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Ubiquiti’s UniFi has only recently been applicable for the home. It’s a line of advanced hardware initially designed for business and enterprise environments.
This list includes the top five best UniFi consoles (equivalent to “routers”) you can consider, based on my real-world experience. It will also include tips on what to get, depending on your broadband speed and whether your home is wired with a network cable or not.
The five best UniFi consoles and quick shopping tips
There is a long list of UniFi consoles, often referred to as “UniFi Cloud Gateways” or UCGs. However, if you start today, it’s best to go with one that has no Wi-Fi, a non-Wi-Fi router, or one with built-in Wi-Fi 7.
Tip
All UniFi Cloud Gateways (a.k.a. UniFi consoles) share the same basic features and settings, but their capacities, namely the breadth and depth of applications they can handle, vary depending on the hardware specs.
Main applications in the UniFi Application Suite include:
- Network (default): This application enables the hardware to function as an advanced router by managing all things network-related, including network settings/features, security, firewall, Wi-Fi, and support for extenders and access points to form a Wi-Fi system.
- Protect: The support for IP cameras as an advanced surveillance system, including a built-in NVR.
- Talk: A locally hosted Voice-over-IP system.
- Access: A “platform designed for Access Control Systems”—per Ubiquiti. Examples are door-related security IoT devices, such as doorbells, keyfobs, locks, etc.
- Connect: Application that manages digital signage and EV Stations
Each of these applications is a world in itself, with various in-depth customizations and different types of UniFi devices.
No matter which you get, you can always add a UniFi access point to it to add or extend Wi-Fi coverage. So, here are a couple of quick tips:
- If your home is wired with network cables, it’s best to start with a non-Wi-Fi console and add one or more UniFi access point(s) to get the best coverage and flexibility. But you can also get a Wi-Fi-ready unit, such as the UDR7, and an access point, or the UX7, to extend the coverage if needed.
- If your home is not wired and you can’t run network cables yourself:
- If your home only requires a single Wi-Fi broadcaster, then get a single Wi-Fi-integrated console. In this case, it’s helpful to place the hardware at the optimal location for the best coverage.
- If your home requires more than one broadcaster, then get a Wi-Fi-integrated console, such as the UDR7 (or UDR), and then the UX7 (or UX) as a wireless mesh point.
With that, below is the top five best UniFi consoles (or gateways) and why you should consider them. All of them are similar. While the numbers are based on their rating, any of these will work equally well as long as you pick the right one for your situation.
Top 5 Best UniFi Gateways to Build an Advanced Network
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| Name | Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Fiber (UCG-Fiber)’s Rating | Ubiquiti UniFi Cloud Gateway Max (UCG-Max)’s Rating | Ubiquiti UniFi Dream Router 7 (UDR7)’s Rating | Ubiquiti UniFi Express 7 (UX7)’s Rating | Ubiquiti UniFi Dream Machine Special Edition (UDM-SE)’s Rating |
| Price | – | – | – | – | – |
| Rating | |||||
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1. UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber (UCG-Fiber): The best non-Wi-Fi router for a top-tier 10 Gbps network
The UCG-Fiber is currently the best compact console. It comes with three 10Gbps ports and five 2.5Gbps ports, one of which is a PoE+. As a result, it’s a perfect non-Wi-Fi router that can host an access point on its own right out of the box, preferably the U7 Pro Max or one of the PoE+ standard.
The gateway comes with an integrated SSD slot to host storage for its many other features, including Protect, which is an advanced surveillance system.
Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Fiber (UCG-Fiber)'s Rating
Pros
Top-tier hardware with three 10Gbps ports, four 2.5GBASE-T ports, PoE+ support, and an NVMe slot for NVR
Excellent and reliable real-world performance; can handle lots of concurrent UniFi devices (Wi-Fi access points, cameras, IP phones, etc.) and end-users
Compact and aesthetically pleasant design with everything for all users, from home to enterprise-grade
Lots of valuable features, each with tons of customization, comparatively affordable
Cons
Only one PoE+ port, no PoE++ support; SFP+ ports are less practical than 10GBASE-T
A Ubiquiti login account is required for the built-in Remote Management, as well as some other useful features, to work
Runs a bit warm, no SSD caddy is included in the non-storage version; no USB port or network-attached storage features
2. UniFi Cloud Gateway Max (UCG-Max): The best non-Wi-Fi router for an entry-level multi-Gigabit (2.5Gbps) network
The UCG-Max is a tier lower than the UCG-Fiber above, but it’s still a formidable non-Wi-Fi router. In fact, it’s the best for those with 2.5Gbps or slower broadband. It, too, has a similar SSD slot for internal storage.
