Meter vs Fortinet: NaaS Comparison (2026)

At a glance

Two different approaches to managed networking.

Meter

Meter delivers fully managed networking billed per square foot — one bill, no hardware to own.

No upfront hardware cost
One bill replaces hardware, licenses, install and support
Hardware buyback eases migration
Fast deployment — Meter owns the process
Per-sq-ft rate drops as you grow

Fortinet

Fortinet builds networking around its FortiGate firewall and unified Security Fabric.

Industry-leading next-gen firewall
Unified Security Fabric across the stack
Secure SD-WAN for multi-site
FortiSASE and ZTNA
Consumption-based FortiFlex licensing

Feature comparison

Meter vs Fortinet: side by side

	Meter	Fortinet
Category	Fully managed NaaS	Security-first networking
Pricing model	Per square foot, monthly	Hardware + FortiCare/FortiGuard licenses
Upfront hardware cost	✓ None — included	CapEx required
Who manages the network	✓ Fully managed by Meter	Self-managed or MSSP
Deployment	Meter manages the full install	In-house or MSSP
Built-in security	Network layer; firewall pairs alongside	Industry-leading NGFW + Security Fabric
Geographic coverage	US, Canada, Europe	Global
Billing	✓ One monthly bill	Hardware + FortiCare/FortiGuard
Best for	Mid-market offices that want networking off their plate	Security-first and multi-site SD-WAN environments

When each wins

Match the model to your situation.

METER WINS

You want networking delivered, not operated

Meter is built to be fully managed by meter — mid-market offices that want networking off their plate. If reducing operational load is the goal, Meter fits cleanly.

METER WINS

Predictable cost matters more than deep control

With per square foot, monthly and no upfront hardware, Meter keeps budgeting simple and avoids surprise CapEx.

FORTINET WINS

Security-first and multi-site SD-WAN environments

Fortinet builds networking around its FortiGate firewall and unified Security Fabric. If that matches your environment, Fortinet is the stronger choice.

Bottom line

These address different layers. Meter owns the networking — wired, wireless, connectivity — as a managed service. Fortinet is a security platform that also includes networking. For most mid-market organizations the right answer isn't Meter or Fortinet — it's Meter for the network with a FortiGate in front for security. Fortinet alone wins when a single security-led fabric is the primary requirement. If you're not sure which fits your environment, a NaaSAdvisor advisor can quote both side by side.

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Common questions

Meter vs Fortinet FAQ

Meter is priced per square foot, monthly with none — included upfront, billed as one monthly bill. Fortinet uses hardware + forticare/fortiguard licenses — hardware + forticare/fortiguard. The right model depends on your footprint and how you prefer to budget; an advisor can translate both into one comparable number.

Meter: fully managed by meter. Fortinet: self-managed or mssp. If your team doesn't have dedicated network engineers, a fully managed model removes a significant operational burden — which is often the deciding factor between these two.

Meter handles security via network layer; firewall pairs alongside, while Fortinet uses industry-leading ngfw + security fabric. Neither is automatically better — it depends on whether you want security delivered inside the network service or as a dedicated layer you control.

Yes. Rather than approaching each vendor separately, a NaaSAdvisor advisor competes Meter, Fortinet, and other providers against each other on your specific scope — independent, with no cost to you. Use the pricing tool for a ballpark, then talk to an advisor for real numbers.

Meter vs Fortinet: Which NaaS Fits Your Network?