
Best affordable Network switches
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1. TP-Link 8-Port 2.5G Desktop Switch TL-SG108-M2 Unmanaged
Ideal for various scenarios - built for LAN parties, home entertainment, small and home offices, as well as instant transmission for workstations. Quiet operation. The industry-leading fanless design ensures a noise-free operation, perfect for any home or business. Plug and Play allows for easy deployment without the need for a technician. The sturdy metal casing and desktop/wall mount design are well-suited for different environments.
Pro
- Quiet as no fan
- Went very quickly
Contra
- Somewhat large
- Connections on the front

2. Ubiquiti UniFi Switch Flex Mini
The Ubiquiti UniFi Switch FLEX Mini (Model USW-Flex-Mini) is a fully managed 5-port Gigabit network switch designed for home and small office environments. This compact white device measures 10.2 cm in width, 3.8 cm in height, and 2.8 cm in depth, weighing 120 g, making it ideal for space-constrained installations such as behind televisions or in media cabinets. It features five RJ45 Ethernet ports with 1-Gigabit support for devices like gaming consoles, streaming devices, and computers. Power options include 802.3af/at Power over Ethernet (PoE) via port 1 or the included 5V, 1A USB Type-C power adapter, eliminating the need for a separate outlet when using PoE. As a managed switch, it offers advanced network management features such as Quality of Service (QoS) for prioritizing critical network traffic, VLAN support for network segmentation, and Link Aggregation for bundling multiple ports. The switch seamlessly integrates into UniFi network systems, enabling device discovery and centralized management through the UniFi Controller interface. Its compact design, flexible power options, and managed features make it suitable for expanding network connectivity in residential environments while maintaining professional network control.
Pro
- super small (about the size of the palm of your hand)
- PoE (no power adapter required, but one is supplied)
- usb c connection for power
Contra
- Only 1 PoE port for incoming power supply
- Can only be integrated into the Unifi Controller with a lot of effort
- Config Management should be better

3. Ubiquiti Flex Mini 2.5G
Compact, 5-port 2.5G switch that can be powered with PoE or a USB-C adapter.
Pro
- Very small
- Compact and elegant
- Power supply via USB C, no proprietary power supply
Contra
- No poe outputs
- Device gets quite noticeably warm during operation

4. Ubiquiti UnifiFlex:Outdoor 5Port PoE Switch
The USW-Flex supports a maximum PoE output budget of 46 W when powered with 60 W 802.3bt PoE++. Four ports provide an 802.3af PoE output with automatic detection for powering multiple devices on the network.
Pro
- Small and simple
- Outdoor capable
- Easy assembly
Contra
- Gets a little warm, although the switch itself requires little power
- Rather expensive
- UniFi Controller absolutely required

5. Ubiquiti Flex Mini 3-pack
A compact, 5-port, Layer 2 switch that can be powered with PoE or a 5V USB-C adapter.
Pro
- Small and requires little space.
- Can be supplied with power via PoE or USB-C (included!)
- Can also be powered via USB-C, power supply unit included
Contra
- Speising with PoE triggers a port shutdown
- Requires controller
- Management only via cloud and Windows client

6. Shelly LAN Switch
The Shelly LAN Switch is a versatile and reliable network switch specifically designed for DIN rail mounting. With five RJ45 ports and a data transfer rate of 10/100 Mbps, it provides a stable and consistent network connection for your devices. The switch is ideal for use in distribution boxes and allows for easy installation without extensive rewiring. Thanks to the LED indicators, you always have an overview of the operational status. Power is supplied directly from the mains, so no additional adapters are required.
Highlights:
- DIN rail mounting for easy installation
- Compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa
- Power supply from 110V to 230V, no additional adapters required.
Pro
- Fits perfectly into a control cabinet
- 230V direct connection

7. TP-Link Tl-Sg108pe
The TP-Link TL-SG108PE offers an easy way to expand your network, as power and data are transmitted over a single cable. With 4 PoE ports, it can power up to 4 PoE-compatible devices such as access points, IP cameras, and IP phones.
Simple and Effective Management
The TL-SG108PE provides various options for network monitoring. Through port mirroring, loopback detection, and cable diagnostics, connection issues within the network can be identified and localized.
VLAN Enhancing Security
Extensive VLAN features assist in building a business network with better management and higher security. Supports up to 32 VLANs (from 4k VLAN IDs), MTU/Port/Tag VLAN.
Traffic Optimization
IGMP snooping optimizes multicast traffic, especially for IPTV, thus providing a better networking experience.
Layer 2 Features
IGMP snooping, link aggregation, port mirroring, cable diagnostics, loop prevention.
Pro
- 4x PoE
- Favourable price
- Simple installation
Contra
- Power supply unit somewhat large (of course, PoE ..)
- Web interface very slow and somewhat buggy
- Current transformer somewhat large

8. TP-Link PoE+ Switch TL-SG105PE 5 Port
The TL-SG105PE is fully compatible with PoE devices such as IP cameras, access points, and IP phones. It also works with non-PoE wired devices like PCs, printers, and IPTV.
Pro
- Very small
- 802.3af (PoE) i , 802.3at (PoE+)
- Works well, problem solved
Contra
- German plug
- Lan cable tangle ...
- Green LED on the LAN sockets flashes damn brightly

9. TP-Link TL-SG116
The TP-Link TL-SG116 16-Port Gigabit Desktop Switch offers an easy way to transition to Gigabit Ethernet. Increase the speed of your network servers and backbone connections or make Gigabit a reality in your workplace. Thanks to its plug-and-play design, no configuration is necessary. Additionally, the TP-Link TL-SG116 is designed for lower power consumption. With the innovative, energy-efficient technology of the TP-Link TL-SG116, you can save energy effortlessly, making this device an environmentally friendly solution for your home and office network.
16 Gigabit Ports
Equipped with 16 x 10/100/1000 Mbps ports, the TP-Link TL-SG116 significantly expands your network capacity, enabling the immediate transfer of large files. Power users at home, in the office, in workgroups, or in creative production environments can now transfer large, bandwidth-intensive files more quickly. Send documents, programs, or multimedia files over the network without delay.
Go green with your Ethernet
You now have the option to choose the green path when upgrading to a Gigabit network. The next-generation TP-Link TL-SG116 16-Port Gigabit Switch features the latest innovative, energy-efficient technology that can significantly expand your network capacity while consuming much less energy. It automatically adjusts power consumption based on link status and cable length to improve the ecological footprint of your network.
Pro
- Works as expected, plug in and "runs".
- "Plug and Play"
- Plug and play
Contra
- See comment
- The LEDs should be on the front of the device

10. TP-Link Tl-Sg1005p
The TL-SG1005P features five 10/100/1000 Mbps ports, four of which support PoE, and requires no configuration or software installation. The device automatically detects and powers connected PoE devices. Both data transfer and power supply are provided over a single cable, significantly simplifying network expansion. With Power over Ethernet, you can power compatible devices through the network cable. This reduces cabling efforts, especially for devices like wireless access points, IP phones, and IP cameras, while also allowing for high flexibility in device placement. The IEEE 802.3af standard provides a maximum of 15.4 watts of power per PoE port with a voltage of up to 48 volts. The standard assumes that after line losses, 12.95 watts of usable power remain or can be drawn to avoid exceeding the maximum power output.
Pro
- Supports active PoE/PoE+ devices
- Small and compact
Contra
- German Schuko plug
- Power supply unit is larger than the router
- PoE IEEE 802.3af only (cannot be switched on/off manually)
