104 reviews) | 
| **Intrusion Detection** | Not enough data | 9.3 (98 reviews) | 

#### Generative AI

| Feature | Cisco Meraki | FortiGate-VM NGFW | 
|---|---|---|
| **AI Text Summarization** | Not enough data | 8.2 (20 reviews) | 

#### Artificial Intelligence - Firewall

| Feature | Cisco Meraki | FortiGate-VM NGFW | 
|---|---|---|
| **AI Firewall** | Not enough data | 7.7 (5 reviews) | 

### Data Security

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Cisco Meraki** | N/A | N/A |
| **FortiGate-VM NGFW** | N/A | N/A |

#### Compliance

| Feature | Cisco Meraki | FortiGate-VM NGFW | 
|---|---|---|
| **Access Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **At-Risk Analysis** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **DLP Configuration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Sensitive Data Compliance** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Administration

| Feature | Cisco Meraki | FortiGate-VM NGFW | 
|---|---|---|
| **Database Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Deduplication ** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Backup** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **API / integrations** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Security 

| Feature | Cisco Meraki | FortiGate-VM NGFW | 
|---|---|---|
| **Multi-Factor Authentication** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Transport** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Types** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Security Tools** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Enterprise Mobility Management

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Cisco Meraki** | 9.1/10 | 20 |
| **FortiGate-VM NGFW** | N/A | N/A |

#### Platform

| Feature | Cisco Meraki | FortiGate-VM NGFW | 
|---|---|---|
| **Regulation Compliant** | 8.9 (17 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Device Enrollment** | 9.3 (18 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Device Configuration** | 9.1 (18 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Operating System

| Feature | Cisco Meraki | FortiGate-VM NGFW | 
|---|---|---|
| **Multiple Mobile Operating System Support** | 9.0 (16 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Apple Support** | 8.7 (17 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Android Support** | 8.9 (14 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Security

| Feature | Cisco Meraki | FortiGate-VM NGFW | 
|---|---|---|
| **Device Management** | 9.4 (17 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Custom Alerts** | 9.1 (16 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Security** | 9.5 (17 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Management

| Feature | Cisco Meraki | FortiGate-VM NGFW | 
|---|---|---|
| **Applicatons Management** | 8.5 (17 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Applications Consolidation** | 8.6 (17 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Whitelist** | 9.4 (14 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Blacklist** | 9.2 (14 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Usage Information** | 9.4 (18 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Agentic AI - Enterprise Mobility Management

| Feature | Cisco Meraki | FortiGate-VM NGFW | 
|---|---|---|
| **Autonomous Task Execution** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Multi-step Planning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Cross-system Integration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Adaptive Learning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Natural Language Interaction** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Proactive Assistance** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Decision Making** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

---
## Categories
**Shared Categories (1):** [Unified Threat Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/unified-threat-management-utm)

**Unique to Cisco Meraki (3):** [Visitor Behavior Intelligence Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/visitor-behavior-intelligence), [SD-WAN Solutions](https://www.g2.com/categories/sd-wan), [Enterprise Mobility Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/enterprise-mobility-management)

**Unique to FortiGate-VM NGFW (2):** [Firewall Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/firewall-software), [Data Center Security Solutions](https://www.g2.com/categories/data-center-security-solutions)


---
## Reviewer Demographics

### By Company Size

| Segment | Cisco Meraki | FortiGate-VM NGFW | 
|---|---|---|
| **Small-Business** | 21.0% | 18.7% | 
| **Mid-Market** | 62.4% | 58.9% | 
| **Enterprise** | 16.6% | 22.4% | 

### By Industry

#### Cisco Meraki

- **Information Technology and Services:** 16.7%
- **Hospital & Health Care:** 5.9%
- **Financial Services:** 4.9%
- **Computer & Network Security:** 3.9%
- **Telecommunications:** 3.4%
- **Construction:** 3.4%
- **Computer Software:** 3.0%
- **Education Management:** 2.5%
- **Computer Networking:** 2.5%
- **Banking:** 2.5%
- **Other:** 51.2%

#### FortiGate-VM NGFW

- **Information Technology and Services:** 22.2%
- **Computer & Network Security:** 11.6%
- **Telecommunications:** 10.1%
- **Financial Services:** 6.8%
- **Computer Software:** 6.3%
- **Computer Networking:** 4.8%
- **Education Management:** 2.9%
- **Construction:** 2.4%
- **Information Services:** 1.9%
- **Hospital & Health Care:** 1.9%
- **Other:** 29.0%

