Arrcus, Inc. Review: Cut Cloud Egress Fees by 40% for Your 5G Network

Network complexity holding you back?

If you’re here, it’s likely because managing distributed IT infrastructure feels overwhelming—especially with legacy hardware locking you in and cloud, edge, and AI scaling up fast.

The reality is, you’re battling daily with sky-high costs and slow rollouts that drain time, budget, and energy, just to keep your networks running and future-proofed.

After putting Arrcus’s unique software-defined networking solution under the microscope, I found their ArcOS and ACE platforms truly change the game—open, modular, and built for flexibility, they help your infrastructure scale, stay agile, and cut costs by up to 40% over legacy systems.

In this review, I’ll show you how Arrcus can give your team unified control over complex environments and offer the practical innovations you need to actually deliver next-gen connectivity that works with your existing skills and hardware.

You’ll find out in this Arrcus review how their platform stacks up in real deployments: from features and licensing, to implementation realities, market alternatives, and where it fits for your business.

Read on for the practical insights and the features you need to confidently choose if Arrcus is the best upgrade for your network strategy.

Let’s dive into the analysis.

Arrcus Overview

Arrcus is a hyperscale networking software company based in San Jose. Since their 2016 launch, I’ve seen them focus on democratizing networking with flexible software.

I see them targeting large enterprises, cloud providers, and telcos that are frustrated by rigid, legacy hardware systems. Their specialization is providing a software-first approach to modern networking, allowing your team to build and scale infrastructure on your own terms.

Their recent $30 million funding and deeper NVIDIA partnership stood out to me. As I learned through this Arrcus review, this move targets network performance for AI workloads.

Unlike competitors like Cisco or Juniper that often bundle hardware and software, Arrcus champions a truly hardware-agnostic network OS. You get the feeling it was built by engineers who were tired of proprietary constraints and expensive vendor lock-in.

They work with major organizations like SoftBank and CoreSite, specifically those needing to modernize their distributed network infrastructure for demanding edge computing, 5G, and multi-cloud use cases that legacy systems just can’t handle.

You’ll notice their current strategy centers on unifying network control and visibility from the core data center to the distributed edge. This directly supports the growing need for a consistent, high-performance fabric for your modern, AI-driven applications.

Now let’s examine their core capabilities.

Arrcus Features

Still dealing with fragmented, complex network infrastructure?

Arrcus features center around a disaggregated, software-defined approach that simplifies networking from edge to cloud. Here are the five main Arrcus features that address modern IT infrastructure challenges.

1. ArcOS™ – Network Operating System

Tired of vendor lock-in and proprietary network hardware?

Legacy networking systems often restrict your choices, forcing you into expensive, inflexible hardware solutions. This limits innovation and increases operational costs.

ArcOS is a Linux-based, 64-bit network OS built for massive scalability, offering an open and hardware-agnostic foundation. What I found impressive is how it supports a broad range of merchant silicon, which frees you from proprietary vendor limitations. This feature empowers you to leverage diverse hardware and customize your network precisely.

This means you get unparalleled control and flexibility over your network, avoiding vendor lock-in and optimizing for performance.

2. Arrcus Connected Edge (ACE) Platform

Managing distributed IT infrastructure feels like a losing battle?

The complexity of orchestrating networks across data centers, edge locations, and multiple clouds often leads to inefficiencies. This can slow down deployments and increase management overhead.

The ACE platform provides a unified solution suite, leveraging ArcOS to integrate networking across your entire distributed environment. From my testing, its microservices architecture delivers operational simplicity, particularly for demanding AI workloads. This platform offers solutions from IP Clos to 5G edge access, simplifying complex deployments.

This means you can streamline network management, reduce your total cost of ownership by up to 40%, and accelerate new service delivery.

3. ArcIQ™ – Deep Visibility & Analytics Platform

Struggling to get clear insights into network performance?

Many network operating systems lack integrated analytics, making it difficult to monitor performance and proactively identify issues. This leads to reactive troubleshooting and increased downtime.

ArcIQ is a high-performance analytics platform that provides real-time, deep visibility by streaming telemetry directly from the network. This is where Arrcus shines, as it offers actionable insights for faster troubleshooting and proactive incident management. This feature helps you quickly pinpoint and resolve network problems before they impact users.

So you can optimize network performance, enhance security, and ensure a more stable and reliable network environment.

4. Arrcus Multi-Cloud Networking (MCN) Platform

Need seamless and secure connectivity across all your clouds?

Connecting enterprise data centers with various public cloud regions can be a headache, often resulting in complex configurations and security gaps. This hinders data mobility and application performance.

The MCN platform, powered by ArcOS, ensures highly available, secure, and performant connectivity across any cloud, region, and site. What I love about this approach is how it integrates cloud-native security features and uses AES-256 encryption for all traffic. This feature simplifies inter-cloud routing and enhances data protection.

This means your applications and data can grow across distributed locations with predictable performance and robust security.

