UniFi Controller – Management of Access Points & Switches
To efficiently manage UniFi devices such as Access Points or switches, a UniFi Controller is required. This article shows the different methods of operating the controller and briefly explains the advantages and costs of each method. The UniFi Controller software itself is free of charge. We offer our customers with a Sophos Firewall subscription a cloud controller free of charge for up to 5 devices.
Topics
Hardware controller
The hardware controller is based on dedicated devices that have been specially developed for the management of UniFi devices. Typical examples are the UniFi CloudKey+ for environments with up to approx. 50 devices or the CloudKey Enterprise for larger installations with up to 1000 devices.
Advantages
- Optimized for continuous operation
- Intuitive operation and simple commissioning
- Stability and performance thanks to dedicated hardware
- Software updates for the controller at the touch of a button
Costs
- One-off purchase costs of between approx. 200 and 500 CHF/€, depending on the model.
Software Controller
Self-hosting
With the software controller, you can operate the UniFi Network Server on your own hardware. This is possible on operating systems such as Windows, macOS or Linux. The installation is done by downloading the UniFi Network Server software.
Advantages
- High flexibility and full control over the system environment
- Software updates are carried out by updating the software
Costs
- No additional license fees – ideal for individual adaptations
- Operating costs for your own hardware and any maintenance costs; the software itself is free of charge.
Cloud services
The UniFi Controller can also be operated as a hosted solution with a cloud provider. This option saves you the hardware costs and software updates. Subscription-based costs that vary depending on the provider and number of devices
UniFi Official Hosting: UniFi offers Official UniFi Hosting from €29 per month, with prices increasing accordingly for higher numbers of devices (e.g. from 100 or 1000 devices).
HostiFi: Long-established provider with flexible packages for growing networks. Prices from $9 per month for 25 devices.
Avanet: We also have a controller that we offer our customers:
- For all customers who have a Sophos Firewall subscription with us, we provide a cloud controller – free of charge for up to 5 devices.
- For customers without a firewall subscription or who have more than 5 devices, we also have an offer depending on the number of devices (from 1 CHF/€ per month).
Direct setup via the iOS app
For smaller installations where only a single Access Points needs to be managed, direct setup via the UniFi iOS app or Anroid app offers a simple alternative.
Advantage
- Quick and easy setup without additional hardware
- Ideal for individual solutions or test environments
Costs
- Free of charge, as no additional hardware or paid software is required.