Ubiquiti UniFi Intercom System Review

Ubiquiti is already a household name for IT professionals who install and maintain building IT infrastructure. The company’s products provide a network backbone for building cameras, security systems, controllers, IOT devices, and more. Lately, residential and commercial property owners and managers are getting to know Ubiquiti for its access control products and front door intercoms. 

Combining hours of research, user reviews, and technical data, we review Ubiquiti’s UniFi Intercom System and the pros and cons of choosing it for your multitenant building. 

We examine the intercom in the broader context of Ubiquiti’s overall UniFi system and their Power over Ethernet (PoE) switches, which can be used with other intercom systems, such as our Swiftlane SwiftReader X.

Table of Contents

• UniFi Intercom Introduction
• Why Property Owners Consider UniFi Intercoms
• Breakdown of UniFi Intercom By Features
• Cost and Installation of a UniFi Intercom System
• Our Take on the UniFi Intercom
• Swiftlane as an Alternative Smart Wireless Intercom

What is Ubiquiti and UniFi Intercom?

Ubiquiti is an American tech company that sells intercoms and builds IT equipment under its UniFi brand. UniFi is a line of networking gear designed to deliver fast, reliable local area network (LAN) performance for residential and commercial real estate.

UnFi includes everything from wireless access points and routers to switches, security cameras, VoIP phones, and access control systems—all of which can be controlled through a single management platform called the UniFi Network application.

The backbone of a UniFi building LAN is its Ethernet switches. The switches provide a centralized hub for connecting various devices (cameras, intercoms, Wi-Fi hubs, etc.) to communicate and receive Power over Ethernet (PoE) using a single cable. UniFi sells a range of switches, from small hubs like the Lite 8 PoE—a switch Swiftlane often deploys as a backbone in our company’s video intercom systems—to powerful enterprise-level switches like the 2400W Enterprise Campus 24 PoE.

Note: Our Swiftlane intercoms can work with any powered UniFi Ethernet switch that provides at least 30W of power.

What Makes UniFi Intercom Stand Out:

• All-in-One Control: With the UniFi Network app, you can easily manage all your devices from one place. It gives you a clear view of network traffic, connected devices, and overall performance—no need to jump between multiple tools.
  
• Grows With You: Whether you’re setting up Wi-Fi in a small apartment or building out a complex enterprise network, UniFi scales to fit your needs. You can start with one device and expand over time.
  
• Power Over Ethernet (PoE): Many UniFi products use PoE, which means you can run power and data over a single Ethernet cable. That makes installation cleaner and easier, especially in tricky spots. However, this requires in-building wiring rather than the flexibility of today’s wireless systems.
  
• Options for Every Setup: The UniFi lineup includes everything from compact devices for home use to high-capacity hardware for large installations, so you can build a system that fits your space and needs.

Is UniFi a good fit for small businesses, apartments, and commercial properties?

UniFi sells a range of hardware models that are suited to different-sized buildings. So, UniFi can be a solution for any building of any size that is prepared to invest in wired data infrastructure. This type of set-up is common today in mid-to-large residential buildings, buildings with advanced controls or security systems, and commercial buildings.  

Today, many buildings find that wireless systems, IoT devices, and mesh networks are adequate compared to the investment in the kinds of hardware UniFi provides.

UniFi Intercom Introduction

To accompany UniFi building IT, Ubiquiti offers two intercom models: the UniFi Intercom and the UniFi G3 Intercom, which we review here in a combined fashion. They are both wired intercoms. The G3 model has one additional feature beyond the standard offering: the ability to unlock the door using NFC cards sold separately by Ubiquiti. 

We’ll look at the UniFi Intercom’s features, who the system may be suitable for, and the pricing implications of putting together a UniFi Intercom system with all the required components.

These intercoms offer a nearly plug-and-play experience for buildings that already have a Ubiquiti LAN installed. Buildings that use other LAN systems, CAT5 cables, or those that do not already have in-building wiring will find the system significantly more complicated to install.

In this case, you might look for more cost-effective solutions, such as a wireless intercom. Therefore, the UniFi intercom is best for new construction or buildings with a preexisting Ubiquiti building IT network. 

About Ubiquiti for Access Control and Intercoms

The Unifi product line-up includes several different access control product categories for buildings:

• Intercoms for a building’s front door
• “Intercom Viewers” for each unit of the building (apartment, condo, office, etc.).
• Door hubs – connect the intercoms to the door controller to provide remote unlock
• Ethernet switches
• Cloud gateways – connect the system to the Internet for remote management
• Security cameras
• Wi-Fi devices 

These components work interoperably as part of a unified access control and intercom system. However, a UniFi intercom requires using the company’s intercom viewers, door hubs, and cloud gateways.

You can also integrate Ubiquiti’s access control systems with some building systems from other manufacturers, such as security cameras from HikVision. However, Ubiquiti’s front door intercom will only integrate with the company’s intercom viewers and backend infrastructure (door access hub). The company’s PoE switch can provide a hub for other access control systems, such as the Swiftlane Swiftreader X.

