BEST ETHERNET SWITCHES | SEPTEMBER 2018
Ethernet switches – also known as network switches – come in handy when you have multiple wired devices that you want to add to your home or business network. But which one is right for you? To help you answer that question, our team performed hours of in-depth research on Ethernet switches to curate this list of product recommendations. We considered number of ports, speed and both unmanaged and managed Ethernet switches. Learn more about those factors and others with our helpful Ethernet switch buying guide below. Read more about our methodology.
Best Overall
This Ethernet switch is fast, compact, and easy to set up. With 16 Gigabit ports and reliable Quality of Service functionality, this switch is sure to get all your devices connected to the internet and running with ease.
Read full review.Best Value
Featuring plug and play set up and five fast Ethernet ports, the TP-Link TL SF1005D is a great pick for people on a budget who still want a reliable Ethernet switch. This switch can handle speeds up to 100 Mbps and offers a small, compact design ideal for desktop solutions.
Read full review.Best by Category
Best Ethernet Switch for Home Networks
The TP-Link TL-SG108 is energy efficient, features a sturdy design, and handles large data transfers with ease, making it a great overall choice for home networks with various devices. Add Quality of Service control to the mix, and you have a switch that can easily manage complicated networks.
Read full review.Best High-Performance Ethernet Switch
If you’re looking for gaming- and streaming-optimized performance in your Ethernet switch, look no further than the NETGEAR Nighthawk S8000. With eight advanced Gigabit ports, Quality of Service management, and an easy-to-use web interface, you can be sure to enable the best gaming experience possible with this Ethernet switch.
Read full review.Ethernet Switches BUYING GUIDE
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KEY CONSIDERATIONS
Port Availability
One of the most important factors to consider when purchasing any Ethernet switch should be the number of ports it offers. The number of devices you want to connect to your Ethernet switch will often be the first driving factor in your decision-making process.
Speed
The speed that the Ethernet switch provides is also crucially important to consider. If you have a fast internet connection, you’ll want your Ethernet switch to be able to keep up, or you’ll most likely find yourself disappointed at the decreased speeds once you connect your devices. Most switches come in either a 10/100Mbps or 10/100/1000Mbps configuration. The 10/100/1000Mbps options are becoming more popular as people are beginning to purchase higher-speed internet plans more than they have before.
Quality of Service
The whole point behind Ethernet switches is being able to connect multiple devices directly to your network at any given time and being able to expect a consistent level of performance from those devices. Ethernet switches with Quality of Service functionality help the speeds available to those devices. If one device is particularly active, while the others aren’t, Ethernet switches with Quality of Service functionality can dedicate more bandwidth to the more active devices on the fly.
Managed vs. Unmanaged
Ethernet switches can be managed or unmanaged, and most models come with both options available. Managed Ethernet switches perform basically the same function as unmanaged switches. However, they typically offer some kind of web interface that you can log in to and use to control what happens on your network. If you’re looking for more control, consider purchasing a managed switch.
Build Quality
The way your Ethernet switch is built can matter a lot when it comes to longevity, especially if you’re constantly connecting and disconnecting cables. Most switches tend to be built out of plastic or metal, and each has their benefits, although metal switches tend to last a little bit longer than plastic switches.
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PRICE BREAKDOWN
For less than $50, you can get a budget Ethernet switch. These switches typically offer a lower number of ports, usually 5, and are often made of plastic. You’ll also find that budget Ethernet switches only offer 10/100Mbps speeds. The Ethernet switches you can purchase in the $50-$100 range will satisfy the needs of most consumers and typically offer a range of port availability, usually between 8 and 16. The Ethernet switches in this range usually offer 10/100/1000Mbps speeds.. The higher-end models, above $100, are usually used for offices and offer 24 or more ports, along with more advanced functionality specific to larger networks.
FULL product reviews
We research hundreds of products in order to bring you a final, unbiased list of the very best. We also use a proprietary algorithm to score each product in terms of quality, value, and brand reputation. These subscores are then weighted to calculate our overall scores. Read more about how we calculate our scores.
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ANALYZED
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Best Overall
NETGEAR ProSAFE GS116NA
The NETGEAR ProSAFE GS116NA is an Ethernet switch that offers Gigabit speeds on all 16 of its auto-sensing ports. It supports jumbo frame rates of up to 16KB and includes a 250KB buffer memory. This Ethernet switch is a great choice for anyone looking for a reliable way to connect multiple devices to their network.
- 94overall
- 96quality
- 82value
- 93brand
Why We Recommend It
- High-quality ports. With 16 ports, you have a greater ability to hardwire more devices to your network without having to worry about a loss of speed. The NETGEAR ProSAFE GS116NA features auto-sensing ports, meaning it chooses a good connection speed for the device automatically when it’s first connected to the switch.
- Quality of Service. With multiple devices connected at any given time, you don’t want your switch to prioritize one device that doesn’t need as much bandwidth as others. This Ethernet switch features a reliable Quality of Service functionality that automatically prioritizes devices that need more speed than other connected devices.
- Can handle high data transfers. The NETGEAR ProSAFE GS116NA supports jumbo frames of up to 16KB, meaning this switch can handle higher loads of data transfer than other switches can. This switch also has a buffer memory of 256KB, meaning you can transfer more data at the same time. This optimizes overall performance for all of your devices, especially if multiple devices are using the Internet at the same time.
- Built to last and look good. With a solid metal construction, this Ethernet switch is built to last. It’s meant to be installed with a desktop configuration, so aesthetic is also important. The dark metal gives it a sleek look that’s sure to look good.
