MikroTik vs. Cisco Switches and Routers: A Technical Comparison for Network Professionals
Selene Gong
Choosing the right networking equipment is a critical decision for network engineers and IT managers planning infrastructure upgrades. While both MikroTik and Cisco offer a wide range of routers and switches, they target different market needs and design philosophies. This guide provides a clear, technical comparison to help you evaluate which platform best fits your lab, SMB, ISP, or enterprise environment.
Hardware Capabilities
Cisco delivers enterprise-grade hardware across campus, data center, and service provider networks, including:
Branch and Edge Routers: Cisco Catalyst 8300/8500 Series.
Data Center Interconnect: Cisco ASR 1000, Nexus 9000 Series.
Industrial and Rugged Routers: Catalyst IR8300 Series.
PoE Switches: Catalyst 9300/9400 Series, supporting high-density 90W UPoE+ for modern building deployments.
MikroTik focuses on affordable, versatile hardware suitable for labs, SMBs, and smaller ISPs:
Cloud Core Routers (CCR): High-performance routing with models like CCR2216 (100G networking, L3 hardware offloading).
Ethernet Routers: Cost-effective models like hEX S with SFP and PoE out.
PoE++ Switches: CRS320 Series, supporting 802.3af/at/bt for flexible powering.
Wireless Systems: Outdoor APs like NetMetal ax, LTE/5G routers, and IoT devices.
Operating Systems and Management
Cisco uses IOS and NX-OS, providing a mature, standardized CLI across devices with extensive enterprise features. Cisco DNA Center enables centralized management, monitoring, and automation, making it ideal for large-scale environments.
MikroTik devices run RouterOS, offering advanced routing, firewall, bandwidth management, and wireless features. While RouterOS CLI is powerful, Winbox GUI simplifies management for engineers who prefer graphical interfaces. RouterOS flexibility is ideal for custom configurations in labs, SMBs, and smaller ISPs.
Licensing Models
Cisco typically uses a tiered licensing model, requiring additional licenses for advanced features and support, leading to recurring costs but offering modular feature control for enterprises.
MikroTik uses simple, one-time licensing, with RouterOS licenses included in the device purchase, resulting in lower total cost of ownership and simplified management.
Performance and Scalability
Cisco delivers high-performance and scalability for enterprise and service provider environments, supporting high-density PoE, SD-WAN, and advanced routing protocols for mission-critical networks.
MikroTik offers impressive price-to-performance ratios, with CCR models providing high throughput and advanced routing capabilities suitable for demanding lab environments and cost-sensitive deployments.
Support and Ecosystem
Cisco provides a global support structure with TAC and a large certified engineer ecosystem, making it a reliable choice for mission-critical deployments.
MikroTik offers community-driven support, online resources, and formal training through MikroTik Training Centers and Academies, fostering a growing, accessible knowledge base.
Common Use Cases
People Also Ask
Q1: Is MikroTik good for enterprise? MikroTik is increasingly capable for certain enterprise needs, especially where cost constraints exist, but Cisco remains the preferred choice for large-scale, mission-critical environments due to its mature support ecosystem.
Q2: What is the main difference between Cisco and MikroTik? Cisco targets enterprises with robust support, advanced features, and high scalability, while MikroTik offers cost-effective, flexible hardware with RouterOS, ideal for SMBs, labs, and ISPs.
Q3: Does MikroTik support PoE? Yes. MikroTik offers PoE++ switches and routers with PoE out capabilities, supporting 802.3af/at/bt standards for powering APs, cameras, and IoT devices over Ethernet.
Q4: Which is better for a home lab, Cisco or MikroTik? MikroTik is often better for home labs due to its affordability and feature-rich RouterOS, while Cisco offers valuable CLI learning for those focusing on certifications and enterprise network simulation.
Q5: Why is Cisco so expensive? Cisco’s pricing reflects its enterprise-grade engineering, advanced feature sets, global support infrastructure, and long-term reliability in critical environments.
Final Thoughts
Both Cisco and MikroTik offer strong networking solutions, but they excel in different areas:
Cisco for enterprises needing robust support, advanced features, and high scalability.
MikroTik for SMBs, labs, and ISPs needing affordable, flexible, and capable routing and switching.
Ready to upgrade your network? Explore our extensive selection of Cisco and MikroTik switches and routers on Router-Switch and find the best fit for your environment.