Why Property Owners Consider UniFi Intercoms

The UniFi Intercom is a touchscreen video intercom. It is a wired intercom that gets both connectivity and power over a single Ethernet cable.

Property owners tend to gain interest in the UniFi intercom from one of two starting points: 

• Their building already has a Ubiquiti local area network (LAN) and UniFi equipment with installed cables. The UniFi Intercom is an obvious addition to a building looking to upgrade access control.

• The property owner sees that the UniFi intercom is priced significantly below comparable touchscreen video intercoms (~$399-$479). However, the intercom list price does not include the total cost because the system requires several additional hardware components.

The UniFi intercom is not a stand-alone device or all-in-one access control solution. You must install the intercom as part of an overall intercom system that includes the following minimal components sold by Ubiquiti:

Components of UniFi intercom systems:

• UniFi Intercom (for the front door)
• One or more UniFi intercom viewers (mounted in each building unit) must be installed, which adds to the system price.
• A proprietary “door hub” (which connects the intercom to an Internet switch and is sold separately) must be installed and purchased from Ubiquiti.
• A cloud gateway (connects the central hub to the Internet)
• The system also requires an Ethernet switch, which can be purchased from Ubiquiti or another manufacturer.

You must connect these devices to a power source using an Ethernet cable, as there is no option for using a building mesh network, Wi-Fi, or cellular networks, as is available to “Wireless” intercoms. For buildings that already have a Ubiquiti local area network (LAN), the UniFi Intercom offers an almost plug-and-play setup: Devices are powered via Power over Ethernet (PoE) with a single cable and are easily mounted with a few screws and bolts.  

Buildings with another LAN system may need a professional security or IT integrator to install the necessary UniFi equipment behind the scenes.  Buildings that lack the appropriate cables would need to run new wires behind the walls from the building door to each building unit.

NOTE: The system requires CAT 5e cabling or higher.  While many newer buildings have this level of cable (CAT 5e, CAT 6, or CAT 7) already installed, older buildings may have ordinary CAT 5 cables, which are inadequate for this system. If you want a plug-and-play solution, ensure that the minimal cable category is installed. 

Breakdown of UniFi Intercom By Features

Intercoms come in numerous types: wired vs. wireless, video or audio, IP, smart, touchscreen, biometric, etc. The UniFi intercom checks the boxes for the basics of a wired touchscreen video intercom. It has a high-resolution, wide-angle camera that streams video to the intercom viewers installed in each apartment, condo, or office. It has a 7-inch touchscreen that visitors can use to interact with the device, find tenants in the directory, and call them.

While the UniFi intercom covers these basics, it doesn’t fit into other categories like smart intercom, biometric intercom, or wireless intercom, or offer popular features like mobile access control for building occupants. Let’s take a look at its features and lacks and the implications for building managers and occupants when choosing an access control solution.

Wired Intercom

The UniFi Intercom connects visitors at the front door to building tenants over Ethernet cables run throughout the building. This is a typical “wired” intercom. Due to all the cabling, wired intercoms can cost more to install than wireless ones. A limitation of wired intercoms is that they require the building tenant to be in the building to respond to calls from an intercom viewer device mounted in each unit.

One-Way Video, Two-Way Audio

The Unifi Intercom provides one-way video and two-way audio. A visitor and building tenant can speak to each other, but only the tenant can do so on their Intercom Viewer. There is no option for the visitor to see the tenant on the UniFi Intercom screen, as provided by two-way video intercoms. Many commercial/retail buildings and high-end residential properties prefer to have the option for two-way video so that the visitor can be greeted by a human face even if there is no staff at the front door.

Touchscreen Intercom

The UniFi Intercom has a built-in 7-inch touchscreen, roughly a mid-size intercom screen in the world of touchscreen intercoms. The touchscreen allows for a built-in on-screen directory that users can scroll to find a building occupant, but it lacks a QWERTY keyboard for searching tenants by name. In an unusual design, the intercom includes a built-in numerical keypad and a touchscreen. Most intercoms have one or the other, but not both.

Not a “Smart Intercom” with Mobile Access

Smart intercoms are an increasingly popular category because they connect to tenants’ smartphones via an app and may also connect to smart home devices from Apple, Amazon, and Google. UniFi intercoms do not have these capabilities and would not be categorized as “smart intercoms.” 

With no tenant app, the intercom does not offer mobile access control. Mobile access control lets tenants unlock the door from anywhere via an app on their smart device. In another unusual design twist, UniFi offers a remote unlock app that property management can only use.

Not Biometric Keyless Access

Today, many high-traffic buildings prefer the intercom to have biometric features such as facial recognition that verify the identity of building occupants without a key. These biometric intercoms prevent the misuse of other access credentials like PIN codes or key fobs, which can be lost, stolen, or shared. The UniFi intercom doesn’t have any biometric features.

