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Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) vs Ekahau AI Pro comparison

Why PeerSpot?
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 15, 2026

Review summaries and opinions

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

Categories and Ranking

Cisco Modeling Labs (CML)
Ranking in Network Modeling and Simulation
2nd
Average Rating
6.0
Reviews Sentiment
3.2
Number of Reviews
2
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Ekahau AI Pro
Ranking in Network Modeling and Simulation
1st
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
35
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2026, in the Network Modeling and Simulation category, the mindshare of Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) is 7.0%, down from 11.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Ekahau AI Pro is 6.6%, down from 16.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Network Modeling and Simulation Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Ekahau AI Pro6.6%
Cisco Modeling Labs (CML)7.0%
Other86.4%
Network Modeling and Simulation
 

Featured Reviews

OB
CEO at a energy/utilities company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Limited support and costly setup detract from potential benefits
The stability of Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) is not very good. The iOSs consume so much memory that most typical machines do not have sufficient memory to utilize. For example, the Cisco 9200 iOSs require 24 gigabytes of memory to run in that tool, and that is only one image.
ALEXANDRE VIANNA - PeerSpot reviewer
CTO at Redeswirelessbrasil
Good optimization capabilities, automatic network planning tool and saves time
Ekahau needs to enhance the view of materials and make some adjustments to the reports. Currently, it's possible to make changes to the Word report using Python, but it could be improved. For example, when I create an AP on a survey report, information like the cable view, distance, and support assessments could be enhanced. Only one comment about Ekahau Optimizer. It needs improvement. I tried to upload site products, and for five products, I needed to involve Ekahau's supply chain. When I try to solve that, it's not possible. For example, I uploaded one product for a large bank, and the optimizer didn't finish. I needed to involve Ekahau support, and they sent me the file two or three days after I opened the case.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The initial setup of Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) is straightforward, but the images are complex and expensive to set up because they do not provide those for free."
"The ease of use of Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) is very valuable to me because it is straightforward."
"The speed, accuracy, and reliability has improved the way my organization functions."
"I don't handle the software that much. I'll do some of the testing with our CTO. It is primarily him and I. He has commented before that he likes the fact that with two licenses, we can set it up so that when we're on a large facility, he can see where I am and I can see where he is. That's for sure is very handy in large venues."
"The troubleshooting tools are the most valuable feature of the solution, plus the fact that you can have all the software you need in one place is really handy and convenient."
"I have found the most valuable feature is the RF interference and integration capabilities."
"It is a stable solution."
"There are some survey tools that are a little easier to use, but the benefit of using the Ekahau is that it is very configurable. If you go into a building that has solid cement walls, instead of traditional walls, you can configure it for that. It is much more configurable than the other ones."
"The product is mature and provides ease of use regarding large-scale planning and reporting."
"Planning a WiFi network, you can estimate the number of APs you need without error and it is perfect for knowing the problems of a WiFi network because you can see the radio state."
 

Cons

"Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) could improve by providing more in-depth switch options. For example, I cannot lab stacking at all."
"The stability of Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) is not very good. The iOSs consume so much memory that most typical machines do not have sufficient memory to utilize."
"The report generation has room for improvement and is missing small details."
"I would say that the indoor site accuracy is pretty good but the outdoor one should be improved. I would say if there was a way to put trees in there and canopies, that would be great."
"In all of our buildings, whenever we deploy wireless access points, we also have to deploy wireless intrusion detections. The Ekahau Site Survey tool doesn't allow us to differentiate between the access point and the intrusion detection device. That's because they're the same devices, but they're configured differently for the type of usage. That's one area that I would ask them to improve. They should allow the identification of access points versus wireless intrusion detection."
"Ekahau needs to enhance the view of materials and make some adjustments to the reports."
"The stability has just been really bad lately."
"I wish the solution was better at making different survey modes."
"The only issue is the price. The overall price is a bit high, especially compared to our other vendor. Ekahau is considered expensive."
"Batch reporting for large projects with many project files."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available
"The pricing is quite expensive. Not all companies can afford it"
"The pricing is high."
"That's a tricky thing. When it started off, we had one three-year license and one one-year license because we have two devices. Now, from my understanding, we can only renew every year or get a one-year license, and that cost varies. Being a government organization, we get a different cost than commercial. We have deployed it on Surface Pro tablets. So, the only other cost would be the hardware cost."
"This solution is not cheap. If you only need an occasional site survey, you are better off contracting a wireless engineering professional that has one."
"The licenses are a little pricey compared to iBwave, etc."
"We pay a licensing fee."
"The product is quite expensive."
"The solution is less costly than one of its competitors."
report
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Comms Service Provider
12%
University
11%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Comms Service Provider
11%
Computer Software Company
9%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Outsourcing Company
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business20
Midsize Enterprise2
Large Enterprise15
 

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco Modeling Labs (CML)?
On a scale of 1 to 10, Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) is about eight or nine in terms of expense.
What needs improvement with Cisco Modeling Labs (CML)?
There are other areas where they could improve the product in my opinion.
What is your primary use case for Cisco Modeling Labs (CML)?
I have always used Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) in lieu of building practical labs and buying products for the labs so I can simulate configurations and test interoperability and things of that nature.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Ekahau Site Survey?
Things to consider when choosing Ekahau Sidekick2: you need to add another 10% to the purchase price to buy Apple ipads as the Android version of the Ekahau survey app does NOT support APOS surveys...
What needs improvement with Ekahau Site Survey?
Ekahau could be improved by adding three-dimensional modeling, as we currently cannot view APIs in a three-dimensional perspective. They need to include backhaul features and improve the ease of in...
What is your primary use case for Ekahau Site Survey?
I use Ekahau for Wi-Fi designs and other services. It is used for troubleshooting and for analyzing the network. Additionally, we analyze each and every API, FSID, power transmission, bitrates, and...
 

Also Known As

No data available
Ekahau Site Survey
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
Presidio, Planet Earth, Ruckus
Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) vs. Ekahau AI Pro and other solutions. Updated: September 2026.
917,433 professionals have used our research since 2012.