In short
Meraki and Ubiquiti UniFi both manage gateways, switches and Wi-Fi from the cloud. Meraki needs an active licence per device, which covers dashboard management and Cisco support, and suits managed multi-site estates. Ubiquiti says UniFi has no licences or subscriptions, with management through UniFi OS and Site Manager, and suits cost-led, self-supported sites.
Want an impartial recommendation?
Tell us about your users, systems and priorities and we will tell you which option fits, and why.
The short answer
Ubiquiti UniFi is built around ownership. Ubiquiti's own site says "No licenses. No subscriptions." and offers "Native cloud management with zero cloud fees." You buy the hardware, run the UniFi software on a UniFi gateway or console, and manage it locally or remotely through Site Manager.
Cisco Meraki is built around a service. Every Meraki device needs a valid licence to operate, and that licence pays for the cloud-hosted Meraki dashboard, firmware and Cisco's support for the device. In return, you get a mature multi-site management platform with a wide family of products under one console.
So the question "is Meraki worth it?" really means: is a licensed, vendor-run cloud service worth it for your organisation, compared with buying hardware outright and supporting it yourself? Where downtime and admin time cost money, and especially across many sites, Meraki's licence buys the hosted dashboard, firmware and Cisco support in one. The sections below compare the two point by point.
Meraki vs UniFi at a glance
| Cisco Meraki | Ubiquiti UniFi | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing | Valid licence needed per device; co-term or subscription | "No licenses. No subscriptions." (Ubiquiti) |
| Management | Meraki dashboard, hosted by Cisco | UniFi Network application in UniFi OS on a gateway or console, or self-hosted on UniFi OS Server |
| Remote and multi-site | Organisations, networks and templates in one dashboard | Site Manager at unifi.ui.com and mobile apps |
| Site-to-site VPN and SD-WAN | Auto VPN on MX appliances | Site Magic, which Ubiquiti describes as licence-free |
| Firewall and threat protection | MX editions; IDS/IPS and content filtering in Advanced Security | Zone-based firewall and IPS/IDS on Cloud Gateways |
| Product range | MR, Wi-Fi 7, MS, cloud-managed Catalyst, MX, Z-series, MG, MV | Cloud Gateways, switching, Wi-Fi, physical security, door access |
| Network access control | Cisco Access Manager (cloud NAC) | - |
| Support | Cisco support included with an active licence | Through Ubiquiti's help centre and support channels |
A dash means Ubiquiti's own pages do not name an equivalent feature.
Still not sure which way to go? Ask us
Tell us what matters most to you and we will recommend one, with the trade-offs explained.
Licensing and ongoing cost
This is the difference most people are really asking about.
Ubiquiti is explicit: its Cloud Gateways page says advanced security and routing features are "available out-of-the box without the need of a license", and its switching page says UniFi switches are "centrally managed in UniFi without licensing fees". There is no recurring device licence.
Meraki works the other way. Cisco states that "all current Cisco Meraki products require valid licensing to operate". You choose a licensing model for the organisation, either co-term licensing with one shared expiry date, or subscription licensing with Essentials and Advantage tiers. If a licence lapses, what happens depends on the model, as our page on Meraki licence expiry explains.
Comparing hardware prices alone is misleading. A fair comparison over the life of the network includes the licence, the time your team spends on updates, troubleshooting and site visits, replacement handling, and what an outage costs you. Ask us for a quote and we will set out the Meraki cost for your sites and term.
Management and multi-site
Both platforms let you see and manage a network from a browser or phone, but the architecture differs.
UniFi: Ubiquiti's Cloud Gateways run UniFi OS, and the UniFi Network application on them manages the gateway, switches and access points. Remote access is through Site Manager at unifi.ui.com or the UniFi mobile apps, which Ubiquiti calls "a completely free remote management experience". Ubiquiti also offers UniFi OS Server as a download for those who want to self-host. Ubiquiti says you can "Manage unlimited sites".
Meraki: there is no controller to host or update. Each device connects to the Meraki cloud for management only, and user traffic stays on your network. Sites are grouped into organisations and networks, with templates to roll the same configuration out to many locations, role-based admin access, firmware scheduling, alerting and an API. Our multi-site network page shows how this looks across a chain of offices or stores.