Cloud-Based Management

The UniFi Intercom has a cloud-based management platform for building owners and staff. Management uses the platform to add and remove users from the system. The Case Manager has an intuitive and easy-to-use user interface. It keeps a log of everyone who accesses the building, which can help enhance security and provide information for any necessary investigations.  

Summary of Key Features

• 7” inch touchscreen
• 8 Megapixel, wide-angle, 4K camera
• Two-way audio, one-way video
• Built-in touchscreen directory
• LED flood light for low-light situations
• IP65 rated (good category for a weatherproof device)
• Single plug for communications and power (using Power over Ethernet).
• Cloud-Based Management Platform

Access Credentials

• Key fobs, or NFC Card (higher-end UniFi G3 Intercom only)
• PIN codes
• Mobile device (tap with NFC or Bluetooth, but no app)
• QR Code

Cost and Installation of a UniFi Intercom System

The cost and complexity of installing a UniFi Intercom System depend on the number of units in the building and whether or not it already has in-wall cables and a LAN infrastructure.

For buildings with a pre-existing LAN with minimum CAT 5e Ethernet cables: Installation is relatively easy with plug-and-play intercom viewers in each unit and a door intercom. The building will need, at minimum, an Ethernet switch, a proprietary UniFi door hub, and a cloud access device for optional cloud-based management. 

For buildings without required Ethernet LAN: You will need to factor in the price for an IT or security integrator to install an Ethernet switch and the necessary cable between your IT closet and all the units in the building.  This cost can be considerable and varies from region to region.

For all buildings: You need to factor in the number of units to determine the total hardware costs for a UniFi intercom system because each unit requires its own Intercom Viewer.

Let’s explore hardware costs for an example building with 8 apartment units. Prices were accurate as of the week of March 31, 2025:

• UniFi G3 Intercom $479
• Intercom viewers $199 x 8 units
• Required UniFi Door hub $199
• Minimal capacity Cloud Gateway $129

Total price before Ethernet switch, tax, installation, or wiring: $2,399 

That price is comparable to many all-in-one smart intercom solutions. The difference is that many all-in-one smart intercoms can scale to hundreds of units with no additional cost.  An apartment building with 100 units would have to budget roughly $20,000 for 100 intercom viewers.

Our Take on the UniFi Intercom

The UniFi Intercom offers many of the basics you would expect. It has a high-quality camera, a sleek design, and an interactive touchscreen with a built-in directory. It pairs nicely with the intercom viewers in each unit, which offer bright, crystal-clear, full-color video.

Beyond the basics, the UniFi has some odd design choices.  

• The combination of a touchscreen with a push-button keypad seems redundant. 
• A mobile access control app is available for building management, but none is for tenants. 

Mobile access control (AKA remote unlock) is an extremely popular tool with building tenants to manage the arrival of deliveries, guests, nannies, pet care, and house cleaners. The lack of remote unlock and mobile access is a big limitation for tenants.

Building managers love their online platform. The UniFi Access app, which is for building management, is well-regarded. It gets a 4.8 star rating on the Apple App Store and 4.9 stars on the Google Play store for Android devices. 

See YouTube reviews of the product: 

Overall, who this intercom is for probably comes down to a question of building infrastructure.  If the building is already wired for Ethernet, especially using Ubiquiti infrastructure, the UniFi Intercom system could be a no-brainer, as long as you factor in the cost of the intercom viewers. Buildings with dozens or hundreds of units can save by using a system with no intercom viewers and a tenant mobile app instead.  

Buildings without existing wiring or looking to spend less on hardware may find that a wireless smart intercom, like the Swiftlane Video Intercom, offers a better solution and more tenant convenience.

Review Summary

Who It’s Good For

• High-security buildings that want the security and durability of a wired system.
• Buildings that already have a LAN, especially using Ubiquiti equipment.
• Small buildings not affected by the cost of intercom viewer units.

Main Benefits

• Relatively easy to install in buildings that already have an Ethernet network
• Inexpensive option for a small building (1-4 units)
• Good management control (app and online platform)

Main Drawbacks

• System hardware costs rise quickly as it scales
• One-way-only video may not be suitable for higher-end residential buildings or commercial and retail settings that seek two-way video
• Lack of remote unlock and mobile access control for tenants
• Requires unit intercom viewers

Swiftlane as an Alternative Smart Wireless Intercom

For roughly the same price as the 8-unit system from Ubiquiti, we sell the Swiftreader X, which can scale easily to buildings with hundreds of units using a wireless system that connects with tenants smartphones or tablets. 

Our system offers:

• Biometric Access Control via Facial Recognition – Forget about lost keys ever again!
• Wireless system (no in-unit intercom viewers required) – 
• Easy to Install- 1 to 2 hour install (depending on existing infrastructure) 
• Remote Unlock / Mobile Access Control – Tenants can unlock the door from anywhere from their mobile device.
• 24/7 support for tenants and management
• 2-Year Warranty