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Head-to-head · SD-WAN Software

Cato SD-WAN vs Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Cato SD-WAN #2 in SD-WAN Software 9.3/10 Pricing on request · 30-day trial Free trial✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Cato Networks
Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN #4 in SD-WAN Software 9.1/10 Pricing on request ✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Cisco

Cato SD-WAN leads on 0 checks, Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreCato SD-WAN · 9.3/10
  • Free trialonly Cato SD-WAN

Cato SD-WAN scores higher on our rubric for sd-wan software: 9.3 against 9.1 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #4.

On deployment model, Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN gives you Hybrid where Cato SD-WAN offers Cloud.

Cato SD-WAN is the better fit for cloud-first enterprises wanting integrated SASE. Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN is the better fit for large Cisco environments needing full SD-WAN.

  • Cato SD-WAN fits best

    Cloud-first enterprises wanting integrated SASE

  • Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN fits best

    Large Cisco environments needing full SD-WAN

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Cato SD-WAN 9.3/10 Visit ↗ Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN 9.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.3 9.1
Ranking #2 in SD-WAN Software #4 in SD-WAN Software
Best for Cloud-first enterprises wanting integrated SASE Large Cisco environments needing full SD-WAN
Pricing model Paid Paid
Starting price Pricing on request · 30-day trial Pricing on request
Free plan Not checked yet —
Free trial 30 days —
Deployment Cloud Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms Web Web
Integrations 12 integrations 12 integrations
Features Cato SD-WAN 4/4 · Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN 4/4
Application-aware routing ✓ ✓
Zero-touch provisioning ✓ ✓
Integrated security ✓ ✓
Cloud on-ramps ✓ ✓
Specs
Deployment model Cloud Hybrid
Site limit Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Integrated firewall, SWG, IPS, malware prevention, and ZTNA
  • Private backbone transport with multi-link WAN and traffic steering
  • Cloud connectivity, GraphQL API access, and broad integrations
  • Application-aware routing measures loss, latency, and jitter.
  • Cloud OnRamp connects AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, and SaaS applications.
  • Integrated security includes firewall, IPS, URL filtering, and malware protection.
Cons
  • Pricing requires a contact-sales process
  • The 30-day trial is for proof of concept, not an unlimited free plan
  • May exceed the needs of organizations seeking only basic branch routing
  • Pricing requires a contact-sales process rather than public plan prices.
  • There is no free plan.
  • Cloud-hosted, on-premises, and customer-managed options require deployment evaluation.
Our verdict

Cato SD-WAN is a cloud-delivered networking service for organizations connecting branch sites, cloud resources, applications, and remote users. It centralizes policy, application-aware routing, quality-of-service controls, monitoring, and…

Read the review →

Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN connects branch offices, campuses, data centers, and cloud environments through centralized management and policy-based routing. It is aimed at enterprise network teams that need to provision, monitor, troubleshoot,…

Read the review →
  1. Cato SD-WANSD-WAN Software 9.3Pricing on request · 30-day trial
  2. Cisco Catalyst SD-WANSD-WAN Software 9.1Pricing on request

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Cato SD-WAN — where it wins

    • Integrated firewall, SWG, IPS, malware prevention, and ZTNA
    • Private backbone transport with multi-link WAN and traffic steering
    • Cloud connectivity, GraphQL API access, and broad integrations

    Where it doesn't

    • Pricing requires a contact-sales process
    • The 30-day trial is for proof of concept, not an unlimited free plan
    • May exceed the needs of organizations seeking only basic branch routing

  • Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN — where it wins

    • Application-aware routing measures loss, latency, and jitter.
    • Cloud OnRamp connects AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, and SaaS applications.
    • Integrated security includes firewall, IPS, URL filtering, and malware protection.

    Where it doesn't

    • Pricing requires a contact-sales process rather than public plan prices.
    • There is no free plan.
    • Cloud-hosted, on-premises, and customer-managed options require deployment evaluation.
  • Cato SD-WAN9.3/10 · Pricing on request · 30-day trial

    A cloud-first SD-WAN service that combines private transport, security, and cloud connectivity.

    Visit Cato NetworksFull verdict →
  • Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN9.1/10 · Pricing on request

    A broad Cisco SD-WAN platform for large, security-conscious network environments.

    Visit CiscoFull verdict →

More comparisons

All SD-WAN software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update