Cisco vs Unifi: A Comprehensive Comparison of Networking Solutions

In the fast-paced world of technology, choosing the right networking solution is crucial for both personal and organizational purposes. With many options on the market, Cisco and Unifi stand out for their unique features, benefits, and target users. In this blog post, we will compare these two major players in the networking industry, helping you make an informed decision based on your specific needs.

Overview of Cisco

Cisco Systems, Inc., founded in 1984, is a leading figure in networking technology. Known for its enterprise-grade solutions, Cisco offers a wide range of products, including routers, switches, security devices, and wireless access points. These products are designed to deliver reliability and scalability, making them optimal for large organizations.

Cisco is widely adopted in environments where security and performance are essential. For instance, a mid-sized enterprise requiring robust network security might invest in Cisco's ASA firewall, which can process up to 100 Gbps of traffic. While Cisco solutions generally come at a higher price point, they provide the superior infrastructure needed for mission-critical applications.

Overview of Unifi

Unifi, a product line of Ubiquiti Networks established in 2005, targets small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and home users with its user-friendly and affordable networking solutions. The Unifi ecosystem consists of wireless access points, switches, and security gateways that can be managed via a centralized controller interface.

Unifi positions itself as a cost-effective alternative, appealing to users who might find Cisco’s offerings too complex or expensive. For example, a small business looking to invest in a reliable Wi-Fi solution can choose the Unifi UAP-AC-LITE, which provides dual-band Wi-Fi coverage for around $79, making it a budget-friendly option.

Key Comparisons

Pricing

Pricing is the most significant difference between Cisco and Unifi.

Cisco's solutions often come with a hefty price tag, reflecting their advanced features and enterprise focus. For instance, Cisco’s Catalyst 9200 series switch can start from $2,000, making it suitable for organizations with critical networking requirements and the budget to match.

In comparison, Unifi's products are tailored for affordability. Its Ubiquiti UniFi Switch 8, with a starting price of about $100, offers great functionality for small networks, making it an attractive option for tight budgets.

"The frustration with Cisco's licensing model has reached a tipping point in the networking community." as David Bombal notes, 'Cisco really has made a lot of people angry with their subscription service. It's a nightmare, the licensing. People always complain about the licensing...This widespread frustration has created a market opportunity that UniFi has capitalized on with their zero-licensing approach.'

The licensing cost difference becomes astonishing in real-world scenarios.

Tom Lawrence, a network consultant who deploys both systems, shared a compelling example: 'One of the schools had a problem. They were dramatically expanding the size of the school. Their current license fees they were paying, I think were like 12 or 13,000 a year for Meraki [Cisco's cloud-managed solution]. And they said, you know, we know when we double the size of the school, we pretty much double these license fees.' In contrast, UniFi requires zero ongoing licensing fees.' Tom's proposal for a seven-location deployment included spare switches and access points at every site and was still 40% less expensive than competitors, demonstrating that UniFi's cost advantage isn't marginal, it's substantial.

Ease of Use

The ease of use is another key area where these two brands differ.

Cisco devices may be more complex to configure and maintain. Organizations often require specialized technical knowledge. For example, setting up a Cisco ISR router might take several hours and involve deep networking expertise. This complexity can be a barrier for small organizations or casual users.

Unifi excels in user-friendliness. Its Unifi Controller software allows users to manage their networks intuitively. Many users report completing their network setups in under 30 minutes, even without extensive technical backgrounds. This makes Unifi a popular choice for those seeking simplicity.

The biggest difference in usability is in how networks are managed.

Cisco devices can be configured individually through CLI or web interfaces, while UniFi devices have no local interfaces whatsoever, they must be managed through the UniFi controller. This might seem limiting, but it creates unprecedented simplicity for large deployments.

As Tom explains: 'If I have 45, 50 switches, maybe 200, 300 access points... if I wanted to change a setting, I wanna add a VLAN across that entire platform, it's the same menu that it is for a home user. I go to the same Ubiquiti menu, type in create the new VLAN, create a tag, hit save, and it will propagate within about, under a minute to every single switch in that network.'