Other Considerations
- No POE ports. POE (or power over Ethernet) ports enable you to power your devices using only the Ethernet cable. This Ethernet switch doesn’t offer any of these kinds of ports, meaning you’ll have to use a separate power supply for your connected devices.
Best Value
TP-Link TL-SF1005D
The TP-Link TL-SF1005D is a great starter choice for those looking to hardwire a few more devices to their network than they normally would. It’s affordable, flexible, and is incredibly easy to set up. This Ethernet switch is the perfect choice for someone on a budget.
- 96overall
- 96quality
- 95value
- 91brand
Why We Recommend It
- Plug and play set up. This Ethernet switch is incredibly easy to set up. All you need to do is open the box and plug the device into your router and you’re ready to start connecting your devices. It’s as simple as that, which makes this switch a lot more approachable for beginners and those on a budget.
- Auto negotiation ports. The five available ports on the TP-Link TL-SF1005D are able to auto negotiate between 10Mbps and 100Mbps, which gives your devices greater flexibility based on the speeds they require at any given moment.
- Compact design. You can place this switch anywhere you want because it’s incredibly compact. This gives you greater control over how you set up and organize your connected devices. The housing is also easy on the eyes, making it easier for you to set up in the open and not have to worry about it messing up the look of your desktop.
Other Considerations
- Noise levels are high. Even though the unit itself is supposed to have a fanless design, many consumers complain of a high-pitched noise emitted from the device.
- Lack of speed. In today’s world, devices and internet connections are getting faster. The TP-Link TL-SF1005D only supports speeds of up to 100Mbps, which is quickly becoming slower with today’s advanced technology.
BEST BY CATEGORY
Best Ethernet Switch for Home Networks
why buy?
Home networks need to be reliable and flexible to accommodate the wide variety of devices that may be connected at the same time. While Ethernet switches for these networks may not need a huge number of ports available, they should have Quality of Service functionality and auto-prioritization in order to keep high-use devices connected and going strong.
TP-Link TL-SG108
The TP-Link TL-SG108 Ethernet switch is ideal for home networks because of its decent port selection, full duplex mode, plug and play configuration, and quiet operation. This switch is reliable and sturdy, as well, which makes it an even better choice for home networks.
- 95overall
- 95quality
- 92value
- 91brand
Why We Recommend It
- Plug and play configuration. This Ethernet switch is incredibly easy to set up, which is important for those looking to configure their home network. With plug and play configuration, you can plug the switch into your router, connect your devices to the switch, and sit back and relax while everything is automatically configured for you.
- High performance. The TP-Link TL-SG108 is built to perform. With its full duplex mode, it can read and transfer data at the same time for any device connected to it, allowing it to process data at a rate of up to 2,000Mbps. It also supports 12KB jumbo frames.
- Flexible ports. This Ethernet switch has 8 Gigabit ports that allow for speeds of 10/100/1000Mbps. These ports have auto-negotiation capabilities, which chooses the speed each connected device should have. It also uses Quality of Service functionality to prioritize devices that use more bandwidth than others.
- Good build quality. Made from steel, the TP-Link TL-SG108 is built to last. The dark, steel housing is also aesthetically pleasing, which makes it easier to have out in the open on your desktop. A fanless design ensures a quieter operation, and the unit is economical in its power usage, saving up to 72% as compared to other switches.
Other Considerations
- Loud power supply. While the unit itself operates fairly quietly, the power supply tends to emit a high-pitched noise that can get annoying at times.
Best High-Performance Ethernet Switch
why buy?
If you demand a lot from your Internet connection by playing video games, streaming 4K video or just using many devices simultaneously, consider a high-performance Ethernet switch that has exceptional Quality of Service, large buffer sizes, and low latency rates.
NETGEAR Nighthawk S8000
The NETGEAR Nighthawk S8000 looks cool and performs well. With IGMP snooping, low latency rates, Quality of Service functionality, and three levels of network traffic prioritization, this Ethernet switch is made for gamers and streamers.
- 95overall
- 97quality
- 80value
- 93brand
Why We Recommend It
- Incredible performance. The NETGEAR Nighthawk S8000 was built to perform, and it lives up to expectations. It can provide speeds up to a Gigabit in each of its 8 ports, and it also offers link aggregation, which means you can combine up to four different ports into a single, incredibly fast connection. Even with eight different devices connected, each port can continue to deliver top speeds. The switch also delivers incredibly low latency rates, meaning your gaming and streaming sessions will be lag free.
- Traffic prioritization. This Ethernet switch uses several different techniques to give you the best network connection possible when you need it the most. First, the switch is enabled for IGMP snooping, which enables the switch to only send traffic to the devices that want it, instead of flooding all ports with the same traffic. You can also expect really good Quality of Service with 3 different levels of traffic prioritization.
- Easy to use web interface. You can configure each port to receive its own level of prioritization via the easy-to-use web interface. The interface also includes a one-click configuration made specifically for gaming that can be enabled from the web interface. You also have the ability to add your own custom configurations, if wanted.
- Built to look cool and last longer. The NETGEAR Nighthawk S8000 is made from “cool-touch” zinc alloy, which gives it a sleek, edgy look. The appearance is sure to please the gamer’s eye and it looks good next to any gaming console or set up.
Other Considerations
- Lightweight. The unit itself is relatively lightweight, which might cause some problems if you use each port. The weight of the cables may cause this to move around more than you prefer.
