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Ranked & Reviewed by Primea Reviews

The 7 Best PoE Network Switches for Cameras, Access Points and Phones, Ranked & Reviewed

By the Primea Editorial TeamUpdated November 3, 202610 min read7 products ranked

The short answer

The NETGEAR GS308EP is the best PoE switch for most small networks, with eight PoE+ ports, per-port power control and smart management. The TP-Link LS108GP is the easy eight-port unmanaged pick with extend mode, the NETGEAR GS305P is the compact five-port choice, and the Ubiquiti USW-Pro-24-PoE is the Layer 3 option for larger installs.

The Primea Scoreboard

Ranked & Reviewed

01
Best Overall
NETGEAR GS308EP 8-Port PoE+ Smart Managed Switch
Eight PoE+ ports on a 62 watt budget with per-port control and Easy Smart management.
Outstanding
Check price
02
Best Unmanaged Eight-Port
TP-Link LS108GP 8-Port PoE Gigabit Switch
Eight PoE+ ports at 65 watts with Extend Mode to 820 feet and PoE auto recovery.
Excellent
Check price
03
Best Value With Uplinks
UGREEN 10-Port PoE Switch (8x PoE+ @60W)
Eight PoE+ ports plus two uplinks, with one-touch VLAN and Extend mode switching.
Excellent
Check price
04
Best Compact Five-Port
NETGEAR GS305P 5-Port PoE Gigabit Switch
Five ports with four PoE+ at 63 watts total, fanless and unmanaged.
Excellent
Check price
05
Best Warranty and QoS
TP-Link TL-SG1005P 5-Port Gigabit PoE Switch
Four PoE+ ports at 65 watts with an uplink, QoS, IGMP snooping and a 3-year warranty.
Excellent
Check price
06
Best Layer 3 Rack Switch
Ubiquiti UniFi USW-Pro-24-PoE Layer 3 Switch
A 24-port Layer 3 managed PoE switch that joins the UniFi controller.
Very Good
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07
Largest Capacity
Ubiquiti UniFi USW-Pro-48-PoE Layer 3 Switch
A 48-port Layer 3 PoE rack switch weighing about 17 pounds.
Very Good
Check price

The number that misleads PoE shoppers is the port count. Eight PoE ports sounds like eight cameras, but the switch has one shared power budget, often only 60 to 65 watts across all ports. Four cameras drawing 12 watts each fit easily, while three pan-tilt cameras or two access points can already eat the budget. Before choosing ports, add up what your devices draw.

We ranked seven PoE switches from a 5-port desktop unit to a 48-port rack switch, covering unmanaged, smart managed and Layer 3 designs. The listings state total power budgets for the small switches but give less detail for the large Ubiquiti models, so we flag where you must check the retailer page for wattage.

Before you buy

What Actually Matters

PoE power budget

A switch has one total wattage shared across all PoE ports, for example 62 or 65 watts. Add up your devices' draw, using the PoE+ limit of 30 watts per port as a ceiling. If your total approaches the budget, choose a larger one.

PoE standards

PoE+ delivers up to 30 watts per port and suits cameras and access points. Some devices need more. Check your device's wattage.

Managed versus unmanaged

Unmanaged switches work out of the box. Smart managed units add port control and VLANs, and Layer 3 adds routing. Choose management if you want to see and control ports.

Extend mode and distance

Ethernet is rated to 328 feet. Extend modes reach about 820 feet by dropping speed to 10 megabits, which suits cameras. Check which ports support it.

Fan and placement

Fanless switches are silent, but rack switches use fans. Place small switches where air can flow. Check weight and mounting for rack models.

In-depth reviews

Our Ranked Picks, Reviewed

Best Overall

NETGEAR GS308EP 8-Port PoE+ Smart Managed Switch

Outstanding

Check price on Amazon

Our verdict: Eight PoE+ ports on a 62 watt budget with per-port control and Easy Smart management.

The GS308EP has eight PoE+ ports sharing 62 watts, Easy Smart management, per-port PoE control and uninterrupted PoE during a reboot. It costs $50 to $100.

It leads because management is what separates a switch you can troubleshoot from one you cannot. Per-port control lets you power-cycle a frozen camera from a browser instead of climbing a ladder, and keeping PoE alive during a reboot stops cameras dropping out when you change settings. The tradeoff is the modest budget: 62 watts shared across eight ports limits what you can power.

Buy it for a home or small office with a handful of low-draw devices. Add up watts first.

Ports: 8x PoE+
Power budget: 62W total
Management: Easy Smart
Feature: Per-port PoE control

What we like

+Per-port PoE control
+PoE continues during reboot
+Easy Smart management
+Eight PoE+ ports

Watch out for

−62 watt shared budget
−Needs a browser setup

Buy it if: Small offices and homes with several low-draw devices.

Skip it if: You need to power many high-draw devices.

Best Unmanaged Eight-Port

TP-Link LS108GP 8-Port PoE Gigabit Switch

Excellent

Check price on Amazon

Our verdict: Eight PoE+ ports at 65 watts with Extend Mode to 820 feet and PoE auto recovery.

The LS108GP has eight PoE+ ports sharing 65 watts, an Extend Mode that reaches up to 820 feet and PoE auto recovery. It costs $50 to $100.

Second place here is explained by the way it is the plug-and-play option: no setup, and Extend Mode pushes a camera farther than the standard 328 foot Ethernet limit at reduced speed. Auto recovery restarts a PoE device that stops responding. It has no per-port control or management, so you cannot see what each port draws.

Buy it for a simple camera or access point setup. Choose the NETGEAR if you want visibility.

Ports: 8x PoE+
Power budget: 65W total
Reach: Extend Mode up to 820 ft
Feature: PoE auto recovery

What we like

+Extend Mode to 820 feet
+PoE auto recovery
+Plug-and-play setup
+Eight PoE+ ports

Watch out for

−No management or port control
−65 watt shared budget

Buy it if: Simple camera setups with long cable runs.

Skip it if: You want to monitor and control each port.

Best Value With Uplinks

UGREEN 10-Port PoE Switch (8x PoE+ @60W)

Excellent

Check price on Amazon

Our verdict: Eight PoE+ ports plus two uplinks, with one-touch VLAN and Extend mode switching.

The UGREEN switch has ten ports, eight of them PoE+ sharing 60 watts, plus two uplinks, with one-touch switching for VLAN and Extend modes and a reach up to 820 feet. It costs $25 to $50.

Third place goes to the price and the second uplink, which lets you connect a router and a NAS or a second switch without sacrificing a PoE port. The one-touch VLAN button isolates ports so cameras cannot reach the rest of the network. The 60 watt budget is the lowest here.

Buy it for a budget camera setup that wants isolation. Check your total wattage.

Ports: 8x PoE+ plus 2 uplinks
Power budget: 60W total
Modes: One-touch VLAN and Extend
Reach: Up to 820 ft

What we like

+Two uplink ports
+One-touch VLAN isolation
+Extend mode to 820 feet
+Low price tier

Watch out for

−Lowest power budget at 60W
−Less established brand

Buy it if: Budget camera setups that need isolation.

Skip it if: You need a larger power budget.

Best Compact Five-Port

NETGEAR GS305P 5-Port PoE Gigabit Switch

Excellent

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Our verdict: Five ports with four PoE+ at 63 watts total, fanless and unmanaged.

The GS305P has five ports, four of them PoE+ sharing 63 watts with dynamic power reallocation, and is fanless and unmanaged. It costs $25 to $50.

The fourth spot follows because it is the quiet, compact choice for a desk or closet. Dynamic power reallocation gives unused watts to ports that need them, which makes a small budget go further. The one non-PoE port is the uplink, so you have only four powered ports.

Buy it for two to four devices, such as a few cameras or an access point. Choose eight ports if you plan to grow.

