UniFi Cloud Gateway Max vs Ultra vs Fiber: which to buy (2026)

Buy the UniFi Cloud Gateway Ultra if the site only needs UniFi Network and runs on gigabit internet. Buy the Cloud Gateway Max if you want cameras or door access, 2.5 GbE on every port, or more than twice the IPS throughput. Both are rated for 30+ UniFi devices and 300+ clients.

There's a third option at the Max's price. The Cloud Gateway Fiber costs the same $279 as the Max with 512 GB of storage, and it's rated for 50+ devices and 5 Gbps of IPS throughput. It ships without an SSD.

All specs below come from Ubiquiti's tech specs pages for the UCG-Ultra, UCG-Max and UCG-Fiber. Prices are from Ubiquiti's US store on September 25, 2026.

Cloud Gateway Ultra vs Max vs Fiber: specs side by side

A "+" on the device and client counts means Ubiquiti gives a guideline, with no hard cap stated. None of the three lists WiFi radios in its tech specs. The store quotes routing speed only with IDS/IPS switched on, so that's the number to compare.

Where the Ultra and the Max differ

The two look almost identical. Both are compact desktop units. For a rack, Ubiquiti points to the Dream Machines. They share the same case size, processor and memory, and the same 30+ device rating. The differences are in apps, ports, storage and logging.

Apps and cameras

The UCG-Max tech specs list all five UniFi apps: Network, Protect, Access, Talk and Connect. The store describes it as including the "full UniFi application suite".

The UCG-Ultra tech specs list only UniFi Network. The store says it "Runs UniFi Network". Ubiquiti's own sources disagree here. A help article last edited in February 2025 says every Cloud Gateway except the EFG runs all apps, and it lists the UCG-Ultra. Newer help articles leave the Ultra out. The Protect camera limits (edited May 2026) and the list of consoles that run UniFi Access (edited September 2026) name the Max and the Fiber only. We haven't tested Protect on an Ultra, so plan on Network only.

If the site has UniFi Protect cameras or UniFi Access doors, that settles it. Pick the Max or the Fiber.

Ports and throughput

The Max has five 2.5 GbE ports. The Ultra has one 2.5 GbE port for the internet connection and four 1 GbE ports for the local network.

IDS/IPS throughput is 2.3 Gbps on the Max and 1 Gbps on the Ultra. IDS/IPS is the intrusion detection and prevention that inspects traffic for threats. With it on, the Ultra is rated for 1 Gbps. On a 2 Gbps fiber line with IDS/IPS on, pick the Max or the Fiber.

Both can use up to four internet connections at once for load balancing or failover.

Storage

The Ultra has no drive bay. Its tech specs list 16 GB of on-board storage and no NVR storage.

The Max has an NVMe SSD slot for up to 2 TB. The store sells it four ways:

• Cloud Gateway Max NS (no storage): $199 base, $214 with surcharge.
• Cloud Gateway Max with a 512 GB SSD installed: $279 base, $301 with surcharge.
• Cloud Gateway Max with a 1 TB SSD: $589 base, $604 with surcharge.
• Cloud Gateway Max with a 2 TB SSD: $929 base, $944 with surcharge. It was sold out on September 25.

The SSDs are also sold on their own: $390 for 1 TB, and $730 for 2 TB (sold out).

For your own M.2 NVMe SSD, the store sells an M.2 SSD tray ($19). The Max and Fiber pages both say a third-party SSD needs that tray. The 512 GB, 1 TB and 2 TB Max options include it. The tray's description says the UCG-Max and UCG-Fiber run the slot at PCIe Gen3 x2.

Traffic Flows and logging

Traffic Flows is the log in UniFi Network that shows every completed session through the gateway, with ports, policies and risk level. Ubiquiti's Traffic Flows article lists the UCG-Ultra among the gateways that don't support it.

The Max and the Fiber do. Ubiquiti estimates they keep up to 10,000 log entries, or up to 500,000 with added storage. The same article says an internal SSD or added storage is required for Traffic Flows.

