Using UniFi with other routers – a practical guide

Using UniFi gear doesn’t mean you have to go all-in with UniFi routers. In fact, a lot of people use UniFi access points, switches, or Protect gear with third-party routers just fine.

Whether you’re working with a basic ISP modem/router combo or a full-featured pfSense firewall, this guide will show you how to make it all work together smoothly.

Let's dive in !!

Do I need a UniFi router for UniFi to work?

Nope. You can absolutely use UniFi switches, access points (APs), and cameras with other routers. The only thing you miss out on is deep UniFi integration, like centralized DHCP or DPI stats. Everything else still works as long as your third-party router plays nice with VLANs and PoE where needed.

Let’s break down how each UniFi component can be integrated with other routing gear.

Using UniFi access points with other routers

This is the most common setup. You plug a UniFi AP into your existing network and use it as your Wi-Fi access point instead of the router’s built-in Wi-Fi.

Steps:

1. Connect your UniFi AP to a switch or directly to your router’s LAN port.
2. Make sure PoE is available, either from a PoE switch or injector.
3. Adopt the AP to your UniFi Controller (hosted or local).
4. Disable the router’s Wi-Fi if you want UniFi to handle it all.

Once adopted, the AP runs fine. You’ll get features like guest Wi-Fi, VLANs, and per-user stats, even if the router is from another brand.

Using UniFi switches with other routers

UniFi switches don’t care what brand your router is. They forward packets, manage VLANs, and supply PoE, all independently of the gateway.

Just make sure:

• Your router supports VLANs if you plan on using them.
• The switch is adopted into your controller for full config access.
• You’re not depending on the switch to do routing, it’s Layer 2 only.

Pro tip: If you’re using a managed router like pfSense or MikroTik, make sure VLANs are consistent across both devices.

Using UniFi Protect with non-UniFi routers

UniFi Protect works just fine without a UniFi router. All you need is:

• UniFi Protect NVR (like Cloud Key Gen2+, UNVR, or UDM-Pro)
• Cameras connected via PoE switch or injector
• Network with internet access for controller updates

Protect doesn’t care who hands out DHCP, as long as the cameras and NVR can reach each other.

What you lose without a UniFi gateway

There are some features you won’t get without a UniFi security gateway (like the UDM or USG):

• Deep Packet Inspection (DPI)
• UniFi Threat Management (IDS/IPS)
• Centralized DHCP & DNS control
• WAN failover/monitoring inside the controller

But honestly, most of those features can be done better by a dedicated firewall/router if you’re using something like pfSense, OPNsense, or even MikroTik.

Example setups

1. UniFi AP with ISP router

Gear:

• ISP combo box (router + modem)
• UniFi U6 Lite
• PoE injector

How it works:

• Disable ISP Wi-Fi
• Plug UniFi AP into LAN port
• Adopt to cloud controller

Super simple. Your ISP router still does all the routing.

2. UniFi AP + switch + pfSense

Gear:

• pfSense router
• UniFi switch (PoE)
• UniFi U6 LR
• Hosted UniFi controller

How it works:

• pfSense handles VLANs, DHCP
• Switch provides PoE and VLAN trunking
• Controller pushes config to APs

This setup gives you firewall-level control and full UniFi Wi-Fi control.

3. UniFi Protect + non-UniFi network

Gear:

• Consumer router
• UniFi Cloud Key Gen2+
• G4 Bullet camera
• Basic unmanaged PoE switch

How it works:

• Router gives IP to camera and Cloud Key
• Cloud Key runs Protect and manages camera
• View footage via local UI or remote access

No UniFi router needed. Works great for home installs or small offices.

Controller setup tips

The UniFi controller does the heavy lifting, so make sure it’s reachable.

Options:

• Cloud-hosted controller (easiest and most scalable)
• Cloud Key Gen2 or UNVR (on-site)
• Self-hosted VM or Docker (not recommended for MSPs)

Cloud controllers are easiest to manage, especially if you run multiple sites. Just make sure all UniFi devices can reach the controller during setup.

VLANs and UniFi gear

If you’re mixing UniFi with other routers, VLANs can get tricky. Here's what you need to keep in mind:

• Set the VLANs on your third-party router first.
• Tag ports correctly on UniFi switches.
• Match VLAN IDs in your UniFi SSID settings.

As long as both systems agree on the VLAN structure, you’ll be fine. If things don’t work, double-check tagging and port profiles.

Troubleshooting tips

UniFi AP not adopting?

• Make sure it has an IP from the router.
• Set inform manually:
  set-inform http://<controller-IP>:8080/inform
  

• Use the UniFi mobile app for a faster setup.

Controller not seeing device?

• Confirm network isolation isn’t blocking discovery.
• Use Layer 3 adoption if needed.

DHCP not working?

• Check router DHCP scope.
• Don’t run multiple DHCP servers.

Do I need to isolate guest Wi-Fi?

Yes. Whether you’re using UniFi or not, isolate guest traffic.

In UniFi, set up a Guest SSID on its own VLAN, then configure your third-party router to block VLAN-to-LAN routing. Easy if the router supports VLAN firewall rules.

Can I use UniFi’s controller for other brand APs?

No. The UniFi controller only manages UniFi devices. If you want to manage other APs or switches, you’ll need their specific software.

That’s why mixing UniFi gear with other routers makes more sense than mixing UniFi with other APs.

Final thoughts

You don’t need to go full UniFi to use UniFi gear. Their APs, switches, and cameras work great alongside routers from pfSense, MikroTik, or even your ISP.

Just keep a few things in mind:

• Make sure your controller is reachable.
• Use a PoE switch or injector for UniFi gear.
• Align VLANs between UniFi and your router.
• Don’t expect UniFi DPI or Threat Management without a UniFi gateway.

And if you’re supporting clients, don’t run your controller off a laptop or office server. We host UniFi controllers securely at UniHosted , so you can manage networks without worrying about uptime or updates. No headaches, and no missed firmware patches.