Best Ethernet Switches: Fast, Reliable, and Secure

If you need more ports, this smart switch has eight auto-sensing Gigabit Ethernet ports, each supporting up to 1,000 Mbps. It’s plug-and-play and has a silent, fanless design. There’s a web-based user interface if you want to dig into settings to configure virtual local area networks (VLANs), set up Quality of Service (QoS) to prioritize traffic, mirror ports, and more.

TP-Link Ethernet Switches

TP-Link

8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Switch (TL-SG108S)

Folks on a budget should consider an Ethernet switch from TP-Link. These are the ones I’ve tried and can recommend.

As simple as you get, this plug-and-play switch is sturdy with a metal case, has a silent fanless design, and gives you eight Gigabit Ethernet ports. I’ve been using it for several months to hook up various security camera hubs, NAS devices, and a Sonos speaker, and it works perfectly.

If you want a more compact, stylish design, my colleague has been using the TP-Link 8 Port Gigabit Ethernet Network Switch (TL-SG1008D) ($25) for years and says it works well.