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Ubiquiti UniFi Cloud Gateway Max

~£272.40typical UK price when we researched it
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Ubiquiti UniFi Cloud Gateway Max review

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

by SudoPicks Research · published 24 Oct 2026 · updated 24 Oct 2026

Ubiquiti UniFi Cloud Gateway Max
7.3out of 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.

1st of 8 firewalls we've reviewed
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New to firewalls? What they are and what to look for

A firewall is a box that sits between your internet connection and your network and controls what traffic can come in and out. Most home routers already include a simple one.

Do you need a firewall? Most homes don't need a separate firewall. It's for people who run services from home, want to separate smart-home devices from their computers, or want detailed control and logs.

What to look for

  • Enough speed for your broadband with security features switched on
  • Whether core features need a paid subscription
  • A good record of security updates

Unsure about a word? Jargon explained

How the 7.3 adds up

Our firewalls rubric
  • 9Throughput25% of score
  • 8Ports and networking20% of score
  • 7Software and features20% of score
  • 5Security record20% of score
  • 7Running costs15% of score

Against the 8 firewalls we've reviewed

bar = the range of all 8 · dot = this one · better →

  • Overall score 7.3/101st of 8
  • Price £272.402nd cheapest
  • Value for money Better value than most2nd best of 7

Support and features

Power draw16.1W under load (manufacturer's figure, source)
Software updatesNo end-of-support announcement found.
  • WireGuard VPN
  • Intrusion prevention
  • 2.5GbE

Security and compatibility

Latest firmware or softwareSeptember 2026updated in the last year source
Known security issues
Update recordSeveral UniFi OS advisories name this gateway; fixes are in 5.1.

Pros and cons

+ pros

  • 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

− cons

  • No firewall-only throughput figure published
  • Proprietary software; no SFP+ port listed
  • Storage variants confuse buyers

Price history

Price history appears here once we have tracked this product for a few days.

The full review

Where it fits

The UniFi Cloud Gateway Max is a compact Ubiquiti gateway that runs the UniFi Application Suite: Network, Protect, Access, Talk and Connect. It has five RJ45 ports, a quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 at 1.5 GHz and 3 GB of memory. It targets people who want routing, firewalling and intrusion prevention in one box and are happy to work inside Ubiquiti's software.

Throughput9/10

Ubiquiti quotes 2.3 Gbps with IDS/IPS enabled. That is a vendor figure, and the manufacturer publishes no separate firewall-only number.

Taken at face value, the figure sits above a gigabit line with inspection switched on. The default 2.5GbE WAN port fits that headroom. A UK gigabit connection is covered on paper, and so is a faster line up to the port's 2.5G limit.

Ports and WAN options8/10

All five RJ45 ports run at 2.5G, 1G, 100M or 10M. One port is the WAN by default, and up to four can be set as WAN.

Ubiquiti lists no SFP+ port. If you need SFP+ on the gateway itself, the specifications don't offer it.

Software and VPN7/10

The software is the UniFi Application Suite, and it is proprietary. If you want software that isn't proprietary, this gateway doesn't offer it.

For remote access, the gateway supports WireGuard, OpenVPN, IPsec and L2TP. IDS/IPS signatures are listed as 55,000+ with CyberSecure.

Security record5/10

Check Ubiquiti's release notes and advisory history before buying, because this review can't judge it either way.

Power and running costs7/10

The manufacturer gives a maximum power draw of 16.1W. Two reviews put idle draw at roughly 8–10W, and owners praise it. For a box that runs around the clock, those figures keep electricity use modest.

The unknown is CyberSecure. If it turns out to carry a fee, that would add a running cost to the IDS/IPS feature.

Storage variants

Owners complain that the storage variants are confusing. The version without storage needs a separate tray purchase if you want to add storage later. Ubiquiti sells that tray as an accessory for its compact cloud gateways. Check which variant you are buying, and whether you need local storage at all, before you order.

Who it suits

With five 2.5GbE-capable ports and a 2.3 Gbps vendor IDS/IPS figure, the Cloud Gateway Max suits a fast home or small-office line where you want inspection left on. Its proprietary software and missing SFP+ port make it a weaker fit for anyone who wants non-proprietary software or fibre connections directly on the gateway. Its security record is the gap you will need to fill yourself by reading Ubiquiti's update history.

What owners report

Recurring themes from public owner feedback, summarised in our own words.

  • Owners praise low idle power draw, with two reviews reporting roughly 8–10W.
  • Buyers find the storage variants confusing, and the no-storage version needs a separate tray to add storage.
Who should skip it
  • 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
Full specifications
Firewall / IPS throughput2.3 Gbps IDS/IPS (vendor figure; no separate firewall-only figure published)
PortsFive 2.5G/1G/100M/10M RJ45 ports, one 2.5GbE WAN by default, up to four can be WAN; no SFP+ port listed
SoftwareUniFi Application Suite (Network, Protect, Access, Talk, Connect); proprietary
ProcessorQuad-core ARM Cortex-A53 at 1.5 GHz
Memory3 GB
Sources

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