Aruba ClearPass vs Cisco ISE Comparison: Reviews, Features, Pricing & Alternatives in 2026

Detailed side-by-side comparison to help you choose the right solution for your team

Updated Apr 2026 8 min read

Aruba ClearPass

0.0 (0 reviews)

Aruba ClearPass is a comprehensive network access control solution providing secure visibility, policy enforcement, and automated device profiling across wired, wireless, and virtual private network infrastructures for your organization.

Starting at --
Free Trial NO FREE TRIAL
VS

Cisco ISE

0.0 (0 reviews)

Cisco Identity Services Engine is a network administration product that enables you to create and enforce security policies for users and devices connecting to your organization's network infrastructure.

Starting at --
Free Trial 90 days

Quick Comparison

Feature Aruba ClearPass Cisco ISE
Website arubanetworks.com cisco.com
Pricing Model Custom Custom
Starting Price Custom Pricing Custom Pricing
FREE Trial ✘ No free trial ✓ 90 days free trial
Free Plan ✘ No free plan ✘ No free plan
Product Demo ✓ Request demo here ✓ Request demo here
Deployment on-premise saas saas on-premise
Integrations Microsoft Azure ServiceNow Palo Alto Networks Splunk Check Point Okta Google Workspace Intune Jamf Slack Cisco DNA Center Splunk ServiceNow Microsoft Azure AD Okta Check Point Palo Alto Networks Rapid7 Tenable Qualys
Target Users mid-market enterprise mid-market enterprise
Target Industries healthcare education finance
Customer Count 0 0
Founded Year 2002 1984
Headquarters Santa Clara, USA San Jose, USA

Overview

A

Aruba ClearPass

Aruba ClearPass gives you complete control over who and what connects to your network. You can automatically identify every device—from smartphones and laptops to specialized IoT hardware—and apply precise security policies based on user roles or device types. This ensures that only authorized users access sensitive data while guest users remain safely isolated.

You can simplify your security operations by replacing manual configuration with automated workflows. The platform works across any vendor's networking hardware, allowing you to maintain consistent security standards without being locked into specific brands. Whether you are managing a single office or a global enterprise, you can monitor connection health and remediate non-compliant devices in real-time to prevent potential breaches.

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Cisco ISE

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) gives you a centralized way to manage security across your entire network. You can see exactly who and what is connecting to your environment, whether they are using a wired, wireless, or VPN connection. By gathering real-time data from users and devices, you can make informed decisions about who gets access to specific resources and under what conditions.

You can automate your network security by creating granular policies that adapt based on the user's role, device type, and location. This helps you stop threats before they spread by automatically isolating suspicious devices. Whether you are managing a corporate office or a distributed workforce, it provides the visibility you need to maintain a zero-trust security posture without slowing down your team.

Overview

A

Aruba ClearPass Features

  • Device Profiling Identify and categorize every device on your network automatically so you can see exactly what is connecting in real-time.
  • Guest Access Management Create secure portals for visitors and contractors to access the internet without compromising your internal corporate data or systems.
  • Role-Based Access Control Assign specific permissions to users based on their job function to ensure they only access the resources they actually need.
  • Automated Remediation Quarantine unhealthy or non-compliant devices automatically and provide clear instructions to users on how to fix security issues.
  • Onboard Configuration Enable your employees to securely configure their own personal devices for network use through a simple, automated self-service portal.
  • Security Exchange Share contextual data with your firewalls and endpoint security tools to create a coordinated defense across your entire infrastructure.
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Cisco ISE Features

  • AI Endpoint Analytics. Identify and profile every device on your network automatically using AI-driven behavioral modeling to eliminate blind spots.
  • Zero Trust Access. Enforce software-defined segmentation to ensure you only grant users access to the specific applications they need for work.
  • Automated Containment. Block or quarantine compromised devices instantly through integrations with your security tools to prevent lateral movement of threats.
  • Guest Access Management. Create custom web portals for your visitors to provide secure, time-limited internet access without compromising your internal data.
  • Compliance Monitoring. Check the security posture of every device before it connects to ensure they meet your corporate encryption and antivirus standards.
  • Centralized Policy Management. Define your security rules once and push them across your entire global network from a single, unified management console.

Pricing Comparison

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Aruba ClearPass Pricing

C

Cisco ISE Pricing

Pros & Cons

M

Aruba ClearPass

Pros

  • Unmatched visibility into IoT and unmanaged devices
  • Works seamlessly across multi-vendor networking hardware
  • Highly granular policy creation for complex environments
  • Reliable performance in high-density enterprise deployments

Cons

  • Initial setup and configuration require specialized expertise
  • Interface can feel overwhelming for novice administrators
  • Licensing structure is complex and difficult to track
A

Cisco ISE

Pros

  • Unmatched visibility into every device connected to your network
  • Granular policy control for complex enterprise environments
  • Seamless integration with the broader Cisco security ecosystem
  • Powerful automation for isolating and remediating infected endpoints
  • Highly scalable for global organizations with thousands of users

Cons

  • Significant learning curve for initial setup and configuration
  • Requires substantial hardware resources for on-premise deployments
  • Licensing structure can be complex to navigate and manage
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