Comparison

UniFi Access vs Verkada Desk Station

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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.

About

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.

Highlights
  • Receive intercom calls
  • Monitor visitors
  • Grant access remotely
  • Facility control
  • Touch-button access
Read full description

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

UniFi Access4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
UniFi Access versus Verkada Desk Station: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterUniFi AccessVerkada Desk Station
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (4.6K ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews59.8% of reviews
Number of ratings4.6K — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPad
Requires iOS17.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size280 MB65 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperUbiquiti Inc.Verkada Inc.

Customer experience

UniFi Access

All ratings4,586 ratings
Positive98.8%
Neutral0.5%
Negative0.8%
Written reviews82 reviews
Positive59.8%
Neutral6.1%
Negative34.1%

Verkada Desk Station

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

None

UniFi Access

No in-app purchases

None

Verkada Desk Station

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is UniFi Access free?
UniFi Access is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Verkada Desk Station free?
Verkada Desk Station is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, UniFi Access or Verkada Desk Station?
Verkada Desk Station is rated higher. UniFi Access averages 4.9 out of 5 from 4.6K ratings, while Verkada Desk Station averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do UniFi Access or Verkada Desk Station have ads?
Neither UniFi Access nor Verkada Desk Station shows ads.
Which is updated more often, UniFi Access or Verkada Desk Station?
UniFi Access ships an update every 2 weeks, and Verkada Desk Station every 2 weeks. Most recently, UniFi Access was updated on September 24, 2026 and Verkada Desk Station on September 24, 2026.

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