How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN and Fortinet Secure SD-WAN suit large estates that already use those vendors for routing or security, since one team can operate both domains.
- VMware VeloCloud and HPE Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN lead for performance-sensitive branches where application quality and failover matter most.
- Aryaka, Cato Networks, and Cloudflare Magic WAN replace carrier-managed MPLS with a cloud backbone or managed service, which shortens deployment for global sites.
- Palo Alto Prisma SD-WAN and Versa Networks fit buyers that want security and networking under one policy model, rather than bolting security onto a separate WAN.
- No SD-WAN product matches MPLS quality guarantees on a poor internet link, so pilot with real branch traffic before you retire a private circuit.
Quick comparison
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The best MPLS alternatives
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN, which grew out of Viptela, is the default shortlist item for enterprises already standardized on Cisco. It combines Catalyst routers with cloud-delivered management, integrated security, and multicloud access, so a team can move from MPLS to broadband, LTE, and direct internet links without changing its core routing vendor. Central policy and zero-touch provisioning help at scale, where dozens of branches need the same template.
The complexity is licensing and choice. Cisco also offers Meraki SD-WAN for cloud-managed branches, and buyers sometimes struggle to pick the right line for each site type. Pricing is quote based and tied to hardware, licenses, and support, so request a site-by-site quote rather than budgeting from a single list price.
What we like- Broad router and controller portfolio
- Strong multicloud connectivity
- Central management and zero-touch deployment
Watch out for- Licensing depends on hardware and tier
- Two Cisco SD-WAN lines can confuse buyers
- Quote based pricing slows budgeting
#2
VMware VeloCloud SD-WAN
Best for: Performance-sensitive branches
Visit vmware.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
VeloCloud focuses on application performance, which is why it appears so often in MPLS replacement projects for voice, video, and SaaS traffic. Its edge devices monitor link quality, steer traffic per application, and remediate packet loss and jitter in real time, rather than waiting for a link to fail. Cloud gateways give branches a fast path to SaaS and cloud workloads without backhauling everything through headquarters.
Security is the area to scope carefully. VeloCloud handles WAN performance well, but buyers who want full SASE security may need to pair it with a separate security service or choose a converged platform instead. Pilot it on your worst-performing branches first, since that is where its remediation shows the clearest difference.
What we like- Application-aware routing and remediation
- Strong cloud gateway network
- Flexible edge, virtual, or provider delivery
Watch out for- Quote based pricing
- Security depth needs added layers for some buyers
- Provider delivery varies by region
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Fortinet Secure SD-WAN runs on FortiGate appliances, which means one box can handle firewall, SD-WAN, switching, and wireless at a branch. That consolidation appeals to teams that want fewer devices, fewer vendors, and one management console for network and security policy. It is a strong fit for retail, healthcare, and distributed offices where security cannot be an afterthought.
The limitation is heritage. Fortinet is primarily a security vendor, so buyers who prioritize pure routing depth or third-party security tools should test integration early. Appliance sizing also matters: an undersized FortiGate will bottleneck SD-WAN performance, so size for peak encrypted throughput, not average traffic.
What we like- Firewall and SD-WAN on one FortiGate appliance
- Good for software-defined branch
- Strong value for security-led teams
Watch out for- Primarily a security vendor heritage
- Third-party security integration can be limited
- Appliance sizing needs care
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Prisma SD-WAN pairs branch routing with Palo Alto cloud-delivered security through Prisma Access, forming a unified SASE offer. That pairing helps security-led organizations apply consistent policy to branch, remote, and cloud traffic, with experience monitoring to spot application issues. For teams already using Palo Alto firewalls, the policy model feels familiar.
Cost and complexity are the honest catches. Prisma SASE is often priced at a premium, and the full value requires adopting its security stack, not just its WAN routing. It is less suited to buyers who want a routing-only replacement and plan to keep a separate security vendor.
