Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN
Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN: A broad Cisco SD-WAN platform for large, security-conscious network environments. Ranked #4 of 24 in SD-WAN Software by our editors (9.1/10); pricing: Pricing on request; best for large Cisco environments needing full SD-WAN.
At a glance
- Editor score9.1 / 10
- PricingPricing on request
- Best forLarge Cisco environments needing full SD-WAN
- Free planNo
- Deployment modelHybrid
- Founded1984 · San Jose, California, United States
- Facts checked19 Sep 2026
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.
Our verdict on Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN
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, and upgrade WAN edge infrastructure from a central platform. Zero-touch provisioning is available for supported WAN edge routers, while transport-independent overlays can use MPLS, broadband, public internet, and cellular links. Multitenancy supports organizations managing multiple network environments.
Application-aware routing is a central strength. Policies can use measured loss, latency, and jitter to direct application traffic across available transports. Cloud OnRamp extends connectivity to Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and SaaS applications. The platform also connects with services including Cisco Umbrella, Cisco Secure Firewall, Zscaler, Microsoft Entra SSE, Palo Alto Networks, Netskope, Skyhigh Security, Cloudflare, and ThousandEyes. This breadth makes it a fit for teams that need WAN, cloud connectivity, and security controls within a larger networking ecosystem.
Security features include an enterprise firewall with application awareness, intrusion prevention, URL filtering, DNS and web-layer security, and malware protection. Cisco documents cloud-hosted, cloud-delivered, on-premises, and customer-managed cloud control components, giving larger organizations several deployment models to evaluate. The published commercial model is contact sales, and there is no free plan. Choose Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN when broad routing, provisioning, cloud on-ramps, multitenancy, and integrated security are priorities; smaller teams seeking a simpler or self-serve WAN product should look elsewhere.
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Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN pricing
Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN fact sheet
| Free plan | No |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Deployment model | Hybrid |
| Application-aware routing | Yes |
| Zero-touch provisioning | Yes |
| Site limit | Not verified |
| Integrated security | Yes |
| Cloud on-ramps | Yes |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web |
| Integrations | 12 integrations: Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, Cisco Umbrella, Cisco Secure Firewall, Zscaler … |
| Pricing | Pricing on request |
| Website | cisco.com |
| Facts checked | 19 Sep 2026 |
Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN integrations
Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN lists 12 integrations on its own site.
- Amazon Web Services
- Google Cloud
- Microsoft Azure
- Cisco Umbrella
- Cisco Secure Firewall
- Zscaler
- Microsoft Entra SSE
- Palo Alto Networks
- Netskope
- Skyhigh Security
- Cloudflare
- ThousandEyes
Alternatives to Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN
- Arista VeloCloud SD-WANComplete SD-WAN coverage for large enterprises with routing, security, and cloud connectivity.9.4
- Cato SD-WANA cloud-first SD-WAN service that combines private transport, security, and cloud connectivity.9.3
- Fortinet Secure SD-WANA security-focused SD-WAN option with free basic functionality and extensive cloud connectivity.9.2
See all Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN alternatives →
Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN vs the competition
- Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN vs Arista VeloCloud SD-WAN
- Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN vs Cato SD-WAN
- Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN vs Fortinet Secure SD-WAN
- Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN vs Aryaka SD-WAN
- Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN vs HPE Aruba Networking EdgeConnect SD-WAN
- Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN vs Versa Secure SD-WAN
Compare Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN with any tool side by side →
Also Ranked In
Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN is ranked in 4 of our directories.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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