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Cisco Catalyst Switches vs HPE ProCurve comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Apr 20, 2025

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

ROI

Sentiment score
6.7
Cisco Catalyst Switches offer excellent ROI and efficiency over time, though some users express concerns about pricing.
Sentiment score
6.3
HPE ProCurve delivers varied ROI experiences influenced by performance, stability, and billing-based service usage, extending infrastructure utility.
From an investment standpoint, deploying Cisco Catalyst Switches offers tangible benefits, including cost reductions.
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
6.9
Cisco Catalyst Switches support is generally praised for responsiveness, though some users report slower responses and declining expertise.
Sentiment score
6.8
HPE ProCurve support is praised for efficiency and responsiveness but some users desire faster response times and enhanced service.
Cisco support is very good and responsive.
Cisco's support is good, one of the best supports that you will get.
I am paying for Cisco support and would rate it nine out of ten.
The need to frequently contact support suggests we are not getting sufficient effectiveness from the service.
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.6
Cisco Catalyst Switches offer scalability, adaptability, and ease of integration, making them ideal for enterprises of all sizes.
Sentiment score
7.5
HPE ProCurve is highly scalable for small to medium businesses, though HPE Aruba is becoming more popular.
The scalability of Cisco Catalyst Switches is very much scalable, as it supports the stacking feature and growth; for instance, with 94K modular switches, based on the requirement, we can even increase modules for more bandwidth.
Cisco Catalyst Switches are scalable, and I would rate them eight to nine out of ten for scalability.
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
8.2
Cisco Catalyst Switches are highly reliable, with rare hardware issues, operating stably for years without significant downtime.
Sentiment score
8.2
HPE ProCurve is highly stable and reliable, with strong support and preferable performance over alternatives like Cisco.
Cisco Catalyst Switches are stable.
It is 60 to 70% stable, depending on usage intensity.
 

Room For Improvement

Cisco Catalyst Switches face issues with pricing, integration, usability, stability, support, and require enhanced security, manageability, and cloud features.
HPE ProCurve users seek enhanced usability, scalability, affordability, security, intuitive interfaces, speed, stability, and better integration and support.
Currently, I don't see much AI integration with Cisco Catalyst Switches; though they've started, it still needs improvement.
The configuration options on the Cisco Commerce website could be more efficient.
There could be improvements in the repeat configuration with some file integration that is currently missing.
When running bots, the system occasionally gets stuck, requiring reboots which result in memory loss and data loss.
 

Setup Cost

Cisco Catalyst Switches are expensive but praised for quality, with licensing complexities; bulk buying can reduce costs.
HPE ProCurve offers competitive and straightforward pricing with a lifetime warranty, seen as budget-friendly compared to Cisco.
Cisco provides unique features that justify their pricing.
Cisco Catalyst Switches are quite pricey.
Cisco usually is costly compared to other vendors.
For market-related sites, AWS pricing becomes significantly higher compared to DigitalOcean.
 

Valuable Features

Cisco Catalyst Switches provide reliable performance, advanced features, and intuitive management for efficient, high-speed networking in various environments.
HPE ProCurve offers a reliable, user-friendly network solution with lifetime warranty, scalability, and excellent performance at competitive pricing.
Cisco Catalyst Switches are valuable for their reliability and performance.
Catalyst Switches are efficient and swift, which is valuable for my organization.
The most beneficial features for our network management are their stability and good customer support.
It offers easy scalability and migration between different configurations.
 

Categories and Ranking

Cisco Catalyst Switches
Ranking in LAN Switching
1st
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
176
Ranking in other categories
Ethernet Switches (7th), Data Center Networking (1st), AV Over IP Switching (1st)
HPE ProCurve
Ranking in LAN Switching
5th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
39
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the LAN Switching category, the mindshare of Cisco Catalyst Switches is 28.1%, down from 31.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of HPE ProCurve is 12.6%, down from 13.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
LAN Switching
 

Featured Reviews

Joshua Odunsi - PeerSpot reviewer
Ensures efficient performance and supports network growth with optimal speed
Catalyst Switches are efficient and swift, which is valuable for my organization. I experience optimal speed and effective configuration, making them stand out compared to other switches. The PoE switches offer more ports on SFP, and it is efficient in use. Overall, the switches provide me with the value I expect in terms of speed and efficiency.
Sandeep Rajguru - PeerSpot reviewer
Offers reliability and helps with vulnerability assessment
I use HPE ProCurve network in our organization. I can say that the product has improved the network flexibility in our company since I haven't seen any challenges from the last seven to eight years. The most valuable product for network management revolves around the area of VSB, also known as virtual switch bonding, which can quickly attach two or three switches or make them come together to quickly form a single switch. From a security perspective, my company does vulnerability assessment. From a security perspective, my company does vulnerability assessment. Following the hardening guidelines, the switches are configured according to the hardening parameters. The tool's reliability and uptime match our company's needs. My company enjoyed configuring the switches a lot, especially since we saw similarities between Cisco's and HPS's configuration processes. HPE ProCurve is user-friendly. We have a different product for network management, so my company doesn't use HPE ProCurve since we have already collaborated with some third-party products. I recommend the product to those who plan to use it. I recommend the product to those who plan to use it, especially since I have been using it without any issues for many years. I rate the tool a nine out of ten.
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Educational Organization
53%
Computer Software Company
8%
Manufacturing Company
4%
Financial Services Firm
4%
Educational Organization
12%
Computer Software Company
11%
Comms Service Provider
11%
Government
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

Would you recommend replacing a Cisco Catalyst Switch by a D-link one?
Hello Mesfin It depends on the real scenario, the cisco 2960 is a very good device and they usually have routing functions but there are many different models within the same 2960 line, and on the ...
What do you like most about Cisco Catalyst Switches?
We are a vendor for the healthcare sector, especially hospitals, and normally, we use a full Cisco solution for stability, especially for the stability of the Access Points and the security of swit...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco Catalyst Switches?
For pricing satisfaction, I'd say it will be six to seven because Cisco usually is costly compared to other vendors. Regarding pricing, there is indeed room for improvement.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for HPE ProCurve?
HPE ProCurve is competitively priced, with a difference of approximately 30 to 35% compared to other vendors like Cisco. This makes it a viable option for businesses with limited budgets, particula...
What needs improvement with HPE ProCurve?
The product could improve scalability and support for advanced networking features. Including advanced interfaces like QSFP and enhanced support for AI-driven network solutions would make it more c...
 

Also Known As

Cisco Catalyst, Catalyst
ProCurve, HP ProCurve
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Afni, Anilana Hotels and Resorts, Baylor Scott & White Health, Beachbody, Bellevue, Del Papa Distributing, Explorer Pipeline, Mindtree, Omaha World Herald, Radio 538, Sony Corporation, Telecom Italia, Telenor Arena
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Cardinal Newman Catholic Secondary School, DY 4 Systems, EdgeWing, Edmonton Public Schools District, Halton Catholic District School Board, Hartwick College, Hatch Associates, Huntingdon College, Roseville Joint Union High School District, Saddleback Valley Unified School District, One Superior Place
Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Catalyst Switches vs. HPE ProCurve and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
855,266 professionals have used our research since 2012.