Which UniFi gateway do you actually need?
Every UniFi network starts with a gateway. It's the router, the firewall, and the brain that runs the UniFi software — and it's the one box you can't skip. It's also where most people stall, because Ubiquiti currently sells eight of them and the names don't explain themselves.
The good news: the whole lineup sorts itself out with three questions.
The three questions
- How fast is your internet? Your gateway should route at your full plan speed with security features turned on. The number to look for is IPS/IDS throughput, not the port speed on the box.
- Will you run cameras? UniFi Protect records to storage inside the gateway. No storage, no recordings — so camera plans decide more than anything else.
- Rack or shelf? The Dream Machine units are 1U rack gear. The Cloud Gateway line sits on a shelf next to the modem. Same software either way.
The desktop line
The Cloud Gateway Ultra ($159) is the right answer for most apartments and small offices on gigabit internet or less: 30+ UniFi devices, 300+ clients, full IPS routing at 1 Gbps. What it doesn't have is storage — pair it with cameras and you'd have nowhere to record. No cameras, no problem.
The Cloud Gateway Max ($349) is the Ultra with the two things growing networks ask for: 2.5 GbE ports and built-in NVR storage, so Protect cameras record out of the box. There's also a storage-less version ($249) if you want the 2.5G ports without the camera plans.
The Cloud Gateway Fiber ($349) is the newest desktop unit: a true 10G gateway with an integrated 4-port 2.5 GbE switch and selectable NVR storage. If your ISP hands you multi-gig fiber and you still don't want a rack, this is the box.
The rack units
The Dream Machine Pro ($475) is the default heart of a wired home or small business rack: 10G SFP+ in and out, 100+ UniFi devices, 1,000+ clients, 3.5 Gbps IPS routing, and a 3.5" drive bay for Protect recordings.
The Dream Machine Special Edition ($625) is the same machine with PoE on board and a built-in SSD — it can power a handful of APs and cameras directly and record without adding a drive. Small racks often start and end with this one box.
The Dream Machine Pro Max ($749) doubles capacity (200+ devices, 2,000+ clients, 5 Gbps IPS) and adds a second drive bay with RAID protection for recordings. It's the pick when cameras are the point, not the afterthought.
No wired runs yet?
Two gateways include WiFi 7, for homes where pulling cable comes later: the UniFi Express 7 ($249), a mesh-scalable 10G gateway the size of a coffee mug, and the Dream Router 7 ($349), which adds a PoE switch and microSD-based Protect recording. Either one can later become just an access point if you upgrade the gateway — nothing is wasted.
The cheat sheet
| Gateway | Price | Routing w/ IPS | Cameras | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UCG-Ultra | $159 | 1 Gbps | No storage | Shelf |
| UCG-Max | $349 | 2.3 Gbps | Yes, built-in | Shelf |
| UCG-Fiber | $349 | 5 Gbps | Yes, selectable | Shelf |
| UDM Pro | $475 | 3.5 Gbps | Yes, HDD bay | Rack 1U |
| UDM SE | $625 | 3.5 Gbps | Yes, SSD + bay | Rack 1U, PoE |
| UDM Pro Max | $749 | 5 Gbps | Yes, RAID | Rack 1U |
| Express 7 | $249 | 2.3 Gbps | No | Shelf + WiFi 7 |
| Dream Router 7 | $349 | 2.3 Gbps | microSD | Shelf + WiFi 7 + PoE |
Still unsure?
Build the whole network in the kit builder and the sanity checks will flag a gateway that's undersized for what you put behind it. Or skip the homework entirely — send us a floor plan and an installer will spec it for free.
Prices current at publication. Browse the full Cloud Gateways collection.