Weighing up the options?
We can compare them against your own requirements and recommend what fits.
Security features
UniFi Cloud Gateways include a zone-based firewall, which Ubiquiti says "groups networks into LAN, WAN, Guest, and IoT zones", an intrusion detection and prevention system, multi-WAN with failover or weighted load balancing, and Site Magic for site-to-site VPN and SD-WAN.
Meraki MX appliances provide stateful firewalling, Auto VPN, WAN failover and traffic shaping in the Enterprise edition, and add intrusion detection and prevention, content filtering, anti-malware and geography-based rules with Advanced Security. See Meraki Enterprise vs Advanced Security for the detail. Beyond the firewall, Meraki adds Cisco Access Manager for cloud network access control, identity PSK for Wi-Fi, and integrations with Cisco's wider security portfolio.
If you need to meet Cyber Essentials, both can be configured to meet the firewall requirements; our sister site explains the Cyber Essentials firewall requirements.
When each one fits
Ubiquiti UniFi can fit well when:
- you have one or a few small sites and want to own the hardware outright
- you have people in-house who are comfortable supporting it
- avoiding any recurring licence is the top priority
Cisco Meraki tends to fit better when:
- you run many sites, or plan to, and want one dashboard and templates for all of them
- you want vendor support and replacement handling tied to an active licence
- you need cameras, cellular backup, teleworker gateways or cloud NAC in the same console
- you want a supplier to design, deploy and support the network with you
If you started with UniFi at one site and are now growing, our Meraki setup page walks through how a Meraki deployment is planned. Contact us to talk through your sites.
How Forever Systems helps
Forever Systems is a Cisco Partner. We design, supply and support Meraki networks, from Meraki access points and Meraki switches to MX security and SD-WAN.
If you are replacing UniFi, we can survey the sites, document your current SSIDs, VLANs and firewall rules, and plan a Meraki design and licensing term that fits. Ask us for a quote and we will lay out the full picture.
Working with us on Cisco Meraki
Forever Systems helps organisations plan, buy and run cloud-managed networks built on Cisco Meraki wireless, switching, security and SD-WAN.
- Plan the network: we look at your sites, users and existing kit, and can arrange a wireless site survey before anything is ordered
- Choose the right products: access points, switches, security appliances, cellular gateways, sensors and cameras sized to what each site needs, rather than a one-size bundle
- Licensing made clear: we explain co-termination, per-device and subscription licensing, check renewal dates and quote the licences you need
- Deployment help: we can set up the Meraki dashboard, organisations, networks, templates and policies, and help move you from older or on-premise kit
- Ongoing help: changes, licence renewals and reviews as your sites grow, with the scope agreed at quote
Ask us for a quote and we will confirm what is included for your organisation.
Frequently asked questions
Is Meraki worth it compared with Ubiquiti?
It depends on how you run your network. Every Meraki device carries a licence, and that licence pays for the hosted dashboard, firmware and Cisco support, which is why Meraki suits managed and multi-site estates. UniFi has no licences and is aimed at sites supported in-house.
Does Ubiquiti UniFi need a licence?
Ubiquiti says no: its site states "No licenses. No subscriptions." and describes cloud management with zero cloud fees. You buy the hardware and manage it through UniFi OS and Site Manager.
Does Meraki stop working without a licence?
Cisco states that all current Meraki products require valid licensing to operate. What happens when a licence lapses depends on whether the organisation uses co-term or subscription licensing; our Meraki licence expiry page explains both.
Can I manage Meraki and UniFi in the same dashboard?
No. Meraki devices are managed in the Meraki dashboard and UniFi devices in UniFi's own software. If you are moving from one to the other, plan a site-by-site cutover.
Can I self-host the Meraki dashboard like UniFi?
No. The Meraki dashboard is hosted by Cisco. Cisco's newer Wi-Fi 7 access points and Smart Switches can instead run with on-premises Catalyst management under unified subscription licences, which is a different product approach.
Still deciding?
Ask us and a member of our team will reply by email.