Protectli Vault Pro VP2420 vs Ubiquiti Dream Machine Pro (UDM-Pro)

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

all judged against firewalls at a similar price

The Ubiquiti Dream Machine Pro (UDM-Pro) scores 7.1/10 overall, ahead of the Protectli Vault Pro VP2420 at 6.1/10.

The Protectli Vault Pro VP2420 leads on running costs.

The Ubiquiti Dream Machine Pro (UDM-Pro) leads on throughput and software and features.

They score the same on ports and networking and security record.

The biggest difference is throughput, where the Ubiquiti Dream Machine Pro (UDM-Pro) scores 8/10 to the Protectli Vault Pro VP2420's 5/10.

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 Dream Machine Pro (UDM-Pro)

7.1/10verdict: good, not the best

The UDM-Pro suits homelabbers and small offices that want routing, firewalling, IDS/IPS and VPN in one UniFi OS device. It is a good fit if you already run, or plan to run, other UniFi products. Buyers who need proven stability or quick support should read the owner complaints first.

Typically about £396 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 Dream Machine Pro (UDM-Pro)
Throughput	25%	5/10	8/10
Ports and networking	20%	7/10	7/10
Software and features	20%	6/10	8/10
Security record	20%	5/10	5/10
Running costs	15%	8/10	7/10
Overall		6.1/10	7.1/10

Specifications

Spec	Protectli Vault Pro VP2420	Ubiquiti Dream Machine Pro (UDM-Pro)
Firewall / IPS throughput	not listed	3.5 Gbps IDS/IPS throughput (manufacturer rating, not independently tested); no firewall-only figure found
Ports	4x Intel I226-V 2.5G Ethernet RJ-45; 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A; console port	9 RJ45 GbE (8 LAN, 1 WAN) and 2 SFP+ 10G (one LAN, one WAN); no 2.5GbE port listed
Software	Not a fixed OS; vendor states compatibility with a variety of operating systems including open source firewall projects; AMI or coreboot BIOS	UniFi OS with the UniFi Application Suite: Network, Protect, Access, Talk and Connect
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	not listed
Memory	1x SO-DIMM slot, DDR4-3200, max 32GB	not listed
Subscriptions needed	No paid subscription listed; 2-year factory warranty, extendable	Core features need no subscription; optional CyberSecure add-on at $99 per unit billed annually

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 Dream Machine Pro (UDM-Pro)

+ 3.5+ Gbps IDS/IPS rating from the manufacturer
+ Two SFP+ 10G ports plus eight GbE LAN ports
+ WireGuard, IPsec and OpenVPN with no subscription for core features
− No 2.5GbE port listed
− Owners report freezes, connectivity loss and slow support
− No published VPN throughput or measured power figures

Skip it if:

Buyers who need 2.5GbE ports on the gateway itself
Anyone who depends on fast vendor support
Users who want open-source firewall software

Read the full Ubiquiti Dream Machine Pro (UDM-Pro) review ›

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