When the router runs out of LAN ports, the usual fix is a small box with no settings at all. Plug it in, plug the devices in, and it forwards traffic. An unmanaged gigabit switch does exactly that and nothing else, which is why the right one costs less than a takeaway lunch and runs for years. The wrong one costs the same but has a fan you can hear from the next room or a PoE budget too small for your cameras. Or it’s a hardware revision with different specs from the review you read.
This guide picks the best unmanaged gigabit switches on Amazon right now, from 5-port and 8-port metal boxes to a 16-port desk switch, 2.5G multi-gig models and two PoE+ switches. It also answers the TL-SG108 vs GS308 question and explains when you need VLANs instead.
Updated October 2026: re-picked against current manufacturer spec sheets and live Amazon listings.
Picking the right unmanaged switch fast
Most readers need one of these five. Prices are what the Amazon listing showed when we checked in October 2026, so check the live price before you buy:
- Best overall: TP-Link TL-SG108, eight gigabit ports in a fanless metal case with loop prevention, $19.99 when we checked
- Best budget: NETGEAR GS305, the cheapest pick here at $13.49 (list $15.99) when we checked, metal and silent
- Best 2.5G upgrade: TP-Link TL-SG108S-M2, eight 2.5G ports over your existing Cat5e, $59.99 (list $129.99) when we checked
- Best for PoE cameras and access points: TP-Link TL-SG1005P, four PoE+ ports with a 65 W budget, $44.99 (list $59.99) when we checked
- Best for a crowded desk or rack shelf: TP-Link TL-SG116, sixteen gigabit ports, fanless, $59.99 (list $79.99) when we checked
If you only remember one thing from this page, make it the hardware version. TP-Link and Netgear both reuse a model name across several hardware revisions, and the revisions differ in jumbo frame size, PoE standard and power budget. The section on checking the version shows what changed on these exact models.
Choosing these picks
We did not bench these switches in our lab for this update, so nothing here claims a throughput number we measured. Every spec in the table comes from the manufacturer’s own product page, and price, stock and seller come from the live Amazon listing on the day we checked. Where ServeTheHome had tested a model, we used their numbers and said so, because independent power and performance data is what a spec sheet can’t give you.
A switch made the list only if it met all of these:
- sold new on Amazon, with Amazon itself as the seller when we checked
- fanless, so it stays silent on a desk or in a bedroom
- a current manufacturer spec page we could read and cite
That rule dropped a cheap UGREEN 2.5G switch that looked good on price. We couldn’t load a manufacturer spec page for it, and we don’t recommend hardware we can’t check against its maker’s own numbers. The Netgear GS308 gets its own comparison section instead of a pick slot. It overlaps the TL-SG108 almost exactly, and the TL-SG108 keeps the slot for its loop prevention and 16 KB jumbo frames even when the GS308 is slightly cheaper.
Comparing the specs side by side
Only a handful of columns change which switch you should buy. Jumbo frame size and loop prevention matter more than the packet forwarding rate, which every non-blocking switch here handles at line rate for its port count:
| Switch | Ports and speed | PoE budget | Jumbo frame | Loop prevention | Max power (no PoE load) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TP-Link TL-SG108 | 8 x 1G | None | 16 KB | Yes | 3.75 W |
| TP-Link TL-SG105 | 5 x 1G | None | 16 KB (V8), 9 KB (V9) | Yes | 3.0 W |
| NETGEAR GS305 | 5 x 1G | None | 9,216 bytes | Not listed | 2.34 W |
| TP-Link TL-SG116 | 16 x 1G | None | 10 KB | Not listed | 10 W |
| TP-Link TL-SG108S-M2 | 8 x 2.5G | None | 12 KB | Yes | 9.11 W |
| Omada DS105G-M2 | 5 x 2.5G | None | 12 KB | Not listed | 5.81 W |
| TP-Link TL-SG1005P | 5 x 1G, 4 PoE+ | 65 W | 16 KB (V5), 9 KB (V6) | Not listed | 3.44 W |
| NETGEAR GS305P | 5 x 1G, 4 PoE+ | 63 W | 9,216 bytes | Not listed | 1.02 W standby |
Every switch in the table is fanless, and every one has a metal case per its maker’s spec page or datasheet, so those columns are left out. “Not listed” means the maker’s spec page doesn’t mention loop prevention, not that we tested the switch and found it missing. The Netgear PoE figure is the standby number Netgear publishes, because it doesn’t list a no-load maximum the way TP-Link does.
