The 6 Best Network Switches Under $150 of 2026, Ranked & Reviewed

Our verdict: Eight Gigabit ports with a real web interface, VLANs and QoS for $25 to $50.

The GS308E is an 8-port Gigabit switch with an Easy Smart web interface that runs on Windows, Mac or Linux. Inside it you can carve out as many as 64 VLANs and set QoS, IGMP snooping and mirroring, tools usually reserved for much pricier boxes.

It tops this list because it gives you control without a steep price. The TP-Link 8 Port Gigabit Switch below offers VLANs too, but only up to 32, and the NETGEAR interface has the broader toolset with port mirroring for traffic troubleshooting. The faster TP-Link 2.5G models beat it on raw speed, but only pay off if your other gear can use it.

Buy it if you want to split cameras, a home lab or guest devices onto separate VLANs. The caveat is speed: every port is 1 Gbps, so a 2.5G router or NAS will be held back.

Ports

8 x 1 Gbps

VLANs

Up to 64

Management

Web GUI, QoS, IGMP snooping

Price

$25 to $50

Our verdict: Eight 2.5-gigabit ports for the home that has outgrown Gigabit.

The TL-SG108S-M2 puts eight 2.5-gigabit ports in one box and is aimed at LAN parties, home entertainment, small and home offices. TP-Link states you can reach 2.5 Gbps without upgrading to Cat6 cabling, which removes the usual rewiring objection.

It ranks second because it is the cleanest way to future-proof a network without paying for 10G. It beats the five-port TL-SG105S-M2 on sheer capacity, and it outruns the NETGEAR GS308E on speed, though it gives up the web management that makes the NETGEAR flexible. The $50 to $100 bracket is also the second-highest here.

Buy it if your router, PC or NAS has a 2.5G port and you want all eight ports at that speed. The caveat is the listing says nothing about VLAN or QoS support, so do not count on managed features.

Ports

8 x 2.5 Gbps

Cabling

No Cat6 upgrade stated as required

Use

Home office, LAN parties, entertainment

Price

$50 to $100

Our verdict: The cheapest way into 2.5G, with five fast ports for $25 to $50.

The TL-SG105S-M2 is the smaller sibling of our number two pick, with five 2.5-gigabit ports. It targets LAN parties, home entertainment and small offices, and TP-Link says it can lift a network to 2.5 Gbps without Cat6 upgrades.

It ranks third because five ports run out quickly. Against the eight-port TL-SG108S-M2, you save money but lose room to grow, and compared with the NETGEAR GS308E you give up management and port count in exchange for faster ports. For a desk with a router, PC, NAS and one or two other devices it is the sensible size.

Buy it if you have a small setup with a handful of 2.5G devices. The caveat is simple: once a console, TV and access point arrive, five ports will not be enough.

Ports

5 x 2.5 Gbps

Cabling

No Cat6 upgrade stated as required

Use

Small and home offices

Price

$25 to $50

Our verdict: The only pick here with two 10Gb RJ45 ports, for a server or NAS uplink.

This unmanaged switch pairs two 10Gb RJ45 ports with four 2.5Gb Base-T ports and is sold as 2.5x faster than a standard Gigabit switch. Setup is plug-in simple, and the box costs $50 to $100.

The fourth slot reflects that it solves a narrower problem than the picks above. A fast NAS and a fast PC on the two 10G ports with everything else on 2.5G is a clean layout, but the TL-SG108S-M2 gives you twice the ports at one speed. Against the NETGEAR GS308E you trade management for raw uplink speed.

Buy it if you have a 10G NAS or workstation and a handful of 2.5G devices. The caveat is that only six ports exist in total, and the listing offers no management features.

10G ports

2 x 10Gb RJ45

2.5G ports

4 x 2.5Gb Base-T

Management

Unmanaged

Price

$50 to $100

Our verdict: Eight Gigabit ports with web management and up to 32 VLANs for under $25.

This TP-Link 8-port Gigabit switch can be configured through a web interface and segments traffic with up to 32 VLANs at once. For under $25 it is one of the cheapest ways to get managed networking at home.

It ranks fifth because the NETGEAR GS308E does more with the same port count: 64 VLANs against 32, plus QoS, IGMP snooping and port mirroring on the listing. The TP-Link keeps pace on basics and wins on price, which is why it still beats the plain unmanaged boxes. Its features are limited to what the listing states, so check the interface before building anything complex.

Buy it if you want to try VLANs without spending much. The caveat is that the listing gives few details beyond port count and VLANs, so QoS support is not confirmed.

Ports

8 x Gigabit

VLANs

Up to 32

Management

Web interface

Price

Under $25

Our verdict: Sixteen Gigabit ports in an energy-efficient, quiet unmanaged box.

The TL-SG116 expands a network with 16 Gigabit RJ45 ports, uses TP-Link's energy-efficient design, and supports IEEE 802.3x flow control for reliable transfers. TP-Link also describes it as quiet.

It ranks sixth only because most homes do not need sixteen ports. The NETGEAR GS308E and TP-Link 8 Port switch cost less and give you management features, while this one is plug-in only. Where ports are the constraint, though, nothing else on this list comes close, and it avoids the daisy-chained cheap switches that cause trouble.

Buy it for a media closet, workshop or shared office with many wired devices. The caveat is that the listing mentions no VLAN or management features, so it cannot segment your network.

Ports

16 x 10/100/1000 Mbps

Flow control

IEEE 802.3x

Management

Unmanaged

Price

$50 to $100