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Free Network Planning Tool

Build Your Complete UniFi Network

Get a professional network setup tailored to your business in 3 minutes. No technical knowledge required.

Based on 200+ installations
Professional configurations
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Complete in 3 Minutes
Answer a few questions and get a full equipment list
No Monthly Fees
One-time hardware purchase, no licensing costs
Professional Grade
Enterprise equipment scaled for small business
Vetted Configurations
Based on 200+ professional installations
Step 1 of 3Business Type

What type of business are you setting up?

We'll recommend equipment optimized for your environment

Example Setups

Real-World UniFi Configurations

See what a complete UniFi network looks like for different business types. Based on our 200+ professional installations.

Home Office / Startup

1-5 people • Up to 1,500 sq ft

All-in-one WiFi 7 solution with built-in camera recording. Perfect for home offices, small studios, and startup spaces.

Equipment
  • Dream Router 7$279
  • Switch Lite 8 PoE$109
  • 2× G6 Bullet Camera$398
WiFi 7 built-inNo separate NVR neededSimple 1-hour setupGuest network ready
Total Investment$786

Professional Office

10-30 employees • 2,000-5,000 sq ft

Complete business network with dedicated gateway, WiFi 7 access points, and 30-day camera retention. Ideal for law firms, accounting practices, and agencies.

Equipment
  • UCG Max Gateway$279
  • 2× U7 Pro WiFi 7 AP$378
  • Pro 8 PoE Switch$349
  • 4× G6 Bullet Camera$796
  • UNVR + 8TB HDD$489
IDS/IPS threat protectionWiFi 7 for video calls30+ days 4K retentionGuest network isolation
Total Investment$2,291

Growing SMB / Enterprise

30-50+ employees • 5,000-10,000 sq ft

Enterprise-grade 10G network with flagship gateway, high-performance WiFi 7, and redundant camera storage. Built for scaling businesses.

Equipment
  • UDM Pro Max$599
  • 3× U7 Pro XG (10G)$597
  • Pro Max 24 PoE Switch$799
  • 4× G6 Pro Bullet (4K)$1916
  • 4× G6 Bullet Camera$796
  • 2× HDD 4TB (RAID)$260
10G network backboneU7 Pro XG flagship APs8 cameras with 4KRAID redundant storage
Total Investment$4,967

Need a custom configuration? Use our interactive tool above or explore our guides.

Compare all UniFi gateways
Planning Essentials

What You Need to Know Before Building

Key considerations from our 200+ professional UniFi installations

WiFi 7 Infrastructure Requirements

WiFi 7 access points like the U7 Pro and U7 Pro XG can deliver multi-gigabit speeds — but only if your switching infrastructure supports it. Standard gigabit switches create a bottleneck. For full WiFi 7 performance, pair your APs with 2.5GbE or 10GbE switches.

WiFi 7 Access Point Guide

Gateway Selection: More Than Speed

Your gateway determines more than throughput. Consider: Protect storage (built-in HDD bays vs. separate NVR), IDS/IPS threat prevention, port count, and remote management. The UCG Max handles most SMBs; the UDM Pro Max is for 10G networks or 30+ cameras.

Gateway Comparison Guide

Camera + Network Integration

UniFi Protect cameras share the same PoE switches, management dashboard, and storage as your network. This unified approach means one interface, one app, and simplified troubleshooting — unlike managing separate camera and network systems.

UniFi Protect Guide

Future-Proofing Your Investment

UniFi equipment typically lasts 5-7 years vs. 2-3 years for consumer gear. With 2025 updates like Object Networking (simplified policy management) and WiFi 7 with 10G uplinks, investing in current hardware positions you well for the next upgrade cycle.

2025 UniFi Updates Guide
Quick Reference

UniFi Gateway Comparison

Choosing the right gateway is the first step. Here's a quick overview of the most popular options.

GatewayBest ForPriceSpeedKey Features
Dream Router 7Home office, small shops$279Up to 1 GbpsWiFi 7 built-in, Protect recording
UCG Max10-30 users$199Up to 2.5 GbpsIDS/IPS, VPN, NVMe storage
UCG-Fiber2.5G+ fiber internet$279Up to 5 Gbps10G SFP+, NVMe, PoE+ port
UDM Pro Max30-50+ users$599Up to 10 GbpsDual HDD RAID, 10G LAN
Why Choose UniFi

Enterprise Networking. Zero Subscriptions.

Get Cisco-level features without the licensing trap. One-time purchase, lifetime ownership.

No Monthly Licensing

Unlike Cisco Meraki or competitors, UniFi has zero recurring costs. Buy once, own forever.

