VMware NSX vs Cisco Catalyst Center

VMware NSX9.3Visit CCCisco Catalyst Center9.0Visit

Higher score VMware NSX #1 in Software-Defined Networking Software 9.3/10 Pricing on request ✓ 2 of 2 features Visit VMware NSX

vs

CC Cisco Catalyst Center #3 in Software-Defined Networking Software 9.0/10 Pricing on request ✓ 0 of 2 features Visit Cisco

• VMware NSX fits best

  Virtualized and hybrid-cloud networking

• Cisco Catalyst Center fits best

  Cisco enterprise network automation

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Side by side

Feature	VMware NSX 9.3/10 Visit ↗	CCCisco Catalyst Center 9.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.3	9.0
Ranking	#1 in Software-Defined Networking Software	#3 in Software-Defined Networking Software
Best for	Virtualized and hybrid-cloud networking	Cisco enterprise network automation
Pricing model	Paid	Paid
Starting price	Pricing on request	Pricing on request
Free plan	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Self-hosted	Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms	Web	Web
Integrations	9 integrations	11 integrations
Features VMware NSX 2/2 · Cisco Catalyst Center 0/2
Policy segmentation	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Northbound API	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Specs
Deployment model	Hybrid	Hybrid
Control-plane model	Hybrid	Not checked yet
Supported protocols	GENEVE, VLAN, VXLAN, REST, HTTPS, IPFIX, Syslog, IPsec, BGP, OSPF, IS-IS, IPv4, IPv6	Not checked yet
Managed device limit	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Combines overlays, routing, firewalls, VPN, NAT, DHCP, and load balancing Micro-segmentation isolates workloads through centralized, policy-based controls Integrates with VMware, OpenStack, AWS, Azure, Ansible, and Terraform	Maps networks and maintains a continuously updated device inventory Automates provisioning, policy, compliance, backups, and software upgrades Extends operations through APIs, Terraform, Ansible, and many integrations
Cons	Contact-sales pricing makes direct cost comparison difficult Closed-source software is not suited to open-source-first teams Its broad enterprise scope may exceed simpler networking requirements	Pricing requires contact with Cisco sales A Catalyst software subscription is required for managed devices Its focus on Cisco infrastructure limits fit for mixed-vendor environments
Our verdict	VMware NSX is a software-defined networking and security platform for enterprise data centers, private clouds, and public-cloud workloads. It provides logical Layer 2 overlay networking with GENEVE, distributed and gateway firewalls,… Read the review →	Cisco Catalyst Center is a centralized network management system for enterprise campus and branch environments. It manages Cisco wired and wireless infrastructure across discovery, topology mapping, inventory, provisioning, configuration,… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• VMware NSX — where it wins

  • Combines overlays, routing, firewalls, VPN, NAT, DHCP, and load balancing
  • Micro-segmentation isolates workloads through centralized, policy-based controls
  • Integrates with VMware, OpenStack, AWS, Azure, Ansible, and Terraform

  Where it doesn't

  • Contact-sales pricing makes direct cost comparison difficult
  • Closed-source software is not suited to open-source-first teams
  • Its broad enterprise scope may exceed simpler networking requirements

• Cisco Catalyst Center — where it wins

  • Maps networks and maintains a continuously updated device inventory
  • Automates provisioning, policy, compliance, backups, and software upgrades
  • Extends operations through APIs, Terraform, Ansible, and many integrations

  Where it doesn't

  • Pricing requires contact with Cisco sales
  • A Catalyst software subscription is required for managed devices
  • Its focus on Cisco infrastructure limits fit for mixed-vendor environments

• VMware NSX9.3/10 · Pricing on request

  A broad hybrid-cloud networking and security platform with contact-sales pricing.

  Visit VMware NSXFull verdict →
• CCCisco Catalyst Center9.0/10 · Pricing on request

  A broad Cisco network-operations platform for discovery, automation, compliance, and assurance.

  Visit CiscoFull verdict →