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Software · head to head

CloudWatch vs Ubiquiti UniFi

CloudWatch logo

CloudWatch

Software

AWS Monitoring and Observability

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
U

Ubiquiti UniFi

Software

Effortlessly manage 100+ APs in the same way you manage an individual AP

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only CloudWatch has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: CloudWatch the free tier covers 5 GB of log ingestion and 10 custom metrics a month, after which log ingestion is $0.50 per GB from 5 to 30 GB; Ubiquiti UniFi product page states no licensing fees but publishes no hardware price; buyers must go to the Ubiquiti Store or an authorized distributor for a figure

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CloudWatch and Ubiquiti UniFi actually diverge.

Attributes where CloudWatch and Ubiquiti UniFi differ
AttributeCloudWatchUbiquiti UniFi
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelusage-basedone-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, ApiWeb
Founded2006Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in CloudWatch

  • Metrics collection
  • Log aggregation
  • Dashboards
  • Alarms and notifications
  • API
  • Webhooks
  • REST
  • Web support

Only in Ubiquiti UniFi

Nothing recorded that CloudWatch does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

CloudWatch

  • Metrics and log collection for AWS workloadsnot Ubiquiti UniFi
  • Alarming on thresholds across AWS servicesnot Ubiquiti UniFi
  • Querying logs with Logs Insightsnot Ubiquiti UniFi
  • Live tailing logs during an incidentnot Ubiquiti UniFi
  • Distributed tracing alongside X-Raynot Ubiquiti UniFi

Ubiquiti UniFi

No use cases recorded yet. See the Ubiquiti UniFi review.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

CloudWatch

  • The free tier covers 5 GB of log ingestion and 10 custom metrics a month, after which log ingestion is $0.50 per GB from 5 to 30 GB
  • Custom metrics are $0.30 each for the first 10,000, so instrumenting broadly gets expensive before volume discounts apply
  • Each custom dashboard beyond the free three is $3 a month
  • Alarms are billed at $0.10 per alarm metric a month, with high-resolution alarms costing more
  • Log storage beyond the free 5 GB is $0.03 per GB per month on top of the ingestion charge

Ubiquiti UniFi

  • Product page states no licensing fees but publishes no hardware price; buyers must go to the Ubiquiti Store or an authorized distributor for a figure
  • Newest WiFi 7 access points such as the U7 Pro require compatible UniFi controller hardware or cloud console to manage centrally

Pricing, plan by plan

CloudWatch

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Metrics collection
    • Log aggregation
    • Dashboards

Ubiquiti UniFi

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Ubiquiti UniFi review.

Which should you pick?

Choose CloudWatch if

  • You need metrics collection.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want log aggregation.
CloudWatch review

Choose Ubiquiti UniFi if

Nothing in the data separates Ubiquiti UniFi from CloudWatch on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Ubiquiti UniFi review

Questions people ask

Is CloudWatch or Ubiquiti UniFi better?
Neither clearly leads. CloudWatch starts at Free and Ubiquiti UniFi at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CloudWatch or Ubiquiti UniFi?
CloudWatch has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for CloudWatch and On request for Ubiquiti UniFi.
Does CloudWatch or Ubiquiti UniFi run on more platforms?
CloudWatch runs on Web, Api. Ubiquiti UniFi runs on Web.
Can I use CloudWatch for free?
Yes. CloudWatch has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Ubiquiti UniFi starts at On request.
What is CloudWatch best used for?
CloudWatch is most often used for metrics and log collection for aws workloads, alarming on thresholds across aws services, querying logs with logs insights, live tailing logs during an incident. Of those, metrics and log collection for aws workloads and alarming on thresholds across aws services are not what Ubiquiti UniFi is typically brought in for.
What can CloudWatch do that Ubiquiti UniFi cannot?
CloudWatch covers Metrics collection, Log aggregation, Dashboards, Alarms and notifications.
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Related pages

More on CloudWatch

More on Ubiquiti UniFi

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