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Best High-Speed Network Switches 2024

Expand your wired network using one of our top picks packing loads of extra Ethernet connections

Which high-speed network switch is the best?

The best high-speed network switch you can get for most use cases is the Linksys SE3008. It has eight Gigabit Ethernet ports, an easy plug-and-play setup, and simple Quality of Service (QoS) features that prioritize audio and video streaming.

But if you need a network switch specifically built for multi-gig internet or large networks, we list our top picks for those categories too.

Compare network switch features and prices

Best forModelPort countMax bandwidthPrice*Get it
Best overallLinksys SE3008816Gbps$39.99View on Amazon
Best value TP-Link TL-SG108816Gbps$21.99View on Amazon
Best for multi-gigQNAP QSW-1105-5T525Gbps$143.65View on Amazon
Best for large networksTRENDnet TEG-224DG2448Gbps$94.99View on Amazon
Best for Power over EthernetNETGEAR GS305Pv2510Gbps$71.99View on Amazon
Best forBest overall
ModelLinksys SE3008
Port count8
Max bandwidth16Gbps
Price*$39.99
Get itView on Amazon
Best forBest value
Model TP-Link TL-SG108
Port count8
Max bandwidth16Gbps
Price*$21.99
Get itView on Amazon
Best forBest for multi-gig
ModelQNAP QSW-1105-5T
Port count5
Max bandwidth25Gbps
Price*$143.65
Get itView on Amazon
Best forBest for large networks
ModelTRENDnet TEG-224DG
Port count24
Max bandwidth48Gbps
Price*$94.99
Get itView on Amazon
Best forBest for Power over Ethernet
ModelNETGEAR GS305Pv2
Port count5
Max bandwidth10Gbps
Price*$71.99
Get itView on Amazon

Best overall—Linksys SE3008

Best overall
Linksys 8-Port Metallic Gigabit SE3008

$39.99*

Specs:

  • Type: Unmanaged
  • Total bandwidth: 16Gbps
  • Ports: 8x Gigabit Ethernet

The Linksys SE3008 is the best network switch for everyday use in your home network. The switch’s sturdy metal frame can sit on your desk or live in a rack mount. Using it is as simple as plugging it in.

This switch features eight front-facing ports with LED status lights, so you know when each port is in use. It offers some QoS functions to streamline your data flow for streaming movies and music.

Pros:

  • Simple plug-and-play setup
  • Basic QoS

Cons:

  • Higher price than basic switches
  • Odd power jack location

Best value—TP-Link TL-SG108

Best value
TP-Link TL-SG108 ethernet switch

$21.99*

Specs:

  • Type: Unmanaged
  • Total bandwidth: 16Gbps
  • Ports: 8x Gigabit Ethernet

This eight-port network switch is inexpensive but still has all the features you need in an unmanaged network switch. It has a metal frame, basic QoS for traffic optimization, and an automatic power-saving mode. Plus, its lifetime warranty guarantees that you’re covered if it fails.

Though the TL-SG108 has a metal chassis, it weighs less than 14 ounces. So, the weight of Ethernet connections can move it if it’s not secured correctly, which could be annoying since cord management is messy enough without your switch getting all tangled up.

Pros:

  • Low price
  • Lifetime warranty

Cons:

  • No multi-gig speeds
  • Extreme lightweight design

Best for multi-gig—QNAP QSW-1105-5T

Best for multi-gig
QNAP multi-gig Ethernet switch

$143.65*

Specs:

  • Type: Unmanaged
  • Total bandwidth: 25Gbps
  • Ports: 5x 2.5Gbps Ethernet

QNAP’s network switch is ideal if you have an internet plan with speeds of 1,000Mbps or faster. You need a CAT 5e Ethernet cable or newer to take advantage of the multi-gig speeds, plus a compatible Ethernet port on your modem or fiber ONT and on your wired devices.

Other than the speed, the QSW-1105-5T is another boring Ethernet switch. It has a passive cooling design, so you won’t hear the low hum of a fan. QNAP’s only other callout is loop detection, which comes in handy if you have more than one switch on your wired network and you mistakenly connected one Ethernet cable to two ports on a single switch.

Pros:

  • Multi-gig speeds
  • Silent operation

Cons:

  • Limited port count

Best for large networks—TRENDnet TEG-S24DG

Best for large networks
TRENDnet TEG-224DG ethernet switch

$94.99*

Specs:

  • Type: Unmanaged
  • Total bandwidth: 48Gbps
  • Ports: 24x Gigabit Ethernet

If you need more than five or eight Ethernet ports, this TRENDnet TEG-S24DG network switch has plenty. With 16-port and 24-port options, this network switch is an easy way to expand your connections.

Like other unmanaged network switches, this device doesn’t have many QoS features like port configuration. But it does follow GREENnet energy saving performance standards that adjust power consumption based on the devices plugged into the switch.

The TEG-S24DG can sit on your desk for easy access or be rack-mounted, but you have to buy the rack-mounting hardware separately.

Pros:

  • Plenty of ports
  • Lifetime warranty

Cons:

  • No included mounting kit

Best for Power over Ethernet—NETGEAR GS305Pv2

Best for Power over Ethernet

$71.99*

Specs:

  • Type: Unmanaged
  • Total bandwidth: 10Gbps
  • Standard ports: 1x Gigabit Ethernet
  • PoE+ ports: 4x Gigabit Ethernet
  • PoE+ Power budget: 63W total

Ethernet cables are typically associated with wired networking, but you can use them to deliver power too. For example, you can install security cameras in locations that lack electrical lines and outlets. Connect an Ethernet cable and the cameras can receive both data and power.

