Ubiquiti's UniFi Express and Gateway Lite are small form factor gateways with the aim to decrease the barrier for entry into the UniFi ecosystem. Although similar in stature and price, they are fundamentally designed for different purposes. In this article we will highlight the differences between the devices and which applications they are most suitable for.
UniFi Express (UX)
The UX is the entry level, UniFi OS gateway console but is limited to the UniFi Network Application. This differs from the rest of their console range which generally support other applications such as UniFi Protect. It features a single WAN port with a built-in WiFi 6 access point and LCM display making it an excellent all-in-one solution. It is able to route up to Gigabit speeds and provides almost all of the great features you would expect from a UniFi gateway with the exception of intrusion prevention and Intrusion detection systems (IPS/IDS).
This product is designed with home users in mind and is the easiest way to deploy a full UniFi network stack on a single device. If further expansion is required, it can manage up to 4 additional UniFi network devices and up to 60 clients. Unlike the other gateway consoles it also features a mesh mode which allows you to use this device as a mesh access point on an existing UniFi network. If you outgrow this console and have to upgrade, it can be easily repurposed inside your network as a mesh access point.
Limitations
The compact design and versatility do however come with a trade off. Running UniFi OS onboard consumes additional CPU resources which ultimately affects the speed of boot up times and configuration changes. Using features which are more resource heavy such as VPN and Smart Queues would also be negatively impacted due to this limitation. Although this product is scalable for additional hardware and users, it will further bog down its processing capabilities. Its compact size and cloud-based approach make it perfect for homes and very small offices where only the basic features are required. Users can enjoy effortless setup and basic network control without needing additional hardware.
Gateway Lite (UXG-LITE)
Like the UX, it features a dual-core CPU and 1 Gb of RAM with a single Gigabit WAN and LAN but no LCM display. Unlike the UX, the processor isn’t bogged down by additional software and WiFi, therefore offering better gateway performance. This model supports IPS/IDS and will deliver near-gigabit throughput with the latter feature enabled. Powered by a 5V/3A USB-C adapter, it's energy-efficient and can be kept running by a USB compatible UPS or power bank during outages. It is a powerful small form-factor gateway designed for smaller networks and worthy successor to the old UniFi Security Gateway (USG)
Limitations
A dedicated UniFi console like the Cloudkey, self-hosted UniFi Network or stand-alone Unifi app is required to manage this device. This will please self-hosted users who prefer not to maintain additional hardware on-site. Unlike the USG, it features a single WAN which limits failover options but it is still a fantastic solution which has been missing from UniFi’s line-up for some time.
CPU and Memory usage while running an internet speed with Wifiman
Gateway Lite (UXG-Lite) UniFi Express(UX)
Verdict:
If you are a home user looking for something that will give you the whole UniFi package without the expense of additional components, the UniFi Express is a great choice. It does all the basics well but it’s a bit sluggish with limited scalability in both features and client expansion.
The Gateway Lite is for system integrators looking to use advanced gateway features with few limitations. It is also the best choice for self-hosters or those who have an existing management console. Adding devices via the cloud is easier than ever using the UniFi App or Site Manager.