Enterprise Features

VLANs, advanced firewall rules, IDS/IPS, and more — all included without extra fees.

Single Dashboard

Manage WiFi, cameras, access control, and VoIP from one unified interface.

50-70% Cost Savings

Compared to Meraki and similar enterprise solutions, with the same functionality.

FAQ

UniFi Network Setup FAQ

Our configurator uses data from 200+ professional UniFi installations to recommend equipment based on your business type, square footage, user count, internet speed, and camera requirements. It considers factors like WiFi coverage per AP, PoE power budgets, and storage needs to generate a complete, balanced system.

These are educated starting points based on typical deployments for your business type and size. Every environment is different — building materials, layout, and specific workflows may require adjustments. Use this as your baseline, then consult our detailed guides or contact us for fine-tuning.

For most small businesses (under 50 users), the UCG Max ($299) offers excellent value with 2.5GbE and built-in controller. The UDM Pro ($499) adds a hard drive bay for camera storage. For high-performance needs (10G internet, 100+ users, or large camera systems), the UDM Pro Max ($799) is the enterprise choice.

As a rule of thumb: 1 AP per 1,500-2,000 sq ft for standard offices, or 1 per 1,000-1,500 sq ft for high-density environments like conference rooms or retail. Building materials matter — concrete and metal require more APs. Our configurator calculates this based on your square footage and user count.

Not always. The UDM Pro and Pro Max have built-in hard drive bays for camera storage (up to 8 cameras comfortably). For 8+ cameras or 24/7 recording at high resolution, a dedicated UNVR ($299) or UNVR Pro ($499) provides more storage capacity and better performance.

Medical environments require network segmentation (VLANs) for HIPAA compliance, separating patient data from guest WiFi. We recommend business-grade gateways like UCG Max or UDM Pro with proper firewall rules, plus reliable coverage for medical devices. Our configurator automatically adjusts recommendations for healthcare.

For patios, parking lots, or outdoor dining, add UniFi Outdoor APs (U7 Pro Outdoor or U7 Outdoor). These are IP65 rated for weather resistance. Make sure your switch has enough PoE budget — outdoor APs typically need PoE+ (30W). Our configurator can factor in outdoor areas.

DIY is feasible for simple setups (1-2 APs, basic routing). Consider professional installation for: running ethernet cables through walls/ceilings, mounting ceiling APs, complex network segmentation, or camera systems. Proper cable management and AP placement dramatically impact performance.

Meraki charges $200-400 per device annually for licensing — a 10-device network costs $2,000-4,000/year just in subscriptions. UniFi has zero recurring fees. Over 5 years, a $3,000 UniFi setup stays at $3,000, while equivalent Meraki costs $13,000-23,000 including licenses.

Absolutely. UniFi's modular design means you can start with a gateway and one AP, then add devices as needed. All equipment is managed from the same dashboard. Many clients start with networking, then add cameras, access control, or VoIP over time — all integrated seamlessly.

A basic setup needs three components: a gateway (UCG Max or UDM Pro) for routing and security, a PoE switch to power devices, and at least one WiFi 7 access point. For cameras, add a hard drive to your gateway or a dedicated NVR. Our configurator recommends the right combination for your needs.

No. UniFi can be managed 100% locally through your gateway. Cloud access is optional and free — you can access your network remotely through ui.com without any subscription. This is a major advantage over cloud-dependent systems like Meraki.

A complete small business UniFi network typically costs $800-$5,000 depending on your requirements. Basic setups (10-15 users) start around $800 with a Dream Router 7 and cameras. Mid-range deployments (20-30 users) with dedicated gateway, WiFi 7 APs, and NVR run $2,000-$3,000. Premium setups with 10G networking and enterprise cameras reach $5,000+. Use our configurator above for a personalized estimate.

For a 20-person office, we recommend: UCG Max gateway ($279) for routing and security, two U7 Pro WiFi 7 access points ($378) for coverage, a Pro 8 PoE switch ($349), and 4 G6 cameras with UNVR + 8TB storage (~$1,285). Total investment around $2,300. This configuration handles 50+ devices, provides gigabit WiFi, and includes 30+ days of 4K camera retention.

Yes, UniFi supports HIPAA-compliant deployments. Key features include VLAN segmentation to isolate patient data from guest WiFi, IDS/IPS threat detection, encrypted management, and audit logging. We recommend the UCG Max or UDM Pro for medical practices, as they provide the advanced firewall rules needed for compliance. Many healthcare clients also appreciate the local-only management option for data privacy.
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