What we like- Combines SD-WAN with Prisma Access security
- Digital experience management included
- Strong security policy controls
Watch out for- Quote based and often premium priced
- Less campus LAN depth than Cisco or Aruba
- Setup is more complex than a basic SD-WAN
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Aryaka delivers SD-WAN as a managed service over its own private global backbone, rather than selling you boxes to run yourself. That model suits international firms that struggle with carrier lead times, inconsistent broadband quality, and limited local IT staff at remote sites. Aryaka handles deployment, monitoring, and carrier issues, and it bundles security options in its unified SASE offer.
Control is the trade-off. Teams that want to tune every routing policy themselves, or that already have a strong network operations center, may find a managed service restrictive. Ask how carrier faults are escalated, what service levels cover each region, and how quickly a new site can go live in your specific countries.
What we like- Private global backbone
- Fully managed deployment and operations
- Bundled security in unified SASE offer
Watch out for- Managed model gives less direct control
- Quote based pricing
- Less suited to DIY network teams
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Cloudflare Magic WAN connects branches, data centers, and cloud networks over Cloudflare global network, using tunnels and routing to replace private MPLS links for many workloads. It appeals to cloud-centric firms that already use Cloudflare for DNS, content delivery, or Zero Trust access, since WAN policy can sit alongside those controls. Its global footprint helps distributed teams reach SaaS and cloud resources with fewer hops.
Legacy and voice workloads need a pilot. Check support for older protocols, quality of service for real-time traffic, and how Magic WAN handles sites with poor local internet. Pricing is quote based, so model it per site and per bandwidth tier, not as a flat per-user fee.
What we like- Global anycast network for branch connectivity
- Strong DDoS and security heritage
- Flexible tunnel and routing options
Watch out for- Magic WAN pricing is quote based
- Best fit is cloud-centric estates
- Legacy protocol support needs checking
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Cato Networks converges SD-WAN and cloud-native security on one platform, with sites connecting over a global private backbone managed from a single console. That convergence removes the policy and log fragmentation that happens when WAN, firewall, and Zero Trust tools come from different vendors. Mid-market and enterprise buyers consolidating tools often shortlist Cato for that reason alone.
The commitment is also the risk. Cato works best when you adopt its platform as a whole, so buyers who want to keep a separate security vendor for the SSE layer may prefer a more modular option. Run a pilot across at least two regions, and check backbone performance, failover behavior, and support response before a broad rollout.
What we like- Single converged SD-WAN and security platform
- Global private backbone
- One policy and one log set across sites
Watch out for- Single-vendor SASE commitment
- Less suited to best-of-breed buyers
- Quote based pricing
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Versa Networks offers secure SD-WAN with a multi-tenant design that carriers, managed service providers, and large enterprises use to serve many customers or business units from one platform. It can be delivered as software, on appliances, or as a managed service, which gives buyers flexibility in how much they operate themselves. Segmentation and security controls are strong, making it useful for firms that must isolate traffic by tenant, site, or application.
Delivery quality can vary by partner, so the provider matters as much as the product when you buy Versa through an MSP. Ask who operates the controllers, how tenancy is delegated, and what happens if you later move operations in-house. Enterprise buyers new to Versa should also confirm reference customers in their industry.
What we like- Multi-tenant architecture for carriers and MSPs
- Software, appliance, or managed delivery
- Strong segmentation and security
Watch out for- Less brand familiarity for some enterprise buyers
- Partner delivery quality varies
- Quote based pricing
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
HPE Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN, based on Silver Peak technology, is known for WAN optimization and application performance at scale. It suits large branch estates that need to squeeze more performance from broadband links, with centralized orchestration and business-intent policies that prioritize critical applications. Integration with the wider Aruba branch portfolio helps firms already using Aruba switching and wireless.