Ports: 5, four PoE+
Power budget: 63W total
Design: Fanless, unmanaged
Feature: Dynamic power reallocation

What we like

+Fanless and silent
+Dynamic power reallocation
+Compact size
+Low price tier

Watch out for

−Only four PoE ports
−No management

Buy it if: Small setups with two to four PoE devices.

Skip it if: You expect to add more devices.

Best Warranty and QoS

TP-Link TL-SG1005P 5-Port Gigabit PoE Switch

Excellent

Check price on Amazon

Our verdict: Four PoE+ ports at 65 watts with an uplink, QoS, IGMP snooping and a 3-year warranty.

The TL-SG1005P has four PoE+ ports sharing 65 watts plus one uplink, with QoS, IGMP snooping and a 3-year warranty. It costs $25 to $50.

Its fifth position rests on how it is close to the NETGEAR five-port model, with slightly more power and the added traffic features. QoS prioritizes traffic and IGMP snooping keeps multicast video from flooding the network, both useful with cameras. The three-year warranty gives peace of mind.

Buy it for a small camera system that benefits from traffic control. It has no management interface.

Ports: 4x PoE+ plus uplink
Power budget: 65W total
Features: QoS, IGMP snooping
Warranty: 3 years

What we like

+65 watt total budget
+QoS and IGMP snooping
+3-year warranty
+Low price tier

Watch out for

−Only four PoE ports
−No management interface

Buy it if: Small camera systems that benefit from traffic control.

Skip it if: You want eight ports.

Best Layer 3 Rack Switch

Ubiquiti UniFi USW-Pro-24-PoE Layer 3 Switch

Very Good

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Our verdict: A 24-port Layer 3 managed PoE switch that joins the UniFi controller.

The USW-Pro-24-PoE is a 24-port Layer 3 managed switch with PoE and UniFi controller integration, priced at $500 and up. The listing does not state a power budget.

It places sixth for a general ranking because it is far more switch than a home needs, and the missing wattage figure means you must check the maker's page. For a larger office or a UniFi-based network, Layer 3 routing between VLANs and central management are real advantages.

Buy it for a UniFi site with many ports. A small network does not need it.

Ports: 24, PoE-capable
Layer: Layer 3 managed
Management: UniFi controller
Price range: $500 and up

What we like

+Layer 3 routing between VLANs
+UniFi controller integration
+24 ports
+Built for racks

Watch out for

−Costs $500 and up
−Power budget not listed

Buy it if: Larger offices on a UniFi network.

Skip it if: You have a small home network.

Largest Capacity

Ubiquiti UniFi USW-Pro-48-PoE Layer 3 Switch

Very Good

Check price on Amazon

Our verdict: A 48-port Layer 3 PoE rack switch weighing about 17 pounds.

The USW-Pro-48-PoE is a 48-port Layer 3 managed PoE switch with UniFi controller integration, rack mounting and a weight of about 17 pounds. It costs $500 and up.

Rank last is a result of the fact that few buyers need 48 ports, and the listing gives no power budget. It is the right size for a business or school wiring closet that powers dozens of cameras and phones, and it shares the UniFi management of the 24-port model.

Buy it for a large installation. Everyone else should choose a smaller switch.

Ports: 48, PoE
Layer: Layer 3 managed
Mount: Rack, about 17 lb
Management: UniFi controller

What we like

+48 ports for large sites
+Layer 3 managed
+UniFi controller integration
+Rack mounting

Watch out for

−Costs $500 and up
−Overkill for homes

Buy it if: Business and school wiring closets.

Skip it if: You have fewer than 20 devices.

Methodology

How We Ranked These

Power budget

We compared total PoE watts, since the shared budget limits how many devices a switch can really power.

Management features

Per-port control, VLANs, QoS and Layer 3 routing were rated for visibility and control.

Port count and uplinks

Port totals from 5 to 48 and dedicated uplinks were matched to network sizes.

Reach and reliability

Extend Mode, auto recovery and fanless designs were credited for long runs and quiet operation.

Value and warranty

Price tiers from $25 to $500 and up and stated warranties were weighed against features.

Every Primea Score uses the same weights: Performance 30% · Build & Materials 20% · Everyday Usability 20% · Value 20% · Owner Satisfaction 10%. Full scoring rules

Buyer's guide

How to Pick the Right One for You

By Port Count

Count the devices you will power now and add a few spares.

Powered devices	Our pick
2 to 4	NETGEAR GS305P 5-Port
2 to 4, QoS	TP-Link TL-SG1005P
5 to 8	NETGEAR GS308EP 8-Port
5 to 8, simple	TP-Link LS108GP 8-Port
20 or more	Ubiquiti USW-Pro-24-PoE

By Budget

Spend	Our pick
$25 to $50, compact	NETGEAR GS305P 5-Port
$25 to $50, eight ports	UGREEN 10-Port PoE Switch
$50 to $100, managed	NETGEAR GS308EP 8-Port
$50 to $100, simple	TP-Link LS108GP 8-Port
$500 and up	Ubiquiti USW-Pro-24-PoE

Unmanaged vs Managed

Unmanaged

Plug in and go with no settings. The NETGEAR GS305P, TP-Link LS108GP and TL-SG1005P work this way.

Managed

Adds port control, VLANs and monitoring. The NETGEAR GS308EP is smart managed, and the Ubiquiti models are fully managed.

Choose unmanaged for a few cameras, and managed if you want to reboot ports or segment the network.

By Distance

Cable run	Our pick
Standard, under 328 ft	NETGEAR GS308EP 8-Port
Up to 820 ft	TP-Link LS108GP 8-Port
Up to 820 ft, with uplinks	UGREEN 10-Port PoE Switch
Short desk runs	NETGEAR GS305P 5-Port
Rack and closet	Ubiquiti USW-Pro-48-PoE

For Home Security Cameras Specifically

Look for

Enough watts for every camera, port control to reboot one, and VLAN isolation. A fanless switch suits a closet.

In this ranking

The NETGEAR GS308EP is the best camera switch, and the UGREEN adds one-touch VLAN isolation for less.

When to Spend More

Spend more if

You run dozens of devices or a UniFi network. The Ubiquiti switches at $500 and up are built for it.

Save if

You power a few cameras. The $25 to $50 switches are enough.

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my device needs PoE+?+

Check its power draw on the spec sheet. Most cameras use under 15 watts, which standard PoE covers. Access points and pan-tilt cameras may need PoE+.

What is the common mistake with PoE switches?+

Ignoring the total budget. Eight ports do not mean eight full-power devices. Add up the watts.

Is a managed switch worth it over unmanaged?+

If you want to reboot a port remotely or isolate cameras, yes. For a handful of devices, unmanaged is simpler and cheaper.

How do I set one up?+

Connect the uplink to your router and plug devices into PoE ports. Powered devices start automatically. Managed switches need a browser or app for settings.

What does Extend Mode do?+

It lets PoE ports reach about 820 feet by lowering the link speed. That is enough for cameras. Use ordinary cable that meets the spec.

Do PoE switches get hot?+

They warm under load. Fanless models need airflow around them. Do not bury one in a closed cabinet.

Final take

The NETGEAR GS308EP is the best PoE switch for most small networks because it adds per-port control to eight PoE+ ports. The TP-Link LS108GP is the easy unmanaged alternative with long reach, and the NETGEAR GS305P suits tiny setups. Large offices on UniFi should look at the Ubiquiti USW-Pro-24-PoE.

More Ranked & Reviewed Guides

The 8 Best 5-Port Network Switches of 2026, Ranked & Reviewed The 7 Best 8-Port Network Switches for Home and Small Office, Ranked & Reviewed The 7 Best Managed Network Switches for VLANs, Monitoring and Control, Ranked & Reviewed