Our honest verdict
For most NC businesses that want reliable recording without a recurring per-camera bill, UniFi Protect is the better value. Verkada is the better fit for multi-location organizations that want every site in one cloud dashboard with vendor support included, and are comfortable with licensing every camera for its whole life, as Verkada's licensing guide requires.
How do UniFi and Verkada compare side by side?
| Factor | Ubiquiti UniFi | Verkada |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing model | Ubiquiti: "Run 4 or 4,000 cameras - licensing is still $0." | One camera license per Verkada camera; Verkada's pricing page notes "Additional license required" on most hardware. |
| When a license lapses | Nothing to lapse. | After a 30-day grace period for an expired organization you lose access to devices and settings; alarms and notifications are disabled. Connected cameras keep recording. |
| Where video is stored | On an NVR or console you own, for example the 7-bay UNVR Pro (up to 24 4K cameras). | On the camera, with 30 days of cloud backup included per camera on most models. |
| Management | UniFi Protect app and web console, with remote access through Site Manager. | Verkada Command, a cloud dashboard with no on-site server. |
| AI detections | On-device detections, for example face and license plate recognition on the G6 Turret. | AI-based analytics included with every purchase, per Verkada. |
| Support model | No vendor support bundled; your installer supports the system. | 24/7 technical support included with every purchase, per Verkada. |
| Hardware warranty | Two years from the Ubiquiti store; one year through distributors or resellers. | Up to 10 years, depending on the model. |
| Scale | Up to 70 4K cameras on an Enterprise NVR; more with additional recorders. | Managed in Verkada Command, a cloud-based management platform. |
| Best-fit buyer | Plants, warehouses, offices and showrooms that want to own their recording with no recurring license. | Multi-location organizations that want a fully cloud-managed platform with vendor support included. |
Which one fits your business?
Choose UniFi when
- You want no recurring per-camera license, now or at renewal time.
- You prefer video stored on hardware you own at your site.
- You already run, or plan to run, a UniFi network and want cameras on the same console.
- You have many cameras, such as warehouse aisles, dock doors and yards, where per-camera licensing adds up.
- You want a local partner to set up and administer the system.
Choose Verkada when
- You manage many locations and want every camera in one cloud dashboard with no on-site recorders.
- You want vendor 24/7 support and a long hardware warranty included.
- You also want Verkada access control, alarms and sensors on the same cloud platform.
- Your budget prefers a predictable per-camera operating expense over owning recorders.
Do Verkada cameras need a license to work?
Yes. Verkada's licensing guide calls for one camera license per camera. If an organization's licenses expire, it has a 30-day grace period, after which you lose access to your devices and settings in Command and alarms and event notifications are disabled.
Verkada also notes that connected devices continue to record, and that footage is available again when you regain access, if it is still within the retention period. So the video is not lost, but you cannot view or manage it until licenses are renewed. Organizations with insufficient licenses get a 90-day grace period. Verkada: Manage your licenses.
Key takeaway: With Verkada, the license is what lets you see your cameras. With UniFi Protect, there is no license in that path.
Local NVR or cloud: where should business video be stored?
UniFi Protect records to a local NVR or UniFi console, such as the UNVR Pro with seven drive bays and capacity for up to 24 4K cameras. Verkada records on the camera and includes 30 days of cloud backup per camera on most models.
Local recording keeps video on your premises and your retention is limited only by the drives you install. Verkada's approach removes the recorder from your rack and keeps a cloud copy, and its cameras continue to record locally even if offline. For a Greensboro or High Point site with a thin Internet connection, local recording also avoids pushing video upstream.
Where does Verkada genuinely beat UniFi Protect?
Verkada wins on a fully cloud-managed experience, included vendor support, and warranty length. Verkada says every purchase includes AI analytics, unlimited users, automatic updates and 24/7 technical support, and its warranties run up to 10 years depending on the model.
For a company with dozens of small locations and no IT staff at any of them, that model can be worth the license cost. Sources: Verkada pricing, Verkada warranty.
How do five-year camera costs compare?
A Verkada system's five-year cost is the camera hardware plus a license for every camera for the full term. A UniFi Protect system's five-year cost is the cameras, an NVR and drives, and the support you choose, with no camera licensing.
Because Verkada licenses every camera, the gap grows with camera count, which matters for warehouses and plants with many aisles, docks and yards. We do not publish list prices because they change. Call (336) 886-3282 or schedule a meeting.
What does PDC do for camera systems?
PDC designs, installs and administers UniFi Protect: camera placement, NVR sizing, updates, user access and retention settings. PDC does not provide live video monitoring or alarm response.
Partner status: Member of the UniFi Partner Program. PDC has served North Carolina businesses for 39 years. See UniFi Protect cameras.
Frequently asked questions
Does UniFi Protect charge per camera?
No. Ubiquiti says licensing is $0 whether you run 4 or 4,000 cameras, with recording and AI handled on your local NVR. Ubiquiti physical security.
What happens if we stop paying for Verkada licenses?
After a 30-day grace period for an expired organization, you lose access to your devices and settings in Command and alarms and notifications are disabled. Verkada says connected cameras keep recording and footage is available once access is restored, if it is still within the retention period. Verkada licensing.
How much cloud storage does Verkada include?
Verkada says every camera includes 30 days of cloud backup, except the CD31 and CD31-E, which include 15 days. Verkada cloud backup.
Can UniFi Protect be viewed remotely?
Yes. Protect is viewable from the UniFi app and web console with remote access, while the video itself stays on your local NVR.
Does PDC monitor our cameras 24/7?
No. PDC administers the camera system (setup, updates, user access and retention), but does not provide live video monitoring or alarm response. If you need monitored video, we can discuss how that fits alongside your system.
Can we move from Verkada to UniFi Protect?
Yes. A migration usually replaces the cameras and adds a UniFi NVR, while existing PoE cabling can often be reused. Export any footage you need to keep before the Verkada licenses end.