Ubiquiti Dream Machine Pro (UDM-Pro) vs Ubiquiti UniFi Cloud Gateway Max

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

all judged against firewalls at a similar price

The Ubiquiti UniFi Cloud Gateway Max scores 7.3/10 overall, ahead of the Ubiquiti Dream Machine Pro (UDM-Pro) at 7.1/10.

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

The Ubiquiti UniFi Cloud Gateway Max leads on throughput and ports and networking.

They score the same on security record and running costs.

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

Ubiquiti UniFi Cloud Gateway Max

7.3/10verdict: buy

The UniFi Cloud Gateway Max is for people who want a compact router, firewall and IDS/IPS box running Ubiquiti's UniFi software. It suits a UK gigabit line or faster, thanks to a 2.5GbE WAN port and a vendor IDS/IPS figure of 2.3 Gbps. It is a better fit for existing or planned UniFi users than for anyone who wants non-proprietary software.

Typically about £272.40 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 Dream Machine Pro (UDM-Pro)	Ubiquiti UniFi Cloud Gateway Max
Throughput	25%	8/10	9/10
Ports and networking	20%	7/10	8/10
Software and features	20%	8/10	7/10
Security record	20%	5/10	5/10
Running costs	15%	7/10	7/10
Overall		7.1/10	7.3/10

Specifications

Spec	Ubiquiti Dream Machine Pro (UDM-Pro)	Ubiquiti UniFi Cloud Gateway Max
Firewall / IPS throughput	3.5 Gbps IDS/IPS throughput (manufacturer rating, not independently tested); no firewall-only figure found	2.3 Gbps IDS/IPS (vendor figure; no separate firewall-only figure published)
Ports	9 RJ45 GbE (8 LAN, 1 WAN) and 2 SFP+ 10G (one LAN, one WAN); no 2.5GbE port listed	Five 2.5G/1G/100M/10M RJ45 ports, one 2.5GbE WAN by default, up to four can be WAN; no SFP+ port listed
Software	UniFi OS with the UniFi Application Suite: Network, Protect, Access, Talk and Connect	UniFi Application Suite (Network, Protect, Access, Talk, Connect); proprietary
Processor	not listed	Quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 at 1.5 GHz
Memory	not listed	3 GB
Subscriptions needed	Core features need no subscription; optional CyberSecure add-on at $99 per unit billed annually	not listed

Strengths and weaknesses

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 ›

Ubiquiti UniFi Cloud Gateway Max

+ 2.3 Gbps IDS/IPS figure from the vendor
+ Five 2.5GbE-capable ports, up to four usable as WAN
+ Owners report roughly 8–10W idle draw
− No firewall-only throughput figure published
− Proprietary software; no SFP+ port listed
− Storage variants confuse buyers

Skip it if:

Buyers who want non-proprietary firewall software
Anyone who needs an SFP+ port on the gateway itself
Buyers who need a documented firmware and advisory track record before purchase

Read the full Ubiquiti UniFi Cloud Gateway Max review ›

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