Spodoptera frugiperda‐9 (Sf‐9) cells used in conjunction with the baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS) represent a promising platform for the rapid development and manufacture of protein complexes and virus‐like particle (VLP) products. Several studies have described the superiority of single‐use wave‐mixed bioreactors although reusable stirred and, more recently, single‐use stirred bioreactors have also been successfully applied. Due to their bioengineering characteristics (more homogeneous energy dissipation, reduced foam formation), wave‐mixed systems are often preferred. However, a direct comparison of the influence of single‐use wave‐mixed and single‐use stirred bioreactors on cell growth and protein expression in Sf‐9/BEVS‐based production processes was still lacking. We investigated Sf‐9 cell growth and expression of a recombinant secreted alkaline phosphatase (rSEAP) in the wave‐mixed BIOSTAT® RM as well as the stirred UniVessel® SU and a serum‐free culture medium. Irrespective of the bioreactor system, comparable growth, substrate, and metabolite courses as well as peak cell densities (>1.2 × 107 cells mL−1) were observed in Sf‐9 cell expansions performed in batch mode. Additionally, identical rSEAP quality and maximum rSEAP activities were found in biphasic productions in both bioreactor systems. Concluding, comparability of single‐use wave‐mixed and stirred bioreactors for insect cell culture processes was demonstrated for the first time.