Special Offer 
Ubiquiti
The polished, plug and play ecosystem. Best when you want a network that manages itself.
MikroTik
The open, deeply configurable toolkit. Best when you want full control and don't mind a learning curve.
Key takeaways
- •Ubiquiti wins on ease of use. MikroTik wins on control and price per feature. Neither one is objectively better.
- •If you have no networking background and want something that just works, start with Ubiquiti.
- •If you manage a WISP, an ISP, or a network with serious routing needs, MikroTik is the more common choice.
- •Plenty of real networks run both brands at once, MikroTik for routing, Ubiquiti for Wi-Fi and switching.
- •Both can be run virtually on a VPS instead of physical hardware, which matters if you manage remote sites.
On this page
Quick comparison table
If you only read one section, read this one.
| Category | Ubiquiti | MikroTik |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Homes, offices, small teams that want it to just work | Engineers, ISPs, anyone who wants granular control |
| Interface | UniFi app and web controller, visual and guided | WinBox and RouterOS CLI, powerful and text heavy |
| Setup time | Minutes to an hour for a full site | Hours to days depending on complexity |
| Pricing tier | Mid to upper mid, priced as a finished product | Entry to mid, priced for the hardware alone |
| Routing depth | Solid for typical office and site to site needs | Extensive, built for carrier grade routing |
| Community and docs | Large, mostly consumer and IT pro forums | Large, mostly ISP and network engineer forums |
| Cloud hosting option | Self hosted UniFi Network app on a VPS | Cloud Hosted Router, built to run as a VPS |
Who makes Ubiquiti and MikroTik
Ubiquiti
Ubiquiti is a US networking company best known for its UniFi line, which spans access points, switches, routers, cameras, and door access systems, all managed from one controller. The pitch is consistency. Every UniFi device shows up in the same app, uses the same design language, and follows the same conventions, so once you learn one product you have a head start on the rest of the lineup.
MikroTik
MikroTik is a Latvian company that has been building routers and wireless equipment since 1996. Its operating system, RouterOS, runs on nearly the entire product range, from a fifty dollar home router to rack mount units pushing tens of gigabits. The pitch is capability. You are rarely told no by the software, only asked to configure it yourself.
Hardware and product lines
Both brands cover routers, switches, and access points. The overlap is real, but the emphasis differs.
Routers
Ubiquiti's Dream Machine and Cloud Gateway lines fold routing, a firewall, and a UniFi controller into a single box, which is convenient for a small site that does not want separate hardware for each job. MikroTik's router lineup runs from the compact hAP series for homes up to the CCR line, built specifically for high throughput routing and heavier firewall rule sets. If your network is mostly about connecting a site to the internet and managing a handful of VLANs, either will do the job. If you are pushing serious traffic through complex routing tables, MikroTik's range goes noticeably further.
Switches
UniFi switches lean into visual topology maps, port level traffic graphs, and PoE budgeting shown right in the app, which matters a lot if you are troubleshooting a rack you cannot always see. MikroTik's CRS switches tend to pack more SFP and SFP+ ports per dollar and support switch chip level features that advanced users can tune directly, at the cost of a less visual management experience.
Access points
This is arguably Ubiquiti's strongest category. UniFi access points are known for stable performance in dense, noisy environments, along with features like band steering and airtime fairness that keep a busy office from feeling congested. MikroTik makes access points too, including strong outdoor and point to point options for wireless ISPs, but for typical indoor Wi-Fi coverage most reviewers give UniFi the edge.
Popular Ubiquiti and MikroTik models compared
Specs age fast, so treat this as a map of where each brand sits rather than a price list.