For an office where you'll need to answer "who connected to what", that's a real difference.

Power

The Ultra draws at most 6.2 W and the Max 16.1 W. Both run on USB-C, with the adapter in the box.

Prices on the US store

All five were listed as available on September 25, 2026. The US store shows a base price and a "Surcharge incl." price, so we give both.

Where the Cloud Gateway Fiber fits

The UCG-Fiber is the step up for sites with fiber internet or a 10G switch. It has a 10G SFP+ and a 10 GbE RJ45 port for the internet connection. It also has a second 10G SFP+ port for the local network, and four 2.5 GbE ports. One of those 2.5 GbE ports supplies PoE+, with a 30 W budget.

It's rated for 50+ UniFi devices and 500+ clients, against 30+ and 300+ for the Max. IPS throughput is 5 Gbps. It runs all five UniFi apps and supports Traffic Flows.

Two things to know before you buy. It ships without an SSD, so budget for one if you record cameras. It also uses a 54V DC power adapter and draws up to 29.4 W, where the Max runs on USB-C.

At $279, the Fiber costs the same as a Max with 512 GB. If you'd add your own SSD anyway, the Fiber gives you more ports, more headroom and a higher device rating for the money.

Gateway Max vs Cloud Gateway Max

These are two different products with similar names.

• The Cloud Gateway Max (UCG-Max) is a router with the UniFi controller built in.
• The Gateway Max (UXG-Max) is a router without a controller. The store says it's managed with a CloudKey, Official UniFi Hosting or UniFi OS Server, on UniFi Network 8.1.113 and later.

The ports, case size and IPS rating match. The UXG-Max has one 2.5 GbE WAN port and four 2.5 GbE LAN ports, and up to 2.3 Gbps of routing with IDS/IPS. Its tech specs list 2 GB of memory against 3 GB on the UCG-Max, and no SSD slot. The UXG-Max and the UCG-Max NS both cost $199 base.

Pick the Cloud Gateway if this site is the only one and you want everything in one box. Pick the Gateway Max if the controller already runs elsewhere, such as on a Cloud Key or a hosted server. Our Cloud Key vs Cloud Gateway vs UniFi controller guide compares those setups.

Which one should you buy?

Setting one up? Our UCG-Ultra setup guide walks through it, and our Cloud Gateway Max explainer covers the Max in more depth.

Frequently asked questions

Can the Cloud Gateway Ultra run UniFi Protect?

Plan on no. Its tech specs list only UniFi Network, and Ubiquiti's current Protect camera limits leave it out. A February 2025 help article says otherwise. It also has no drive bay for recordings. For cameras, pick the UCG-Max or the UCG-Fiber.

Does the Cloud Gateway Max have WiFi?

No. Its tech specs list no WiFi radios, and the same goes for the Ultra and the Fiber. Add UniFi access points for wireless.

What is the UCG-Max NS?

It's the Cloud Gateway Max without an SSD. It costs $199 base against $279 for the 512 GB version. You can add an NVMe SSD of up to 2 TB later. The store says your own drive needs the $19 M.2 SSD tray.

Is the Cloud Gateway Max faster than the Ultra?

Yes. The Max handles up to 2.3 Gbps with IDS/IPS on, and the Ultra up to 1 Gbps. The Max also has 2.5 GbE on all five ports, where the Ultra's four local ports are 1 GbE.

Does a Cloud Gateway need a subscription?

No. The controller runs on the gateway itself, so no hosting fee applies. The tech specs list 55,000+ IDS/IPS signatures "with CyberSecure", an optional add-on the store bills annually.

Final thoughts

For one site, a Cloud Gateway is hard to beat. The Ultra covers a network-only office for $129, and the Max or the Fiber adds cameras, faster ports and Traffic Flows.

The picture changes when you look after many client sites. Every Cloud Gateway runs its own controller, with its own backups and updates. The alternative is a Gateway Max at each site, with one controller run centrally. That's the part UniHosted takes care of for MSPs, with daily backups and tested updates on paid plans.