Cisco Meraki MX85 vs MX95
The MX95 roughly doubles the MX85's capacity: 2 Gbps stateful firewall vs 1 Gbps, up to 500 recommended users vs 300, and 10G SFP+ uplinks/LAN versus the MX85's 1G interfaces. Pick the MX85 for small/medium branches; step up to the MX95 for medium branches that need 10G and more headroom.
Meraki MX85
Cloud-managed SD-WAN security appliance for small to medium branches, up to 300 users.
- 1 Gbps stateful firewall throughput
- Recommended for up to 300 users
- WAN: 2 x 1GbE SFP + 2 x 1GbE RJ45; LAN: 8 x 1GbE RJ45 + 2 x SFP
- Full Meraki cloud management, Auto VPN and SD-WAN
Meraki MX95
Cloud-managed SD-WAN security appliance for medium branches with 10G uplinks, up to 500 users.
- 2 Gbps stateful firewall throughput
- Recommended for up to 500 users
- WAN: 2 x 10GbE SFP+ + 2 x 2.5GbE RJ45 (1 PoE+); LAN: 4 x 1GbE RJ45 + 2 x 10GbE SFP+
- Auto VPN, SD-WAN and full cloud management
Meraki MX85 vs Meraki MX95: spec comparison
| Spec | Meraki MX85 | Meraki MX95 |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended users | Up to 300 | Up to 500 |
| Stateful firewall throughput | 1 Gbps | 2 Gbps |
| Max VPN throughput | Up to 1 Gbps | 800 Mbps |
| WAN interfaces | 2 x 1GbE SFP + 2 x 1GbE RJ45 | 2 x 10GbE SFP+ + 2 x 2.5GbE RJ45 (1 PoE+) |
| LAN interfaces | 8 x 1GbE RJ45 + 2 x SFP | 4 x 1GbE RJ45 + 2 x 10GbE SFP+ |
| 10G uplinks | No | Yes (SFP+) |
| Management | Meraki cloud (dashboard) | Meraki cloud (dashboard) |
| SD-WAN / Auto VPN | Yes | Yes |
| Mounting | Rack-mountable | Rack-mountable |
Choose Meraki MX85 if
Choose the MX85 for small to medium branch sites with up to about 300 users where 1G uplinks are sufficient and you want more built-in 1GbE LAN ports. It is the cost-effective fit for typical branch connectivity without 10G.
Choose Meraki MX95 if
Choose the MX95 for medium branches up to 500 users, or any site that needs 10G SFP+ WAN/LAN uplinks and higher firewall throughput. It gives more performance headroom and faster interfaces for growing or higher-bandwidth locations.
Verdict
The MX95 is the step-up from the MX85, doubling firewall throughput, raising the user ceiling to 500, and adding 10G SFP+ interfaces. If your branch is under ~300 users on 1G circuits, the MX85 is the economical pick; if you need 10G uplinks or more capacity, the MX95 is worth the upgrade. Both are managed entirely through the Meraki dashboard.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Meraki MX85 and MX95?
The MX95 offers 2 Gbps firewall throughput and up to 500 users with 10G SFP+ uplinks, while the MX85 offers 1 Gbps throughput, up to 300 users, and 1G interfaces. The MX95 is the higher-capacity model.
How many users can the Meraki MX85 and MX95 support?
Meraki recommends the MX85 for up to 300 users and the MX95 for up to 500 users, though real-world sizing depends on enabled security features and traffic patterns.
Does the MX95 have 10G ports and the MX85 not?
Yes. The MX95 includes 10GbE SFP+ WAN and LAN ports, while the MX85 uses 1GbE SFP and RJ45 interfaces. If you need 10G uplinks, choose the MX95.
Are both the MX85 and MX95 managed in the Meraki dashboard?
Yes. Both are fully cloud-managed through the Meraki dashboard, with Auto VPN and SD-WAN, so the operational experience is the same and differs only in performance and ports.
More Security comparisons
Specs are for planning and may change; Uniqcli confirms the current Cisco bill of materials and pricing on your quote. Cisco, Catalyst, Nexus, Meraki, and Firepower are trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc.; Uniqcli LLC is an independent authorized Cisco partner.