Ubiquiti UniFi Cloud Gateway Max (UCG-Max)'s Rating
Pros
Excellent entry-level Multi-Gig performance for a comparatively low-cost
Compact and aesthetically pleasant design with powerful hardware to handle a home or small business network via multiple simultaneous enterprise-class applications
A complete set of useful networking features, including powerful security/web-filtering and WireGuard VPN; excellent web user interface; useful mobile apps
No subscription is required
Cons
No 10Gbps ports or built-in PoE
A Ubiquiti login account is required for the mobile apps and built-in Remote Management, as well as other features, to work
Runs a bit warm, no SSD caddy is included in the non-storage version
3. UniFi Dream Router 7 (UDR7): A robust Wi-Fi-7 router for a multi-Gigabit network
The UDR7 is Ubiquiti’s first UniFi console with built-in Wi-Fi 7. It comes with plenty of 2.5Gbps ports and one 10Gbps port, making it suitable for a network with slightly faster than 2.5Gbps broadband. On top of that, the built-in PoE support and microSD slot for storage are also helpful.
It’s worth noting that, in addition to hosting UniFi access points, you can also use the UDR7 with the UX7 (below) to form a wireless mesh network.
Ubiquiti UniFi Dream Router 7 (UDR7)'s Rating
Pros
All Multi-Gig ports with support for all of Ubiquiti's business hardware segments and built-in PoE
Excellent throughput performance with excellent coverage (for the specs)
Tons of useful networking features, including a mesh controller, all via a comprehensive web user interface and an optional mobile app
Compact and beautiful design
Comparatively affordable, quiet operator
Cons
No 2nd 10Gbps ports, single low-power PoE port
Many convenient features require a UI login, account, not wall-mount-ready, internal fan, awkwardly placed microSD slot
2.4GH band's performance could be better
5. UniFi Express 7 (UX7): A flexible yet straightforward multi-Gigabit Wi-Fi 7 router
The UX7 is Ubiquiti’s second Wi-Fi 7 router, and it’s pretty remarkable. It’s the only one on this list that can only work as a router (and not as the host of other applications, such as Protect). In return, it’s also the only one that can work as an access point or a wireless mesh point. As a result, you can get multiple units to form a Wi-Fi system, or you can use it with the UDR7 to extend the Wi-Fi coverage.
Ubiquiti UniFi Express 7 (UX7)'s Rating
Pros
Flexible enough to be the primary router or a satellite unit of a robust UniFi mesh system
Excellent throughput performance for the specs, reliable coverage
Tons of useful network-related features, including a mesh controller
Compact, fanless, and beautiful design, comprehensive web user interface with an optional mobile app
Affordable, quiet, and remains relatively cool during operation
Cons
Only two network ports, with only one being 10 Gbps, no PoE, support only the UniFi Network application
Convenient network-related features require a UI login account, not wall-mount-ready
Rigid backhaul as mesh satellite unit; no AP mode when hosting a Wi-Fi system; the MLO feature could be better overall
5. UniFi Dream Machine Special Edition (UMD-SE): A full-scale rackmount non-Wi-Fi router
The UDM-SE is a full-scale, non-Wi-Fi router designed for those with a rack mount. With two 10Gbps ports, one 2.5Gbps port, and numerous Gigabit PoE ports, it’s ready to host a wide range of devices. The console also features a hard drive bay to accommodate terabytes of storage space for its other functions.
Alternatively, you can also consider the similar UDM Pro Max that has higher hardware specs and two hard drive bays.
Ubiquiti UniFi Dream Machine Special Edition (UDM-SE)'s Rating
Pros
Powerful enough to run all of Ubiquiti's business hardware segments simultaneously
Reliable and fast multi-Gigabit performance with robust Dual-WAN support
A complete set of useful networking features, including powerful security/web-filtering and WireGuard VPN; excellent web user interface; useful mobile apps
Built-in PoE support; comparatively affordable; no subscription required; quiet
Cons
Single Multi-Gig (2.5GBASE-T) port; limited multi-Gigabit LAN options; no PoE++
A Ubiquiti login account is required for the built-in Remote Management, as well as other features, to work
Super bulky, runs hot
The final tips
All of these UniFi consoles can work with all standard Wi-Fi access points. However, if you build a network from scratch, it’s best to use Unifi hardware since you can control all of them as a system.
If you’re currently using a third-party mesh Wi-Fi system, such as those from TP-Link, Asus, or Netgear, you can use a non-Wi-Fi UniFi router and use your Wi-Fi system in access point (AP) mode on top of it. Now, you’ll still have a robust network with the Wi-Fi coverage you’ve been accustomed to.
Thanks for that review. I would love to purchase an Ubiquiti Gateway Fiber but it is constantly out of stock in Australia. Wonder if that will be the case for a long time?
It’s normal, Leon. It’s a great console. I think there’s a way for you to get a notification when it’s available again.
Thanks Dong 👍