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Investing in Best Network Switches is crucial for offices brimming with numerous devices. A substantial inventory of computers, printers, and NAS devices connected to the office network can exert considerable pressure, making the acquisition of a robust and high-speed network switch imperative. We offer an array of the finest network switches tailored to accommodate your specific requirements, whether your network is extensive or more compact.
Our choices include smaller switches made for a small number of devices and larger switches with many ports that can connect a large number of devices to a network. We have put together a large collection that meets many different needs. Check out our list of the best network switches to bring your network up to speed and make sure it can grow as your business does. Use our price comparison tool to find the best deals on the switches you are thinking about buying.
Best Network Switches Comparison Table
Model | Number of Ports | Power over Ethernet | Management | Switching Capacity | VLAN Support | Layer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cisco CBS350-8MGP-2X | 8 | Yes | Managed | 56 Gbps | Yes | Layer 2+ |
NETGEAR JGS524 | 24 | No | Unmanaged | 48 Gbps | No | Layer 2 |
TP-Link TL-SG108 | 8 | No | Unmanaged | 16 Gbps | No | Layer 2 |
Ubiquiti Unifi USW-Flex | 5 | Yes | Managed | 10 Gbps | Yes | Layer 2+ |
Zyxel MG-108 | 8 | No | Unmanaged | 16 Gbps | No | Layer 2 |
Cisco CBS350-8MGP-2X
Model | Cisco CBS350-8MGP-2X |
---|---|
Number of Ports | 8 |
Power over Ethernet | Yes |
Management | Managed |
Switching Capacity | 56 Gbps |
PoE Budget | 240W |
VLAN Support | Yes |
Layer | Layer 2+ |
Cisco Best Network Switches has a presence in the lucrative consumer market with the CBS350 series. As more people work from home, this market is only going to grow. The CBS350-8MGP-2X has the right number of ports, the right speed, and the right number of features. The unit is easy to set up and manage because it doesn’t have a fan and has great PoE support in both hardware and software.
The web interface and mobile app that goes with it make the controlled switch more useful by making it easier to set up. The CBS350-8MGP-2X isn’t perfect. Its price is still a bit high, and it only has four ports that are 2.5Gbps or faster. If the 10G combo ports were stacked, the case could be made smaller. The CBS350-8MGP-2X is still one of the best switches we’ve seen, and buying it will be a good long-term investment.
The Good
- High power over Ethernet budget (240W)
- Managed switch for advanced network control
- Supports VLANs for network segmentation
The Bad
- Limited number of ports (8)
- Higher price compared to unmanaged switches
NETGEAR 24-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch (JGS524)
Model | NETGEAR JGS524 |
---|---|
Number of Ports | 24 |
Power over Ethernet | No |
Management | Unmanaged |
Switching Capacity | 48 Gbps |
VLAN Support | No |
Layer | Layer 2 |
This unmanaged 24-port switch from Netgear can be mounted as a rackmount or desktop switch, and it is backed by a guarantee that is the best in its business. It is so quiet that you won’t even hear a peep out of it. It is as simple as plugging it in and starting it up, so it is ideal for use in enterprises of any size, and it also has a low power consumption.
In addition, each port has its own built-in automated speed and duplex detection, as well as its own auto uplink, which allows it to modify itself appropriately for either straight-through or crossover connections in order to create the optimal link.
The Good
- Large number of ports (24)
- Cost-effective solution
- Plug-and-play setup, no configuration required
The Bad
- No power over Ethernet support
- Lacks advanced management features
TP-Link TL-SG108 (Unmanaged)
Model | TP-Link TL-SG108 |
---|---|
Number of Ports | 8 |
Power over Ethernet | No |
Management | Unmanaged |
Switching Capacity | 16 Gbps |
VLAN Support | No |
Layer | Layer 2 |
The TP-Link TL-SG108 is one of the Best Network Switches for home or small office networks. It’s small, made of metal, and doesn’t have a fan. It also has LEDs that are dimmer and less distracting than some of its rivals. Don’t worry, though; there are still two per port, and each one tells you something about the connection based on its color and/or blinking pattern.
This best network switch did about the same as the other 8-port switches we tried and kept its cool. The only thing that stands out about this network switch is that it doesn’t have loop detection. Loop detection stops network data from looping and slowing down or shutting down your network. In a complicated network, this can be a very useful debugging tool. It has lights on a switch that tell you which Ethernet ports to check for problems.
The Good
- Compact and lightweight design
- Affordable price point
- Easy to set up and use
The Bad
- Limited switching capacity (16 Gbps)
- Does not support power over Ethernet
Ubiquiti Unifi USW-Flex
Model | Ubiquiti Unifi USW-Flex |
---|---|
Number of Ports | 5 |
Power over Ethernet | Yes |
Management | Managed |
Switching Capacity | 10 Gbps |
VLAN Support | Yes |
Layer | Layer 2+ |
This is a hard suggestion to make. Even though Ubiquiti had a data breach recently, we think the Unifi USW-Flex is the Best Network Switches for anyone who wants to bring Power over Ethernet to the edge of their network. This inexpensive 5-port wonder can send up to 15.4 watts of power to each of its four output ports. Note that “up to” is used here. Once all four ports are in use, the 46-watt power budget will stop 15.4 watts from going to all four ports at the same time.
Even though the Unifi USW-Flex is a managed switch, it doesn’t have some key features. It doesn’t have Spanning Tree Protocol, which helps prevent switch loops, or the ability to use SSH for extensive command-line management. However, you can use SSH for some basic functions like firmware updates. It works well as an edge-of-network device to power things like IP cameras or sensors that you may want to have minimal wiring going to.
The Good
- Compact and flexible design
- Power over Ethernet support
- Advanced management features with UniFi controller integration
The Bad
- Limited number of ports (5)
- Lower switching capacity (10 Gbps) compared to other models
Zyxel MG-108 Multi-Gigabit Ethernet Switch
Model | Zyxel MG-108 |
---|---|
Number of Ports | 8 |
Power over Ethernet | No |
Management | Unmanaged |
Switching Capacity | 16 Gbps |
VLAN Support | No |
Layer | Layer 2 |
Zyxel is becoming more popular in the SMB market, and it is currently making changes to its platform so that it can also handle networks at the enterprise level. I’ve tried a lot of Zyxel Ethernet switches, and the Nebula platform has only gotten better over the years. However, I want to talk about a specific device today.
I know that manufacturers are hesitant to move toward multi-Gigabit hardware, mostly because of the price, which would mean cutting corners that might make potential buyers unhappy. But Zyxel was brave enough to add 2.5GbE ports to an uncontrolled Ethernet switch, the MG-108. It doesn’t support Power over Ethernet (PoE), and it doesn’t have any software, but you can get speeds above 1Gbps for a price that’s not too bad.
The Good
- Multi-Gigabit Ethernet support
- Compact and durable construction
- Suitable for small-scale networks
The Bad
- No power over Ethernet capability
- Lack of advanced management features like VLAN support
FAQs
A network switch is a networking device that lets devices on a computer network talk to each other. It makes it possible for multiple devices, like computers, servers, and printers, to talk to each other by sending data packets between them.
Better network performance: A network switch gives each connected device its own bandwidth, which reduces network pressure and improves performance overall.
Switches have features like VLANs (Virtual Local Area Networks) that help keep network data separate and safe.
Flexibility and scalability: Switches make it easy to add more devices to a network without slowing down the devices that are already there.
Centralized control: Many network switches have management interfaces that make it easy for administrators to keep an eye on the network and set it up.