Performance

Performance-wise, both Cisco and Unifi provide dependable networking solutions. However, Cisco typically excels in high-demand environments. For example, businesses running large data centers might choose Cisco due to its ability to handle bandwidth needs exceeding 10 Gbps.

Unifi also delivers reasonable performance for SMBs. A typical Unifi deployment can handle up to 200 connected devices simultaneously, which is more than adequate for most small businesses, though it may not match Cisco’s throughput in larger networks.

UniFi's routing capabilities reveal the platform's limitations for complex networks. Tom warns that UniFi routing 'works for things like routing' but has serious security implications: 'If you create a second VLAN and a second network inside of UniFi, the default rule is allow-allow for all networks. And that's like, no, that's not how it should be.' Additionally, UniFi lacks enterprise routing features like OSPF and has poor VPN support. Tom's recommendation for businesses needing advanced routing? 'We're gonna push you over to even something like Cisco... because UniFi's not that.

Features

Cisco and Unifi come equipped with various features tailored to their respective markets.

Cisco often stands out with its advanced security features, such as integrated firewalls, VPNs, and monitoring systems. For instance, a company might benefit from Cisco's threat detection capabilities, which can identify and mitigate security risks in real-time. Equally important, Cisco provides professional-grade support to help organizations leverage these advanced features effectively.

On the other hand, Unifi provides essential features without overwhelming the user. With guest access controls and easy Wi-Fi management, Unifi allows users to monitor network performance and track data usage efficiently. However, this simplicity comes with a significant trade-off in support.

Support represents a crucial feature difference. Tom is blunt about UniFi's weakness: "They do terrible support." Ubiquiti made a business decision to keep costs low by not charging licensing fees, which means sacrificing traditional support infrastructure. As Tom notes, "Support is expensive. It's the reason we charge so much for support... my technicians' time to help troubleshoot a problem" is costly. This creates opportunities for consultants like Tom, but means businesses must either develop in-house expertise or pay for third-party support.

This integration works well because support is indeed a "feature" , professional support is something you get (or don't get) with your networking solution, and it directly impacts how effectively you can use the other features of the platform.

Scalability

Scalability is crucial when considering networking solutions.

Cisco’s systems are designed to grow with an organization. They can easily integrate more advanced hardware and software as needs evolve. For example, a company planning to expand might choose a Cisco switch capable of supporting thousands of devices as it scales.

Unifi offers scalability but has some limitations. While its systems allow for straightforward expansion, larger networks may face challenges in performance over time. A growing business may find itself needing to transition to more advanced solutions as its networking demands increase.

Real-world scalability comes down to choosing the right controller and configuring it properly. UniFi devices need a "controller", the brain that manages all your access points and switches. There are different options for this controller, and each has limits. The small Cloud Key device (about $200) can only handle around 25-30 devices total before it gets overwhelmed. But if the controller is run as software on a more powerful computer or server, it can manage much more.

Tom has successfully managed 500 access points using a single controller running on a virtual machine. The key is knowing how to tune the software for larger deployments. As Tom explains, many scaling problems happen because "people hire us for consulting... and we find out that they never did the tuning. I'm like you have 250 access points and you never bothered to read Ubiquiti's tuning on when you exceed this many access points." The good news is that one UniFi controller can manage multiple separate business networks, making it useful for IT consultants managing different clients from one central location.

Final Thoughts

"UniFi's success is forcing industry changes. Cisco's response with their new Business line , which requires no licensing, demonstrates the market pressure UniFi has created. This competition benefits customers as traditional vendors are compelled to simplify their offerings and reduce licensing complexity."- David Bombal

Both Cisco and Unifi offer viable options depending on your requirements, budget, and level of expertise.

Cisco is ideal for large enterprises that need advanced features and robust security. Although the cost is higher, the reliability and performance often justify the investment.

Unifi appeals to small and medium businesses and home users seeking affordability and ease of use. It offers sufficient features for standard networking tasks without overwhelming users.

Ultimately, the choice between Cisco and Unifi comes down to your specific needs. Consider factors like budget, network size, required performance, and ease of use to pinpoint the best solution that aligns with your goals.