FortiLAN Cloud vs UniFi Network

FortiLAN Cloud is a cloud-deployed, web-based service for managing Fortinet wireless access points and switches across sites. Its Free Tier costs nothing and covers up to 30 FortiAPs, three FortiSwitches, three sites, and seven days of log storage. Devices can use zero-touch provisioning, and the service includes guest access, roaming optimization, API access, and Wi-Fi 7 support. Licensed Tiers scale with the number of sites and include one year of logs plus advanced wireless and switch features. A Multi-Tenancy License supports multiple sub-accounts and their administration, with managed service providers as its stated audience. Fortinet was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, USA. The service is accessed through the web and deployed in the cloud.

UniFi Network manages internet gateways, Wi-Fi, and switching through real-time traffic dashboards, topology maps, and optimization tips. License-free Site Manager supports remote management and cloud orchestration across UniFi deployments. The software can run on a Cloud Gateway or CloudKey, or be self-hosted on local hardware or in a cloud environment such as AWS, Azure, or GCP. Mobile applications for iOS and Android can manage a network, and the local control plane supports device management during internet outages or in air-gapped deployments.

Wireless security options include WPA2, WPA3, and mixed modes, with pre-shared key or RADIUS/802.1X authentication. Administrators can assign VLANs to Wi-Fi SSIDs and apply segmentation, isolation, and traffic policies. UniFi gateways provide IDS/IPS monitoring, alerts, and threat blocking; CyberSecure is a per-site subscription that expands the threat signature database. The Site Manager API supplies site-wide internet health, device status, and network performance data, while local APIs cover devices, client activity, and traffic insights. Core routing, firewall enforcement, and deep packet inspection run on local equipment, but some updates, notifications, and remote alerts rely on the cloud. UniFi Network software is free, and paid options start at $29/mo.