Why Ubiquiti has two gateway lines
The Dream Machine line launched first and was built around consolidation: put the router, a PoE switch, a UniFi OS console, and (on Pro/SE) camera recording storage into a single rack unit. That's genuinely convenient for a small office or a single-site deployment that wants minimal hardware sprawl.
The Cloud Gateway line launched later to address a gap: many buyers already own separate UniFi switches and don't need (or want to pay for) a router with 8 extra switch ports built in. The Cloud Gateway family strips routing back to its own dedicated, cheaper hardware, and lets you add exactly the switching and storage you need separately.
Picking within the Dream Machine line
The base UDM (SE excluded) is largely legacy at this point — most new deployments should look at UDM Pro or UDM SE. The UDM Pro adds 8 switch ports (including PoE) and 2 HDD bays for NVR recording. The UDM SE goes further with a larger built-in PoE++ switch and higher routing throughput, aimed at sites that want a genuinely all-in-one rack unit without adding a separate switch at all.
Picking within the Cloud Gateway line
The UCG Ultra is the compact, budget entry point — 4 ports, 2 with PoE+, enough for a home office or very small site with 1–2 APs. The UCG Max adds meaningfully higher routing throughput for sites running IDS/IPS with more traffic. The UCG Fiber adds a dedicated SFP+ WAN port, aimed at sites with a fibre internet handoff that need multi-gig WAN throughput without a media converter.
Buying on FUSE
FUSE stocks the full UniFi Dream Machine and Cloud Gateway ranges across EU warehouses in Malta, Poland, the Netherlands, and Germany, with trade pricing for resellers and integrators.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a Cloud Gateway with an existing Dream Machine's controller?
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You can't run two gateways as one controller — each UniFi OS console (whether on a Dream Machine or Cloud Gateway) is its own management instance. You would migrate the site to whichever device you keep as the primary controller and adopt the other UniFi devices (switches, APs) into it.
Is the UDM Pro being discontinued in favour of Cloud Gateway?
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No — as of 2026 both lines are actively sold and updated. They serve different deployment patterns: Dream Machine for all-in-one rack consolidation, Cloud Gateway for modular builds with separate switching.
Which has better IDS/IPS throughput?
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The UDM SE and UCG Max both offer strong IDS/IPS-enabled throughput in the multi-gigabit range, ahead of the base UCG Ultra and UDM Pro, which are adequate for smaller sites but see a bigger throughput hit with deep packet inspection enabled at high traffic volumes.
Do I need a separate NVR if I buy a Cloud Gateway?
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Yes — the Cloud Gateway line doesn't include camera recording storage. Pair it with a dedicated UniFi Protect NVR (like the UNVR) or use a Dream Machine Pro/SE instead, which has built-in HDD bays for recording.
Which is better for a growing 5-to-50-person office?
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Start with a UCG Max or UCG Fiber and add dedicated UniFi switches as headcount grows — this scales more cost-effectively than a Dream Machine's built-in switch ports, which become a bottleneck once you outgrow them and still require a separate switch anyway.
Where can I buy UniFi gateways in the EU?
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FUSE stocks the full UniFi Dream Machine and Cloud Gateway ranges across EU warehouses in Malta, Poland, the Netherlands, and Germany, with trade pricing for resellers and integrators.
Buy networking equipment on FUSE
Multi-warehouse EU stock from Malta, Poland, Netherlands, and Germany — with EU-resident technical support and trade pricing for resellers, integrators, and MSPs.