Protectli Vault Pro VP2420 vs Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Ultra (UCG-Ultra)

Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›

all judged against firewalls at a similar price

The Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Ultra (UCG-Ultra) scores 6.6/10 overall, ahead of the Protectli Vault Pro VP2420 at 6.1/10.

The Protectli Vault Pro VP2420 leads on ports and networking.

The Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Ultra (UCG-Ultra) leads on throughput and software and features.

They score the same on security record and running costs.

Protectli Vault Pro VP2420

6.1/10verdict: good, not the best

The Protectli Vault Pro VP2420 suits homelabbers and small offices who want a four-port 2.5GbE box to run pfSense or OPNsense themselves. It fits people who care more about VPN speed, build quality and low power draw than heavy intrusion prevention. Buyers should check stock first, because the manufacturer says the VP2420e has replaced it.

Typically about £569 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Ultra (UCG-Ultra)

6.6/10verdict: good, not the best

The Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Ultra suits home, homelab and small-office networks that already use or plan to use UniFi. It lists 1 Gbps of IDS/IPS throughput, so it matches a gigabit line with inspection switched on. Buyers who need SFP+, several multi-gig LAN ports or a published firewall throughput figure should look at the details first.

Typically about £99.96 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Scores, criterion by criterion

Criterion	Weight	Protectli Vault Pro VP2420	Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Ultra (UCG-Ultra)
Throughput	25%	5/10	7/10
Ports and networking	20%	7/10	6/10
Software and features	20%	6/10	7/10
Security record	20%	5/10	5/10
Running costs	15%	8/10	8/10
Overall		6.1/10	6.6/10

Specifications

Spec	Protectli Vault Pro VP2420	Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Ultra (UCG-Ultra)
Ports	4x Intel I226-V 2.5G Ethernet RJ-45; 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A; console port	1x 2.5GbE RJ45 WAN, 4x GbE RJ45 LAN, no SFP+ port
Software	Not a fixed OS; vendor states compatibility with a variety of operating systems including open source firewall projects; AMI or coreboot BIOS	UniFi Network
VPN throughput	pfSense WireGuard ~2250Mbps (vendor test; conflicts with the ~1200Mbps OPNsense WireGuard figure, test conditions not fully stated)	not listed
Processor	Intel Celeron J6412, 4 cores/4 threads, 2.0 GHz base, up to 2.6 GHz burst, 1.5M cache, AES-NI, VT-x/VT-d	Quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 at 1.5 GHz
Memory	1x SO-DIMM slot, DDR4-3200, max 32GB	3 GB system memory, 16 GB on-board storage
Subscriptions needed	No paid subscription listed; 2-year factory warranty, extendable	No required subscription appears in sources; CyberSecure paid status not stated

Strengths and weaknesses

Protectli Vault Pro VP2420

+ Four 2.5GbE Intel I226-V ports
+ No paid subscription listed; two-year warranty
+ Owners report strong power efficiency for the performance
− Owners report limited CPU headroom under heavy IDS/IPS
− Listed as out of stock; replaced by VP2420e
− One SO-DIMM slot, no SFP+ listed

Skip it if:

Buyers who want heavy IDS/IPS inspection on a fast line
Anyone who needs SFP+ ports or a pre-installed firewall OS
Buyers planning several virtual machines on the same box

Read the full Protectli Vault Pro VP2420 review ›

Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Ultra (UCG-Ultra)

+ Lists 1 Gbps IDS/IPS throughput
+ WireGuard as both VPN server and client
+ Maximum power draw of 6.2 W
− No SFP+ port; LAN ports are all gigabit
− Firewall throughput figure not published
− CyberSecure paid status not stated

Skip it if:

Buyers who need SFP+ or multi-gig LAN ports on the gateway
Anyone running IPS on a line faster than 1 Gbps
Buyers who need a published firewall throughput figure before purchase

Read the full Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Ultra (UCG-Ultra) review ›

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