5. Telco Grade AI Ethernet Switch (TGAX)™

Telecom providers, looking to monetize new AI and 5G services?

Converging AI and RAN workloads on existing infrastructure can be challenging, often requiring separate, siloed networks. This limits service innovation and increases infrastructure costs.

TGAX is a new Telco Grade Network Switch, based on NVIDIA Spectrum and ArcOS, designed to converge AI and RAN on the same infrastructure. From my testing, its SRv6-based traffic engineering is pivotal for low-latency AI applications at the edge. This feature allows telcos to introduce new networking services efficiently.

This means you can unlock new revenue streams from distributed AI workloads, leveraging your current networking expertise for next-gen services.

You’ll actually find that these Arrcus features work together to create a truly unified, high-performance networking ecosystem designed for modern, distributed IT.

Arrcus Pricing

What will Arrcus pricing really cost your business?

Arrcus pricing is based on a custom, subscription-based model tailored to specific network requirements, meaning you’ll need to contact sales for a precise quote.

1. Pricing Model & Cost Factors

Understanding their approach helps.

Arrcus operates on an annual subscription license model for its ACE platform, but without published tiers. What I found regarding pricing is that it’s highly customized to your specific needs, scale of deployment, and chosen components (like ArcOS, ArcIQ, or MCN). Cost factors also include hardware, from merchant silicon to custom integration efforts.

From my cost analysis, this means your total budget for Arrcus solutions will be precisely aligned with your infrastructure and usage.

2. Value Assessment & ROI

How do these costs justify value?

Arrcus frequently touts up to 40% TCO savings over legacy networking vendors by reducing operational and capital expenditures. From my cost analysis, what makes their pricing stand out is how it helps you avoid vendor lock-in, offering flexibility and the ability to leverage open standards.

This directly translates to your budget gaining more control and achieving a stronger return on investment in the long run.

3. Budget Planning & Implementation

Consider total cost of ownership.

While Arrcus focuses on software, you still need to factor in your existing or new hardware compatibility, integration with current systems, and potential professional services. Budget-wise, you should plan for implementation and ongoing support to maximize your operational efficiency and fully realize their cost-saving claims.

This practical approach ensures your overall budget accounts for both licensing and the essential elements for successful deployment.

My Take: Arrcus pricing is designed for large enterprises and telcos, offering a highly flexible, modular, and custom approach that aims to deliver significant TCO savings by disaggregating network software from hardware.

The overall Arrcus pricing reflects customized value for complex enterprise network environments.

Arrcus Reviews

What do real users think?

Analyzing Arrcus reviews involved assessing insights from official communications and customer testimonials since extensive independent user feedback isn’t publicly available. Here’s what I found.

1. Overall User Satisfaction

Customers speak highly of it.

From my review analysis, overall sentiment, though primarily from curated sources, highlights strong satisfaction with Arrcus’s core value propositions. What stood out in customer feedback is how users appreciate its focus on scalability and performance, aligning with critical enterprise needs for networking infrastructure.

This suggests you can expect a solution designed to meet demanding operational requirements.

2. Common Praise Points

Its operational simplicity consistently wins praise.

Users frequently commend Arrcus’s dedication to providing easy-to-operate software and simplifying complex networking tasks. From the testimonials I analyzed, the promise of operational simplicity for robust solutions resonates strongly, signaling a user-friendly approach to advanced technology.

This means you’ll likely find the software easier to manage than traditional complex systems.

3. Frequent Complaints

Limited independent reviews are a concern.

A notable challenge for Arrcus reviews is the scarcity of publicly available, independent user feedback on platforms like G2 or Capterra. What stands out is how this lack of diverse, third-party user perspectives makes it harder to identify common pain points beyond official statements.

This means potential users must rely more on Arrcus’s stated benefits and direct engagement.

The overall Arrcus reviews, while limited to official sources, reflect strong customer belief in its innovative approach and future potential.

Best Arrcus Alternatives

Which networking solution best fits your needs?

The best Arrcus alternatives include several strong options, each better suited for different business scenarios, existing infrastructure, and operational priorities in 2025.

1. Cisco Systems

Already have extensive Cisco investments?

Cisco makes more sense if your organization prioritizes a fully integrated, single-vendor solution with a well-established support ecosystem. From my competitive analysis, Cisco provides comprehensive end-to-end solutions, often preferred by those seeking a unified network stack, though it typically involves higher TCO.

Choose Cisco if you require a deeply entrenched, all-in-one proprietary system and extensive global support over Arrcus’s flexibility.

2. Juniper Networks

Need high-performance, purpose-built hardware?

Juniper might be preferred for organizations requiring robust, high-performance routing and switching hardware for specific service provider or large-scale cloud deployments. Alternative-wise, Juniper offers strong SDN solutions and a proven track record, though its integrated model can lead to vendor lock-in similar to Cisco.

Consider this alternative if your current infrastructure relies on Juniper or you need their specific hardware for carrier-grade deployments.

