UniFi Access vs Verkada Desk Station
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
UniFi Access
Manage your entire access control system remotely. Oversee doors, users, readers, and security policies. View real-time activity logs and receive doorbell notifications.
- Manage connected doors and security policies
- Oversee user rosters and access methods
- Configure reader devices and greeting messages
- View real-time access event logs
- Receive doorbell notifications
- Grant remote access to visitors
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The UniFi Access mobile app is a convenient, comprehensive management tool that allows you and other administrators to oversee every aspect of your Access system, including connected doors, user rosters, reader devices, access cards, and security policies. With the app, you can also view real-time access event logs to maintain full vantage of visitor and employee traffic throughout your workspace. [Doorbell] Receive a push notification when someone rings a connected doorbell. [Remote View] Greet visitors remotely with the UA Pro, then grant them access remotely. [Devices] Add new Access devices and configure a variety of settings, including greeting messages, broadcast names, digital keypad layout, volume, and display brightness. [Doors] Manage individual doors or group them to instantly make sweeping security alterations on the fly. You can also apply door and floor-specific access policies for enhanced building security. [Users] Add, edit, and remove users with ease. You can also assign individual and group-level access methods, such as PIN codes or UA Cards. [Activities] Review detailed access logs and card reader video captures to track on-premises activity anywhere, anytime. [Cards] Utilize existing NFC cards or assign new UA Cards to system users.
Verkada Desk Station
This application enables you to manage intercom calls and monitor visitors from your device. Grant access remotely with a simple tap, ensuring facility control from any location.
- Receive intercom calls
- Monitor visitors
- Grant access remotely
- Facility control
- Touch-button access
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Verkada Desk Station app allows you to receive calls from your intercoms, easily monitor who's at the door and grant access with a touch of a button. Stay in control of your facility, no matter where you are.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ratings volume: UniFi Access at 4.6K against Verkada Desk Station's 1. Verkada Desk Station's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for UniFi Access against 5.0 for Verkada Desk Station. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: UniFi Access has 4.6K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.
| Parameter | UniFi Access | Verkada Desk Station |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (4.6K ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 59.8% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 4.6K — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 2 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 280 MB | 65 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Ubiquiti Inc. | Verkada Inc. |
Customer experience
UniFi Access
Verkada Desk Station
Bugs and requests
UniFi Access
Reported bugs
4 issues- App crashes on launch
- Notifications not working
- Remote login issues
- Outdated information in app
Requested features
4 requests- Integrate with Unifi Protect
- Add schedule management in app
- Allow door hold open/timer controls
- Improve camera/intercom integration
Verkada Desk Station
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
UniFi Access
No in-app purchases
Verkada Desk Station
No in-app purchases






