Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Ultra (UCG-Ultra) 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 Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Ultra (UCG-Ultra) at 6.6/10.

The Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Ultra (UCG-Ultra) leads on running costs.

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

They score the same on security record.

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

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	Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Ultra (UCG-Ultra)	Ubiquiti Dream Machine Pro (UDM-Pro)
Throughput	25%	7/10	8/10
Ports and networking	20%	6/10	7/10
Software and features	20%	7/10	8/10
Security record	20%	5/10	5/10
Running costs	15%	8/10	7/10
Overall		6.6/10	7.1/10

Specifications

Spec	Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Ultra (UCG-Ultra)	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	1x 2.5GbE RJ45 WAN, 4x GbE RJ45 LAN, no SFP+ port	9 RJ45 GbE (8 LAN, 1 WAN) and 2 SFP+ 10G (one LAN, one WAN); no 2.5GbE port listed
Software	UniFi Network	UniFi OS with the UniFi Application Suite: Network, Protect, Access, Talk and Connect
Processor	Quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 at 1.5 GHz	not listed
Memory	3 GB system memory, 16 GB on-board storage	not listed
Subscriptions needed	No required subscription appears in sources; CyberSecure paid status not stated	Core features need no subscription; optional CyberSecure add-on at $99 per unit billed annually

Strengths and weaknesses

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 ›

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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