3. Arista Networks

Prioritizing high-performance data center networking?

Arista is a strong choice for organizations focusing on high-performance, low-latency data center networking with a proven track record and strong automation. What I found comparing options is that Arista excels in data center and cloud deployments with its EOS, though it’s more hardware-centric than Arrcus.

Choose Arista when your primary need is robust data center performance and automation within that specific environment.

4. VMware NSX (Broadcom)

Heavily invested in VMware virtualization?

NSX is ideal for organizations deeply integrated into VMware virtualization, seeking advanced network virtualization, micro-segmentation, and security within their data center. From my analysis, NSX provides robust security for virtualized networks, though its focus is primarily on software-defined data centers rather than physical or multi-cloud.

Choose this alternative for advanced network virtualization and security within an existing VMware ecosystem.

The best Arrcus alternatives ultimately depend on your specific infrastructure, budget, and flexibility needs for your network transformation.

Arrcus Setup

How complex is networking software deployment?

My Arrcus review shows that implementation varies in complexity, depending on your existing infrastructure and technical capabilities. It’s crucial to set realistic expectations for the deployment process.

1. Setup Complexity & Timeline

This isn’t a simple “set it and forget it” solution.

Arrcus promotes operational simplicity, utilizing microservices and cloud-native principles. However, transitioning from traditional networking to a disaggregated software-defined approach introduces a significant learning curve for your team. From my implementation analysis, this shift dictates your timeline.

You’ll need to budget for the learning phase and potential re-architecting of your current network processes.

2. Technical Requirements & Integration

Expect IT involvement for optimal infrastructure readiness.

Arrcus solutions are hardware-agnostic, supporting various merchant silicon and deployment forms (physical, virtual, containerized). What I found about deployment is that your existing compute and hardware infrastructure must meet performance demands, especially for AI workloads with NVIDIA-specific needs.

Plan for thorough infrastructure assessment and ensure your IT team is ready to integrate with automation tools like Terraform and Ansible.

3. Training & Change Management

User adoption is critical, requiring dedicated effort.

Your network operators and engineers will need training in ArcOS, its programmatic interfaces (OpenConfig/YANG), and automation tools (Python, Ansible). From my analysis, successful change management prevents productivity dips when transitioning to a software-centric networking model.

Invest in comprehensive training programs and identify internal champions to smooth the adoption process and maximize your investment.

4. Support & Success Factors

Vendor support plays a key role in smooth deployment.

Arrcus emphasizes customer success, driven by its mission to “democratize networking.” What I found about deployment is that robust, responsive support is essential for enterprise clients, ensuring any technical hurdles are quickly addressed during your implementation.

Plan to leverage their support resources and strategic partnerships for integrated solutions, which are critical for a successful rollout.

The overall Arrcus setup requires strategic planning and technical readiness, but unlocks significant flexibility and cost benefits when successfully implemented.

Bottom Line

Should you invest in Arrcus for your network infrastructure?

This Arrcus review provides a comprehensive look into who benefits most from its advanced software-defined networking solutions, balancing its strengths against crucial limitations to guide your decision.

1. Who This Works Best For

Large enterprises, cloud providers, and telecommunication companies.

Arrcus is ideal for organizations modernizing network infrastructure, especially those seeking to break free from proprietary solutions and prioritize open standards and hardware-agnostic deployments. What I found about target users is that you need high scalability and performance across data centers, edge, and multi-cloud environments.

You’ll find success if your strategy involves integrating AI capabilities into your network and leveraging extensive automation.

2. Overall Strengths

Unparalleled flexibility, scalability, and cost-efficiency.

The software succeeds by offering a disaggregated, software-defined approach that includes the ArcOS and ACE platform, promoting vendor independence. From my comprehensive analysis, its robust focus on AI networking sets it apart, positioning it for future demands from industries like 5G and large-scale data processing requirements.

These strengths translate into significant TCO savings and a highly adaptable network that can evolve with your business needs.

3. Key Limitations

Limited public independent user reviews and detailed pricing.

The primary drawback is the absence of broad, unbiased user feedback from platforms like G2 or Capterra, making it hard to assess real-world implementation and support. Based on this review, you won’t find specific customer quotes about satisfaction, setup, or day-to-day use outside of company testimonials.

I’d say these limitations necessitate direct engagement with Arrcus to gain a full understanding of its operational realities and support.

4. Final Recommendation

Arrcus earns a strong recommendation for specific contexts.

You should choose this software if your organization has complex, hyperscale networking requirements across diverse environments and is committed to a software-centric strategy. From my analysis, this solution is best for integrating cutting-edge AI workloads and reducing operational complexity through advanced automation features.

My confidence level is high for organizations aligning with this profile, but I advise thorough due diligence for your specific needs.

This Arrcus review shows strong potential for the right strategic vision, but you must actively engage to fill the gaps in public user insights before making your final decision.