Sonicwall TZ Vs UbiquitiNetworks Uni-Fi – Which is the better security solution
Sonicwall and Ubiquiti are two of the most sought after security software providers, but which one is most suitable for you?
In the search for the best firewall for your organisation, Sonicwall and Ubiquiti Networks Uni-Fi often turn up on the top of most lists. This is because they both have great firewall functionality coupled with a wide array of useful security features and applications. Their developers also offer great product support and customer care services to ensure that the user gets the most out of them. The two firewall software have a couple of differences including their pricing models; Sonicwall is quote based, while Ubiquiti is package dependent, which already diversifies their targeted users. It is clear that whereas Sonicwall and Ubiquiti can perform similar tasks, they do this in slightly different ways and with diverse requirements, which makes them suitable to offer security for different users.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between Sonicwall and Ubiquiti?
Feature |
Sonicwall |
Ubiquiti (Winner) |
Operating System |
Sonic OS |
Edge OS |
Pricing |
Free version and quote based paid versions |
Paid |
User Interface |
Graphical User Interface |
Graphical User Interface combined with a Command Line |
Sonicwall Vs Ubiquiti- How do they compare?
-
Pricing
Sonicwall has a basic free version in addition to having quote based paid version, dependent on the requirements of the buyers. This makes the software very inclusive and its pricing transparent by allowing it to encompass both free and paid users while avoiding the scenarios where a user ends up paying for functions and features that they do not require. The free version would be suitable for basic firewalling and packet filtering needs, and the user is able to determine the additional features or applications they would require and get a quotation for them. Ubiquiti on the other hand, is a single paid product, so the user pays for its complete package, regardless of the features that they will use.
This makes Ubiquiti convenient for users who require a wide range of firewall applications, while Sonicwall is more convenient for a user who requires a basic set or a limited range of such applications and functions.
-
Ease of use
Though both Sonicwall and Ubiquiti make use of a GUI, Sonicwall is significantly more difficult to use, especially for an inexperienced user. The developers at Sonicwall have tried to remedy this by making a lot of free documentation for the software available online to help users learn how to navigate the system, but this has not really done much because, who wants to buy a software just to have to go looking for documents on how to use it? However, they have 24/7 customer care service that is freely available to customers, which has increased the ease of use.
Ubiquiti is therefore preferable for its ease of configuration and use.
Sonicwall Vs Ubiquiti- A comparison review
Sonicwall
Sonicwall is one of the most highly demanded paid security software today. This is because they offer very good security packages which are under a very comprehensive Security Suite. Their wide array of applications include; Intrusion prevention, GW AV, advanced packet filtering, application monitoring and control and anti-spyware among others. These applications ensure that the user is able to monitor and control the flow of data in their network, while keeping the network fast and efficient at all times by fairly allocating bandwidth according to task and priority.
Aside from the wide range of applications listed above, Sonicwall has a capable set of essential features that help the applications perform their functions seamlessly and with great ease, while making it easier for the user to navigate the system. The most striking of these features would be the flexible and easy customization of the firewall NAT policies, access rules and objectives, which ensures that the system administrator can customize the software functionality to meet all their needs.
Pros
- It is easy to manage and administrate
- It has high performance for its firmware and hardware
- It has a free version
- The paid version in quote based and is considered highly competitive to other similar vendors
Cons
- It is difficult to use
Ubiquiti Networks Uni-Fi
Ubiquiti is an easy to administrate yet extremely powerful web security networking solution. It is becoming highly demanded for its highly affordable Access Points. As a matter of fact its AP’s are one of its highest selling points. This is because on top of being affordable, they are very reliable and have the capacity for both indoor and outdoor use. They offer AP’s which are outdoor Mesh and have wide range direction antenna which effectively cover a wide outdoor space, with better dual Band Wi-Fi than most highly priced AP’s in the market. In addition to their great AP’s, Ubiquiti have a very affordable and slick IP system, offering IP protection using the Cloud Key 2nd Generation, which solves network problems in record time and comes with a built-in back up battery.
Ubiquiti Networks Uni-Fi allows for secure remote management for their network via the easy to use Unifi controller. This allows the verified network administrator to wield an extensive amount of control over the entire network, with access to a large amount of well-integrated and easy to understand data.
Pros
- It offers great product community support on official forum sites
- It is easy to administrate and simple to use
- The packages offer very affordable AP’s
Cons
- It does not offer a very wide range of firewall applications
Conclusion
Sonicwall and Ubiquiti are two great firewall software that specialize in different areas. Ubiquiti takes great care in developing their AP’s and other hardware like routers, for maximum efficiency and affordability while Sonicwall is great for policy control and management. Despite this difference, they both offer very good web security.
Verdict- So which is better, Sonicwall or Ubiquiti?
All factors considered, I would go for Ubiquiti because it is easy to use and gives an impressive return on investment.
FAQs
Is a Ubiquiti Router a good investment?
Ubiquiti Uni-Fi offers a great professional consumer wireless router system that is more powerful, has a wider range of features and covers a wider range of areas and application situations than your typical wireless router. This is in addition to the built in firewall capabilities that are available and of use to the consumer, regardless of their intent when purchasing the router. The entire Ubiquiti Uni-Fi router package may be slightly more expensive than an all-in-one Wi-Fi modem solution, but it offers a range of features that is far higher than the difference in cost.
Is Sonicwall free?
Sonicwall has a free and paid version. The free version has system firmware and beta releases and can be downloaded together with its documentation from the Sonicwall website. The paid version is quote based which allows you to choose the applications and features that you feel would be most useful to you and get a quote based on the package closest to your specifications.