Choice is the main complication, since Aruba also offers SD-Branch options that integrate across its portfolio. Confirm which line fits each site type, and scope how security service edge features from the Axis acquisition fit your SASE plan. As with other enterprise WAN tools, pricing is quote based and depends on hardware, bandwidth, and support.
What we like- Strong WAN optimization heritage from Silver Peak
- Good for large branch estates
- Integrates with Aruba branch portfolio
Watch out for- Two Aruba SD-WAN lines can confuse choice
- SSE integration needs scoping
- Quote based pricing
How we chose
We compared vendor documentation, pricing pages, and public reviews on G2, Capterra, and Reddit, focusing on the core MPLS replacement job: connect branches reliably, prioritize critical traffic, and reach cloud and SaaS apps without backhauling everything. A product made the list only if it is sold today as SD-WAN, SASE, or a managed WAN service that can replace MPLS links. Because enterprise WAN pricing is almost always quote based, we wrote See website in the structured fields rather than inventing per-site prices.
Planning a move away from MPLS
Do not retire MPLS in one step. A hybrid period, where SD-WAN carries general traffic and MPLS keeps only latency-sensitive or regulated traffic, gives you data on real performance before you commit.
Pilot on real branches, not in a lab
Pick branches with different link quality, including one with poor broadband, one with heavy voice use, and one international site. Measure latency, jitter, packet loss, and SaaS performance for at least a full business cycle.
Check security before you cut circuits
Confirm firewall, Zero Trust, segmentation, and logging coverage for every traffic path SD-WAN will carry. A WAN that is faster but less inspected is not an upgrade for regulated workloads.
Model the full cost per site
Add hardware or virtual edge costs, licenses, support, broadband, LTE or 5G backup, and managed service fees. Compare that total with the MPLS circuit it replaces, site by site, since savings vary widely by country and bandwidth.
Plan for internet quality gaps
SD-WAN cannot fix a bad last-mile link on its own. Budget for dual links, LTE or 5G backup, or a managed backbone service at sites where a single broadband connection is unreliable.
Frequently asked questions
Is SD-WAN a direct replacement for MPLS?
For most general and cloud traffic, yes, but not for every workload. SD-WAN improves flexibility and cost on good internet links, while MPLS still offers predictable private performance for latency-sensitive traffic. Many firms run a hybrid of both.
How long does SD-WAN deployment take?
It is usually faster than MPLS provisioning, often days to weeks per site once hardware and links are ready, compared with months for some private circuits. International sites, permits, and local broadband availability can still slow the timeline.
Do I still need MPLS for voice and video?
Not always, but test it first. SD-WAN remediation and dual links handle many voice and video workloads well, yet sites with poor internet may still need a private link or a managed backbone for consistent quality.
What is the difference between SD-WAN and SASE?
SD-WAN is the connectivity layer that routes branch traffic intelligently. SASE adds cloud-delivered security, such as firewall, Zero Trust access, and data protection, to that connectivity in one platform or service.
Can SD-WAN improve cloud and SaaS performance?
Yes, when it routes traffic directly to cloud providers instead of backhauling through headquarters. That direct path usually cuts latency for SaaS apps, but results depend on local internet quality and gateway placement.
Should small firms replace MPLS with SD-WAN?
Small firms with a few sites often benefit most, since broadband plus SD-WAN is usually cheaper and easier to scale than private circuits. Start with a managed or cloud-delivered option if you do not have a dedicated network team.
Sources we checked (9)
- https://www.cisco.com/pricing
- https://www.vmware.com/pricing
- https://www.fortinet.com/pricing
- https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/pricing
- https://www.aryaka.com/pricing
- https://www.cloudflare.com/pricing
- https://www.catonetworks.com/pricing
- https://www.versa-networks.com/pricing
- https://www.arubanetworks.com/pricing
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.
Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN
Fortinet Secure SD-WAN
Palo Alto Prisma SD-WAN
Aryaka
Cloudflare Magic WAN
Cato Networks
Versa Networks
HPE Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN