Comparison
Best UniFi Hosting Options Compared (2026)
Managing UniFi controllers at scale is an operational decision, not a technical one. This page compares hosting approaches used by MSPs today — managed providers, Ubiquiti's official cloud, Cloud Keys and UDMs, and self-hosted controllers — side by side, focusing on operational ownership, support depth, and scalability.
| Category | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designed for MSPs | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Dedicated controller per client | Yes | Yes | No | No | Depends |
| Expert support included | Yes (engineers) | Yes | Limited | No | No |
| Live video call support | Included | Limited | No | No | No |
| Hands-on migration help | Included | Partial | No | No | No |
| Who owns uptime & recovery | Provider | Provider | Platform only | MSP | MSP |
| Upgrade & rollback responsibility | Provider | Provider | Platform | MSP | MSP |
| Backup ownership | Provider | Provider | Limited | MSP | MSP |
| Operational effort for MSP | Very low | Low | Medium | High | Very high |
| Suitable beyond 20+ client sites | Yes | Yes | No | No | High effort |
| Pricing model | Per controller | Per controller | Per site | Hardware | Infra + labor |
Why MSPs Move Away from Cloud Keys, UDMs, and Self-Hosting
A single UniFi controller is simple to manage. At 20, 50, or 100 client sites, controller operations become a liability.
These issues appear consistently for MSPs running Cloud Keys or self-hosted controllers:
- Each client running a different controller version
- Hardware degradation or sudden Cloud Key failures
- Firmware updates breaking device adoption
- Backups being manual or inconsistently tested
- SSL certificates expiring unexpectedly
- Engineers context-switching between environments
- No centralized visibility across controllers
- On-site visits required for hardware failures
- No expert support when things go wrong
These are not edge cases. They are recurring operational failure modes.
Managed UniFi hosting exists to offload controller operations entirely.
How Managed UniFi Hosting Works
Managed UniFi hosting shifts infrastructure responsibility from the MSP to the provider. The MSP retains control over network configuration, device management, and client access. UniHosted manages the platform underneath — including uptime, recovery, and expert support.
Controller provisioning
New controllers are deployed in minutes through the UniHosted dashboard. No server setup or manual installation required.
Version management
Updates are tested internally before rollout. Only verified stable versions are deployed, with rollback paths available.
Migration
Existing controllers on Cloud Keys, UDMs, or self-hosted VPS setups are migrated with zero client-facing downtime, assisted directly by UniHosted engineers.
Backups and recovery
Automated daily backups with retention included. Encrypted at rest. Restores are handled by the UniHosted team on request.
Monitoring and SSL
Controller health is monitored continuously. SSL certificates are provisioned and renewed automatically, including support for custom domains.
Support
Multi-timezone support by engineers with hands-on UniFi experience. Live video calls are available when chat isn't enough.
UniFi Hosting at UniHosted
What is included in UniHosted's UniFi controller hosting service:
Business Impact for MSPs
Engineer time recovered
Time previously spent maintaining controllers becomes available for billable client work.
Fewer emergency escalations
Infrastructure failures and update incidents are absorbed by the platform, not your on-call rota.
Consistent delivery
Every client runs on the same operational standard regardless of size.
Predictable margins
Controller operations become a fixed, predictable cost instead of an escalating internal burden.
Support Model
UniHosted support is delivered by engineers who work with UniFi daily. Support interactions are technical, direct, and hands-on.
Included on paid plans
- Fast response times
- Hands-on migration assistance
- DNS, SSL, and inform URL troubleshooting
- Version stability recommendations
- Live video calls for complex cases
- Guided device re-adoption
- Custom SLA arrangements