NETGEAR’s GS305P (version 2) provides power up to 30 watts per port, but your maximum total output can be only 63 watts. The “plus” version is $20 more and includes software that allows you to manage the device. If you need more ports and power, the GS316PP has 16 ports and a 183-watt power budget, starting at $399.99. Ouch.

Pros:

  • Up to 30 watts per PoE port
  • Plug-and-play design

Cons:

  • Overall 63-watt power budget

What to look for in a network switch

Network switches are boring little devices. Their only function is to forward data, so you really only need to consider a few things if you want to expand your wired network. We list two factors you should consider when purchasing a network switch.

Number of ports

Gateways and routers usually have four Ethernet ports for wired networking, but sometimes that’s not enough—and that’s where a switch comes in. These little devices have at least five extra Ethernet ports for expanding your network, one of which you must reserve for the wired connection to another switch, a gateway, a router, or a fiber ONT.

Mainstream switches generally include up to 16 ports, while the more business-grade ones go even higher with their port counts. You’ll see some switches supporting Power over Ethernet, too, like the NETGEAR model we listed above.

Be sure to count all your wired connections and decide how many extra ports you actually need. It would suck to purchase a switch and get everything set up just to find out that you’re a port short.

Ethernet port speed

Make sure you get a network switch with Gigabit Ethernet ports, at the very least. These ports are rated for speeds of up to around 940Mbps, and they’re backward compatible with older Ethernet standards. Don’t get a switch with Fast Ethernet ports, which are rated for up to a slower 94Mbps.

You should consider network switches with Multi-Gig Ethernet ports. They’re more expensive, but they deliver the real-world wired speeds you need if you have an internet plan that’s 1,000Mbps or faster.

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Our verdict

If you’re in need of more Ethernet ports, go for the Linksys SE3008 network switch. Its simple plug-and-play setup, eight gigabit Ethernet ports, and automatic QoS traffic prioritization make it the easiest way to expand your home network.

FAQ about network switches

What is a network switch?

A network switch is a standalone device that adds more Ethernet ports to your home or office network.

Standalone Wi-Fi routers include four or eight Ethernet ports to support all your wired devices, and in most cases that’s plenty. Mesh systems like the TP-Link Deco X55 only have one Ethernet port per unit, which can be a real pain if you prefer wired over wireless.

A network switch plugs into an open Ethernet port on your router, gateway, or mesh router/node device so you can connect more wired devices to your network, like computers and game consoles. Wired connections have fast, stable speeds and low latency.

Do network switches reduce your network speed?

A network switch will reduce your home network speed if you choose the wrong one.

For example, nearly all routers have Gigabit Ethernet ports with speeds up to 1,000Mbps each. If you plug a network switch into one of those ports and the switch is only capable of 100Mbps, then 100Mbps is all you get from that switch, even if your tethered wired devices have Gigabit Ethernet ports. The switch is now your speed bottleneck.

Here’s another example. You pay for a 1,000Mbps fiber plan, but the switch you use has Gigabit Ethernet ports. Wired connections have overhead, so the most you’ll get from Gigabit Ethernet is 940–980Mbps. To get the full 1,000Mbps from your internet connection, you need a switch with Multi-Gig Ethernet ports with real-world speeds of around 2,300Mbps or more.

Finally, a faulty switch will cause speed woes on your network. But they’re cheap to replace, so the speed fix can be quick and painless.

Does an network switch replace my router?

A network switch is a complement to your router, not a replacement.

Most routers have a built-in network switch, which is why they have multiple Ethernet output ports. But routers perform a ton of network management tasks that no network switch—even a high-end managed switch—can do, including creating a Wi-Fi network and securing your home network.

Switch vs. hub: What’s the difference?

Network switches and network hubs look similar, and they perform a similar function in your home network. But you want a switch, not a hub.

An Ethernet hub isn’t as smart as a network switch. A hub doesn’t know where each piece of information is supposed to go, so it sends every piece of information in your network to every connected device. This creates a bunch of problems that result in poor network performance.

Hubs used to be popular, cheap alternatives to network switches. But switches are now so inexpensive that it makes absolutely zero sense to buy a hub instead of a switch.

Managed vs. unmanaged: What’s the difference?

The network switches listed above are unmanaged, aka “plug and play.” There’s no configuration involved. Just connect your wired devices to it, connect it to a router or gateway, and forget about it. That’s it.

Managed network switches are generally more expensive. They include a web interface or mobile app you can use to manage each port. Some even allow you to create virtual networks, so you can isolate some devices from others. But their speeds can be slower than unmanaged switches since your data passes through a stricter firewall.

Half-duplex vs. Full-duplex: What's the difference?

You may see specifications mention half-duplex and full-duplex and wonder why you’re not getting 2Gbps speeds out of a 1Gbps Ethernet port. Half-duplex means only one wired device in a two-device exchange can transmit or receive data at a time—up to 1Gbps. Full-duplex sees both devices transmitting and receiving data simultaneously at 1Gbps each way.

Author -

Kevin Parrish has more than a decade of experience working as a writer, editor, and product tester. He began writing about computer hardware and soon branched out to other devices and services such as networking equipment, phones and tablets, game consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom’s Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others. At HighSpeedInternet.com, he focuses on network equipment testing and review.

Editor - Cara Haynes

Cara Haynes has been editing and writing in the digital space for seven years, and she's edited all things internet for HighSpeedInternet.com for five years. She graduated with a BA in English and a minor in editing from Brigham Young University. When she's not editing, she makes tech accessible through her freelance writing for brands like Pluralsight. She believes no one should feel lost in internet land and that a good internet connection significantly extends your life span.

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