| Role | Ubiquiti | MikroTik |
|---|---|---|
| Home or starter router | UniFi Dream Router, an all in one router, switch, and access point | hAP ax², compact but capable of Wi-Fi 6 and full RouterOS features |
| Office or core router | UniFi Cloud Gateway Max, built for a mid size site with a built in controller | CCR2004 series, designed to route heavy traffic without breaking a sweat |
| Managed switch | UniFi Switch Pro 24 PoE, strong PoE budget with a visual port map | CRS326-24G-2S+, more SFP+ headroom for a similar price |
| Indoor access point | UniFi U6+, a favorite for dense apartments and small offices | wAP ac, reliable and inexpensive, aimed more at coverage than density |
Pros and cons, honestly
Ubiquiti
What people like
- Setup that a non specialist can finish alone
- One app for the whole network, including remote sites
- Clean, stable Wi-Fi even in busy buildings
- Strong resale value and a large accessory ecosystem
What people don't
- Costs more per device than most alternatives
- Some advanced routing features feel bolted on rather than native
- Firmware updates have occasionally shipped with rough edges
MikroTik
What people like
- Exceptional value, especially at the entry and mid tier
- Almost nothing about RouterOS is off limits to configure
- Handles heavy routing and firewall loads without strain
- No licensing fees for features that competitors gate
What people don't
- Steep learning curve for anyone new to networking
- Interface feels dated next to UniFi's dashboard
- Devices left unpatched are a real, well documented risk
Software: RouterOS vs UniFi OS
UniFi OS
UniFi presents your entire network as a dashboard. Real time client lists, bandwidth graphs, a visual topology, and automatic alerts are all there without any extra configuration. You can still dig into firewall rules, VLANs, and traffic shaping if you need to, but the defaults are sensible enough that many small networks never need to.
RouterOS
RouterOS is managed through WinBox, a lightweight desktop app, or through a command line interface that mirrors it closely. Nothing is hidden and almost nothing is automatic. You define routing, firewall rules, queues, and VPNs by hand, which is exactly what a network engineer wants and exactly what a first time user finds intimidating.
Ease of use and the learning curve
Setting up a basic UniFi site, one router, a switch, and a couple of access points, usually takes less than an hour, most of it spent waiting for firmware updates rather than configuring anything. The mobile app alone is often enough for day to day management.
Setting up an equivalent MikroTik network takes longer, sometimes a full day for someone new to RouterOS, because you are building the configuration rather than accepting one. That time investment pays off later. Once you know RouterOS, you can replicate a working setup across dozens of sites in minutes using scripts and configuration exports, something UniFi is not really designed for at that level of customization.
Performance and reliability: Ubiquiti vs MikroTik in real networks
Both brands are reliable when sized correctly for the job, and most complaints about either one online trace back to underpowered hardware being asked to do too much, not a flaw in the platform itself. Ubiquiti access points generally hold up well in crowded, high interference environments, thanks to solid antenna design and radio management. MikroTik routers, especially the CCR series, are known for absorbing heavy loads such as large routing tables or a DDoS attempt without falling over, which is a big part of why ISPs favor them for core routing.
Where the two diverge is under sustained, complex firewall and routing rule sets. RouterOS was built for that kind of load from the ground up, while UniFi gateways, particularly the smaller consumer focused ones, can start to struggle once you pile on advanced rules.
Pricing and value: Ubiquiti vs MikroTik cost
MikroTik tends to win a pure price comparison. You often get more ports, more throughput, or more routing features per dollar, because you are paying mostly for the hardware and RouterOS itself, with no controller subscription and no software license involved.
Ubiquiti costs more per device on average, but that price includes a finished product: a polished interface, a mobile app, cloud backup of your settings, and a support ecosystem that assumes you are not a full time network engineer. For a small business owner paying an IT contractor by the hour, the time saved on setup and troubleshooting can easily outweigh the higher sticker price.
Scalability, from home to enterprise
Home and small office
Either brand is more capable than most homes need. Ubiquiti is the more forgiving starting point if you are managing it yourself.
Growing business
UniFi's single pane of glass management scales well across several sites without needing a dedicated network admin on staff.
WISPs and small ISPs
MikroTik is the default choice here, largely because RouterOS includes BGP, PPPoE concentration, and queue trees without extra licensing.
Enterprise and data center
Both show up, often side by side, with MikroTik handling core routing and Ubiquiti covering access layer switching and Wi-Fi. At this scale, most teams run their core routing on a dedicated server rather than shared infrastructure.
Security track record
Both companies have shipped documented vulnerabilities over the years, which is true of every networking vendor and not a reason on its own to avoid either brand. What matters more in practice is patch discipline on your end. MikroTik pushes RouterOS updates frequently, but they are not applied automatically, so a device left unpatched for years is genuinely at risk, and that scenario shows up often in security research because so many RouterOS devices sit forgotten in the field. Ubiquiti's UniFi OS handles updates in a more guided way through the controller, which lowers the odds of a device quietly falling behind. The honest takeaway either way: whichever platform you choose, put it on a patching schedule and do not expose management interfaces directly to the internet.