1. TP-Link TL-SG108
We’d put the TL-SG108 behind almost any home router, because it covers the common case with one box and lists loop prevention, which five of the switches here don’t:
It has eight gigabit ports in a 158 x 101 mm steel case, runs fanless, and TP-Link rates it at 3.75 W maximum from a 5 V adapter. The feature list is longer than most unmanaged switches: 802.1p/DSCP QoS, IGMP snooping for IPTV, 16 KB jumbo frames and loop prevention. That last one watches for a cable plugged back into the same switch and blocks the looped port, instead of letting a broadcast storm take the network down. It is the feature people only learn about after a child plugs both ends of a spare cable into the switch.
Who it’s for: anyone adding wired ports for a TV, console, desktop, printer or a small homelab, with no plan to split traffic into VLANs. Skip it if you need VLANs, port mirroring or per-port stats, because it has no management at all; the smart switches in our guide to cheap gigabit switches with VLAN support cover that. TP-Link’s download page lists hardware versions V1 to V6, V9 and V9.40 for this model, and the Amazon listing doesn’t say which one ships.
Amazon listed it at $19.99 when we checked, so check the current price before you order.
2. TP-Link TL-SG105
Take the same design, drop three ports, and you have the TL-SG105. Buy it when the switch sits on a desk and only feeds a computer, a dock and a printer:
It keeps the metal case, fanless design, QoS, IGMP snooping and loop prevention of the eight-port model, and TP-Link rates it at 3.0 W maximum. The interesting detail is in the jumbo frame line of the spec sheet: version 8 supports 16 KB frames, while version 9 supports 9 KB. For a home network that never touches jumbo frames, it makes no difference. If you run a storage network with a 9000-byte MTU, 9 KB still covers it, but it shows why the version printed on the label matters.
Best fit: a single desk or entertainment unit that needs three or four extra wired ports. Pass on it if you might add a NAS, a second PC and a console later, since the $5 difference to the TL-SG108 is cheaper than buying a second switch. It sold for $14.99 (list $19.79) when we checked.
3. NETGEAR GS305
Netgear’s GS305 is the cheapest pick on this page when we checked, and it gives up very little for that price:
Netgear’s current GS305v3 has five gigabit ports in a metal case and runs at 0 dBA because there’s no fan. Its 2.34 W is the lowest rated maximum of the gigabit switches here. It supports 802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet and 9,216-byte jumbo frames. On warranty, the product page lists a limited lifetime hardware warranty, but Netgear’s 300-Series Gigabit datasheet lists a 3-year warranty for the GS305v3 and GS308v3 (1 year in China), so check the terms for your purchase. What it doesn’t list is loop prevention, so a looped cable is your problem to find.
Buy it for the tightest budget. It also works as a second switch at the far end of a single cable run. Look elsewhere if the switch sits where people plug things in at random: the TL-SG105 costs about the same and lists loop prevention, which is worth a dollar or two in a shared space. Amazon had it at $13.49 (list $15.99) when we checked.
4. TP-Link TL-SG116
When five or eight ports aren’t enough, the TL-SG116 puts sixteen gigabit ports in a fanless steel box that still sits on a desk or a rack shelf:
TP-Link rates it at 10 W maximum from a 12 V, 1 A adapter, with a 4.1 Mb packet buffer, 10 KB jumbo frames, QoS and IGMP snooping. It measures 286 x 111.7 x 25.4 mm and has a physical security lock slot, and it mounts on a desk or a wall. Loop prevention is not on its spec sheet, unlike the smaller TL-SG105 and TL-SG108.
Good match: a home office or homelab with a NAS, a few mini PCs, access points and a printer all landing in one place. Think twice if a 16-port switch is becoming the core of your network, because at that size VLANs for IoT or guest devices are usually worth having. A managed model from our managed homelab switch guide costs more but saves you from a flat network you’ll want to split later. This one listed at $59.99 (list $79.99) when we checked.
5. TP-Link TL-SG108S-M2
If your NAS, desktop or Wi-Fi access point has a 2.5G port, a gigabit switch wastes it, and the TL-SG108S-M2 is the multi-gig switch we’d buy:
All eight ports run at 100 Mbps, 1 Gbps or 2.5 Gbps, the switching capacity is 40 Gbps, and TP-Link says 2.5G works over the Cat5e you already have. It is fanless and metal, and it lists loop prevention and 12 KB jumbo frames. ServeTheHome bought one and measured 1.6 W at idle and 2.0 W with one 2.5GbE link up. They called its throughput “exactly what we would expect from this class of switch” and noted the metal chassis and the per-port LEDs. TP-Link’s package list includes rubber feet, although ServeTheHome found none in their box.
Made for anyone with a 2.5G NAS, desktop NIC or Wi-Fi 7 access point. If you’re choosing an access point too, see our Wi-Fi 7 access point guide. It is not the one if you want 10G uplinks. ServeTheHome tested it at $119, and their verdict pointed to an 8-port 2.5GbE switch with two 10G ports that was often available for less. Our 10GbE homelab build covers that route.
Amazon had it at $59.99 against a $129.99 list price when we checked. That list price sits far above what it sells for, so compare the price history before you treat the discount as a deal.
6. Omada DS105G-M2
For a five-port 2.5G option, look at the Omada DS105G-M2, for a desk where eight multi-gig ports would be overkill:
Five 2.5G ports share 25 Gbps of switching capacity, with 12 KB jumbo frames and a 5.81 W maximum from a 9 V adapter. The fanless metal case has about the footprint of the TL-SG105. Despite the Omada name, it is not part of TP-Link’s managed Omada system: the product page states that Omada unmanaged switches do not support Omada SDN central management. Loop prevention is not listed, and we found no independent review of this model, so the specs above are the manufacturer’s alone.
Right for a PC, a NAS and an access point that all speak 2.5G, on one desk. Hold off if you expected it to show up in an Omada controller, because it won’t; the Omada vs UniFi comparison covers the managed models that do. It was $44.15 on the Amazon listing when we checked.
7. TP-Link TL-SG1005P
With the TL-SG1005P you can power up to four PoE devices, cameras, access points or phones, without a single injector:
On version 5 (and V6, per the same spec sheet), ports 1 to 4 are 802.3af/at PoE+ with up to 30 W each and a 65 W total budget. Port 5 is the uplink. When the total goes over 65 W, the switch cuts power to lower-priority ports first. Two extras stand out on a switch this cheap. PoE Auto Recovery reboots a camera or AP that stops responding. An Extend Mode button stretches ports 1 and 2 to 250 m by dropping them to 10 Mbps, enough for a distant camera. TP-Link’s own footnote says the PoE budget comes from lab testing and isn’t guaranteed.
Ideal for two to four IP cameras feeding a Frigate NVR, or a pair of ceiling access points. Avoid it if you are planning several PoE+ devices that each draw close to 30 W, because more than two of them would exceed 65 W. Our PoE switch guide has bigger budgets. Older versions of this switch were different too. ServeTheHome’s 2021 review tested a unit with plain 802.3af PoE at 15.4 W per port and a 56 W rating.
Amazon had it at $44.99 (list $59.99) when we checked.
8. NETGEAR GS305P
Netgear’s GS305P is the alternative PoE+ pick, with a slightly smaller budget and automatic per-port power balancing:
Netgear’s current GS305Pv3 has four 802.3af/at PoE+ ports at up to 30 W each until the 63 W budget runs out. The fifth port is a non-PoE uplink. Netgear balances PoE power per port automatically, lists 9,216-byte jumbo frames, 1.02 W standby draw and no fans, in a metal case.
Suits the same camera and access point jobs as the TL-SG1005P, when it is the cheaper of the two on the day you buy. Pick the TP-Link instead if you need the 250 m extend mode or automatic PD reboots, which Netgear doesn’t list. This is also the model where version confusion has bitten buyers. The v1 had a 55 W budget; v2 and the current v3 (GS305P-300NAS) are PoE+ at 63 W. ServeTheHome told v2 apart by a GS305P-200NAS box sticker and a GS305Pv2 unit label.