---
## Alternatives

### Alternatives to Cisco Meraki

- [Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-next-generation-firewalls-ngfws/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (590 reviews)
- [WatchGuard Network Security](https://www.g2.com/products/watchguard-network-security/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (267 reviews)
- [SonicWall Next Generation Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/sonicwall-next-generation-firewall/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (153 reviews)
- [Sophos United Threat Management](https://www.g2.com/products/sophos-united-threat-management/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (89 reviews)
- [Scalefusion](https://www.g2.com/products/scalefusion/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (388 reviews)
- [Jamf](https://www.g2.com/products/jamf/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (2285 reviews)
- [Iru](https://www.g2.com/products/iru/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (816 reviews)
- [AirDroid Business](https://www.g2.com/products/airdroid-business/reviews) — 4.9/5 stars (422 reviews)
- [Displai](https://www.g2.com/products/displai/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (398 reviews)
- [FortiGate SD-WAN](https://www.g2.com/products/fortigate-sd-wan/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (57 reviews)

### Alternatives to FortiGate-VM NGFW

- [Check Point Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-next-generation-firewalls-ngfws/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (590 reviews)
- [WatchGuard Network Security](https://www.g2.com/products/watchguard-network-security/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (267 reviews)
- [SonicWall Next Generation Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/sonicwall-next-generation-firewall/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (153 reviews)
- [Barracuda CloudGen Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/barracuda-cloudgen-firewall/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (51 reviews)
- [Juniper Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/juniper-firewall/reviews) — 3.9/5 stars (31 reviews)
- [Huawei Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/huawei-firewall/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (15 reviews)
- [KerioControl](https://www.g2.com/products/keriocontrol/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (10 reviews)
- [Sophos Firewall](https://www.g2.com/products/sophos-firewall/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (783 reviews)
- [Netgate pfSense](https://www.g2.com/products/netgate-pfsense/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (326 reviews)
- [Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls](https://www.g2.com/products/palo-alto-networks-next-generation-firewalls/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (167 reviews)

---
## Top Discussions

### Cisco Meraki

- Title: [How has Cisco Meraki supported your network infrastructure, and what features do you find most valuable?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-has-cisco-meraki-supported-your-network-infrastructure-and-what-features-do-you-find-most-valuable) — 2 comments
  > **Top comment:** "One Dashboard to Manage all devices along with Alert monitoring with possible troubleshooting steps.  "
- Title: [What is Cisco Meraki used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-cisco-meraki-used-for) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "Cisco Meraki is a cloud-managed IT solution that simplifies network management, enhances security, and optimizes performance. It offers centralized control..."
- Title: [What is Cisco Meraki SD-WAN used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-cisco-meraki-sd-wan-used-for) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "Cisco Meraki SD-WAN enhances connection, performance, and security by streamlining and optimizing wide area network (WAN) administration across several..."
- Title: [Is Cisco Meraki any good?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-cisco-meraki-any-good) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "Absolutely, with its great pricing, features and intuitive UI, it is the best option for small-medium sized businesses."
- Title: [What is Cisco SD WAN?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-cisco-sd-wan) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "Cisco SD-WAN, powered by Cisco IOS XE Software, is a highly secure, cloud-scale architecture that is open, programmable, and scalable. Through the Cisco..."

### FortiGate-VM NGFW

- Title: [What is FortiGate-VM used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-fortigate-vm-used-for) — 2 comments
  > **Top comment:** "FortiGate-VM is Fortinet's virtual appliance version of the FortiGate firewall, designed for deployment in virtualized environments. It serves as a..."
- Title: [What is FortiGate NGFW used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-fortigate-ngfw-used-for) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "It is a next generation firewall which has capability to do layer 7 insapaction "
- Title: [Is FortiGate and fortinet the same?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-fortigate-and-fortinet-the-same) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "Fortinet is the company and FortiGate is their Firewall name :)"
- Title: [What three key additional security features do next generation firewalls provide that legacy firewalls do not?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-three-key-additional-security-features-do-next-generation-firewalls-provide-that-legacy-firewalls-do-not) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "with FortiGate has many Features including SD-WAN, SSL-VPN, Video Filtering, integrated with Sandbox...."

---
**Source:** [G2.com](https://www.g2.com) | [Comparison Page](https://www.g2.com/compare/cisco-meraki-vs-fortigate-vm-ngfw)