Running Ubiquiti or MikroTik in the cloud
Something that surprises a lot of people: neither platform requires a physical box sitting in a closet. MikroTik ships Cloud Hosted Router, a build of RouterOS designed specifically to run as a virtual machine, complete with the same firewall, routing, and VPN capabilities as the hardware version. Ubiquiti's UniFi Network application can also be self hosted on a Linux server rather than relying on physical UniFi hardware or a cloud key.
A VPS is a natural place to run either one. It gives you a router or controller that stays online independently of whatever happens at a physical site, reachable from anywhere, and easy to snapshot before you make a risky change. If you are experimenting with RouterOS for the first time, a MikroTik VPS from Eldernode gets you a working CHR instance in minutes. If you manage several remote UniFi sites and want the controller itself off site, a general purpose VPS works just as well, and for a bigger deployment handling real traffic, a dedicated server gives you the headroom to scale it further.
What a mixed Ubiquiti and MikroTik setup looks like
This is the layout we see most often when someone chooses to run both brands instead of picking one.
Internet
ISP connection
MikroTik
Core router and firewall
UniFi
Switch
UniFi
Access points
MikroTik handles routing, firewall rules, and VPN tunnels back to head office, since that is where RouterOS is strongest. Everything past that point, the switching and the Wi-Fi people actually connect to, runs on UniFi, since that is where the day to day management experience matters most. Neither brand has to do the job it is weakest at.
Ubiquiti vs MikroTik: which one fits your situation
There is no universal winner in the Ubiquiti vs MikroTik conversation, and anyone who tells you otherwise is probably only describing their own network. Match the platform to how much time you want to spend configuring it, and you will end up happy with either one.
Frequently asked questions
so is mikrotik actually better than ubiquiti for home use or no? +
For most homes, Ubiquiti is the easier choice because UniFi is built around a visual controller and sensible defaults. MikroTik can absolutely handle a home network, and it will do it for less money, but you are configuring RouterOS yourself rather than clicking through a wizard.
Can Ubiquiti and MikroTik work together on the same network? +
Yes. It is common to see a MikroTik router handling routing and firewall duties while UniFi access points and switches handle the wireless and access layer. Both speak standard VLAN, DHCP, and routing protocols, so mixing brands is routine rather than risky.
Which is cheaper, MikroTik or Ubiquiti? +
MikroTik generally costs less per port and per feature, especially at the entry and mid range. Ubiquiti's hardware sits a bit higher in price, but that gap often buys a friendlier interface, a smoother mobile app, and less time spent reading documentation.
Can I run MikroTik or UniFi in the cloud instead of on physical hardware? +
Yes, both support it. MikroTik ships Cloud Hosted Router, a version of RouterOS built to run as a virtual machine, and Ubiquiti's UniFi Network application can be self hosted on a Linux server as well. A MikroTik VPS is a practical place to run CHR specifically, and a regular VPS works fine for a self hosted UniFi controller.
Which brand is better for WISPs and small ISPs? +
MikroTik has the deeper install base here, mostly because RouterOS covers BGP, queue trees, and PPPoE concentration natively without extra licensing. Ubiquiti's airMax and UISP hardware is widely used for the wireless links themselves, so many WISPs end up running both.
honestly, what's the one big thing that actually separates them? +
Philosophy. RouterOS hands you a complete, unopinionated toolkit and expects you to build the configuration yourself. UniFi is an opinionated, managed ecosystem that makes good decisions for you by default and lets you override them when needed.
Hosting a router or controller off site?
Whether it is MikroTik CHR, a self hosted UniFi Network controller, or a monitoring stack watching over both, Eldernode's VPS and dedicated server plans give you a stable place to run it, with locations spread across more than thirty regions.
Written by the Eldernode Team, the same engineers who run Eldernode's VPS and dedicated server infrastructure across more than thirty locations. We work with MikroTik and UniFi deployments regularly while supporting customers who host their own routers and controllers on our servers.