Whether you’re running a small business or managing multiple branches of a large enterprise, how your offices and systems stay connected matters. Two common options that businesses often compare are SD WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) and MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching).
If you’re trying to decide between SD WAN vs MPLS, this article explains both, highlights the differences, and helps you figure out which is best for your business needs.
What is MPLS?
MPLS is a traditional networking technology that’s been around for over two decades. It routes data using predetermined paths through your network, ensuring high reliability and predictable performance. Think of MPLS as a dedicated highway that your data travels on, it’s private, secure, and less prone to congestion.
Because it’s private, MPLS is known for its low latency, quality of service (QoS), and reliability, making it ideal for voice and video applications that can’t afford delays or disruptions.
However, MPLS comes with a few downsides:
- It’s expensive: You’re paying for a private, dedicated connection.
- It lacks flexibility: Any change in configuration often requires manual updates and support from your service provider.
- It doesn’t play well with the cloud: MPLS wasn’t designed for today’s cloud-first world, which can lead to bottlenecks.
What is SD WAN?
SD WAN is a newer, more flexible technology that uses software to manage how data is distributed across a wide area network. It works over public internet connections (like broadband, fiber, or even 4G/5G) but uses smart software to optimize routing and maintain performance.
With SD WAN, you can prioritize certain types of traffic (like Zoom calls or business apps), reroute data instantly if there’s a problem on one connection, and get visibility into what’s happening on your network, all from a centralized dashboard.
Benefits of SD WAN include:
- Cost savings: SD WAN can use less expensive internet connections while still maintaining performance.
- Cloud-friendly: It’s built with cloud applications in mind.
- More control: You manage the network in real-time with software-defined policies.
- Easier to scale: Adding new locations is much simpler than with MPLS.
Key Differences in SD WAN vs MPLS
Let’s break down the core differences between SD WAN vs MPLS in simple terms:
| Feature | MPLS | SD WAN |
| Cost | High | More affordable |
| Performance | Excellent for real-time apps | Good with smart routing |
| Security | Private and secure | Public internet + encryption |
| Cloud Readiness | Poor | Excellent |
| Flexibility | Rigid | Very flexible |
| Scalability | Slow and costly | Fast and easy |
| Management | Manual, service provider-based | Centralized, software-based |
SD WAN vs MPLS for Your Business?
The right answer depends on what your business prioritizes:
Choose MPLS if:
- You’re in a highly regulated industry like finance or healthcare.
- You need ultra-low latency for real-time apps.
- You’re okay with higher costs for dedicated performance.
Choose SD WAN if you:
- Want a more affordable, scalable solution.
- Rely heavily on cloud apps like Microsoft 365 or Salesforce.
- Need flexibility and fast deployment across many locations.
In many cases, companies are now adopting a hybrid approach, using MPLS for mission-critical traffic and SD WAN for everything else. This gives you the best of both worlds: performance where you need it, and savings where you don’t.
The digital demands of businesses are only growing, more video calls, cloud-based tools, remote work, and data-heavy applications. The flexibility, affordability, and cloud-readiness of SD WAN make it a strong contender for most modern businesses. Still, some may stick with or complement MPLS depending on their industry and legacy systems.
Whatever your choice, it’s important to partner with a provider that understands your unique needs and can guide you through the implementation process.
That’s where Manifold Computers come in.
We specialize in end-to-end IT solutions, from hardware and software procurement to network infrastructure, systems integration, and mission-critical implementations. Whether you’re leaning toward SD WAN, MPLS, or a hybrid setup, our team can help design and deploy the right solution tailored for your business.
Need help choosing between SD WAN vs MPLS? Let Manifold Computers make your network future-ready.