Amazon sold it for $44.05 (list $69.99) when we checked.
Comparing the TL-SG108 and the Netgear GS308
These two are the eight-port switches people compare most, and on paper they are close. Both are fanless, metal and non-blocking, with eight gigabit ports in a 158 x 101 mm footprint. The differences are small but real:
| TP-Link TL-SG108 | NETGEAR GS308 (v3) | |
|---|---|---|
| Jumbo frame | 16 KB | 9,216 bytes |
| Loop prevention | Yes | Not listed |
| 802.3az EEE | Not listed (Green Technology) | Yes |
| MAC table | 4K | 8K |
| Max power | 3.75 W | 3.04 W |
| Adapter | 5 V, 0.6 A | 12 V, 0.5 A |
| Amazon listing when we checked | $19.99, sold by Amazon | $18.99 (list $20.99), sold by Amazon |
For a home network, the TL-SG108 wins on loop prevention and larger jumbo frames, while the GS308 draws a little less power. Its warranty terms carry the same caveat as the GS305 above. The GS308’s larger MAC table only matters once you have far more devices than eight ports can serve. Either one is a good buy, so let the price on the day decide: check the GS308 listing against the TL-SG108.
Checking the hardware version before you buy
The same model name does not guarantee the same switch. These are the version differences we found on the spec pages and in ServeTheHome’s testing for the picks on this page:
- TL-SG105: 16 KB jumbo frames on V8, 9 KB on V9
- TL-SG1005P: 16 KB jumbo frames on V5, 9 KB on V6, and an older version with 802.3af at 15.4 W per port
- GS305P: a 55 W v1, then PoE+ at 63 W on v2 and the current v3, all sold as GS305P
- TL-SG108: hardware versions V1 to V6, V9 and V9.40 on TP-Link’s download page
Amazon listings almost never say which version ships, so check the hardware version on the label when the switch arrives. Both TP-Link and Netgear publish a guide to finding it. If a feature matters to you, such as PoE+ power or a jumbo frame size, compare the version on the label with the manufacturer’s spec page before you rely on it. Return the switch if it turns out to be an older revision without that feature.
Knowing when an unmanaged switch is the wrong buy
An unmanaged switch has no web interface, so everything it does is fixed at the factory. That is perfect until you need one of these:
- VLANs to keep IoT, guest or camera traffic away from your main network
- port mirroring to capture traffic for troubleshooting
- per-port statistics or link logs when something drops
- link aggregation between a NAS and the switch
Any of those means a managed or smart switch. When we checked, TP-Link’s 8-port Easy Smart switch listed at $24.99 against $19.99 for the TL-SG108, so the step up is small, and our VLAN switch roundup covers the cheap ones. An unmanaged switch can’t assign, strip or filter VLANs, and none of these spec pages promise it will pass tagged frames, so don’t build a VLAN plan around one.
Keeping a cheap switch running
An unmanaged switch has no logs, so the checks happen on the cables and the devices plugged into it. When a computer feels slow through the switch but fast when cabled straight to the router, check the negotiated link speed first. On Linux, ethtool on the interface shows a Speed: line, and anything below 1000Mb/s on gigabit gear points to the cable or auto-negotiation rather than the switch. TP-Link’s own troubleshooting FAQ for unmanaged switches starts with the same check and a known-good standard cable.
Beyond that, there are three habits that keep these boxes working for years:
- keep the switch out of closed cabinets; fanless means it cools through its case
- label the uplink port, so nobody loops a cable back into the switch
- keep the original adapter, since output voltages differ: 5 V, 9 V, 12 V, 53.5 V and 54 V across this list
Adapters catch people out, because the barrel plugs look alike while the voltages don’t. A PoE switch also needs its own high-voltage supply (53.5 V on the TL-SG1005P, 54 V on the GS305P) to power any camera at all. If you are wiring a whole home NAS and media setup around one of these switches, put the switch and its adapter on the same UPS as the router. A brief power cut then won’t drop the whole wired network.
