Managed Switches

Managed Network Switch Buying Guide for 2025

The role of the network switch in network infrastructure is key to ensuring uninterrupted performance and reliable connectivity in this age of a digital-first business environment. Ethernet switches, however, come in various sizes and types, such as network managed switches, network unmanaged switches, smart network switches, PoE switches, layer 2 switches, layer 3 switches, and the like.

Out of all these switch types, managed Ethernet switches are preferred because of their advanced configuration and management capabilities. But not every managed switch meets your needs; you need to know some factors to make sure these managed switches satisfy your peculiar network, budget, and preference requirements. Furthermore, understanding the differences between managed and unmanaged switches is also critical. 

Therefore, we have come up with this comprehensive buying guide to help you know how to buy the best managed switch in the USA for your needs. We are going to touch upon every aspect of managed Ethernet switches so that you can make a well-informed decision. 

Ready to dig in? Let’s get the ball rolling!

What is a Managed Network Switch? 

Managed switches are the most advanced switches that feature cutting-edge capabilities of remote monitoring, configuration, and management of an advanced network. They are fully configurable and customizable, allowing network administrators greater control over data flow and transmission. Therefore, managed switches are recommended for larger networks and networks supporting critical activities.

Managed Switch vs Unmanaged Switch:

Unmanaged switches are designed to offer plug-and-play configuration; they offer little or no customization or configuration capabilities. They are therefore recommended for small networks with basic needs. 

Here is a table showing the differences between managed and unmanaged switches. 

 

Managed Switch Vs Smart Switches:

Smart switches combine the affordability and features required. They are more affordable than managed switches; however, they provide better security and performance management capabilities than unmanaged switches. 

Smart managed switches can provide basic management capabilities through a web-based GUI, allowing network administrators to configure and manage the networks. Furthermore, they also offer basic QoS capabilities, limited SNMP support, and some port security. 

However, they cannot provide the customization and feature sets of managed network switches. Smart switches are recommended for small-to-medium enterprise networks.

Layer 2 Managed Switch vs Layer 3 Managed Switch:

Simply speaking, layer 2 and layer 3 differ mainly in the OSI layers at which these network switches operate. 

 

Top Brands Offering Feature-Packed Managed Switches in the USA: 

Here are the top brands known for cutting-edge managed Ethernet switches. 

1. Ubiquiti Network Managed Switches: Best for budget-conscious business networking

2. Netgear Managed Switches: Best for simple, plug-and-play networking

3. TP-Link Managed Switches: Best for budget-friendly networking infrastructure

4. TRENDnet Managed Switches: Best for an extensive range of managed switches 

Let’s discuss the salient features of managed network switches offered by these brands. 

1. Netgear Managed Switches USA: 

Netgear switching solutions are highly-regarded for their cost-effectiveness and simple installation and operations. Netgear offers a comprehensive range of managed switches in the USA. For instance, some Netgear switches are plug-and-play, others come with advanced features PoE capabilities to power security cameras, access points, and VoIP phones without extra adapters.

There are four Netgear managed switch series: 

• M4250 - 1G AV over IP

• M4300 - 10G IT and AV over IP, stacking

• M4350 - 1G to 25G IT and AV over IP

• M4500 - 100G AV over IP

In terms of speed, you can find Netgear managed switches with 1 G, Multi-Gigabit (2.5G/5G, and up to 10G. For instance, 

• 24x1G PoE+ (648W base, up to 720W) and, 4xSFP+ Managed Switch support 1 G speed.

• 8x2.5G PoE++ (119W base, up to 551W), and 2x25G SFP28 Managed Switch can deliver up to 2.5G speed.

• 40x10G SFP+ and 4x100G QSFP28 Managed Switch is an enterprise-grade, fully-managed switch offering up to 10G speed. 

In terms of number of ports, Netgear managed switches USA versions are wide-ranging, supporting as low as 8 ports and as many as 48 ports. For instance: 

• 8 x 10G/Multi-Gig and 8xSFP+ (XSM4316) Managed Switch is one of the most popular 8-port managed switches, whereas 48x1G PoE+ (236W base, up to 1,440W), and 4xSFP+ Managed Switch is an enterprise-scale 48-port managed switch for SME businesses.

PoE budget is the specialty of Netgear switches. You can find PoE+ managed switches as well as Ultra 90 PoE++ managed switches with up to 90W PoE output per port. Similarly, the PoE budget is also wide-ranging, featuring as low as a 91- 136W budget to as high as an incredible 1500W budget. 

For instance:

• 48x1G PoE+ (236W base, up to 1,440W), and 4xSFP+ Managed Switch is one top-recommended PoE+ managed switch whereas, 8 x 1G Ultra90 PoE++ 802.3bt 720W 2x1G, and 2 x SFP+ Managed Switch is high-end PoE++ Netgear managed switch that you can look into.

• 44 x 2.5G, 4x10G/Multi-gig PoE++ (194W base, up to 3,314W) is a high-end industrial-scale PoE++ managed switch that can provide up to 3,314W, enough to power most of the networking devices for medium to large enterprise networks.

2. TRENDnet Managed Switches USA: 

Trendnet managed switches' US versions are wide-ranging, differing widely in terms of management, primary speed, port configuration, SFP, fans, mounting options, and cloud-compatibility. 

• Trendnet offers two types of switches when it comes to management: L2/Web smart managed switches and L2+/web smart managed switches. L2 switches provide core LAN segmentation and traffic management, whereas L2+ switches are capable of adding static routing support and higher performance for more complex networks with greater traffic demands. For instance, TL2-F7080 8-Port 10G Layer 2 Managed SFP+ Switch is a L2/web smart switch, whereas TEG-284WS 28-Port Gigabit Web Smart Switch is an L2+/web smart switch.

• In terms of the total number of ports and primary speed, Trendnet managed switches are also wide-ranging. You can find managed Trendnet switches as simple as TL2-F7080 8-Port 10G Layer 2 Managed SFP+ Switch; alternatively, you can choose enterprise-grade TEG-3524S 52-Port Gigabit Web Smart Switch with 10G SFP+ ports.

• Similarly, speed can also vary. You can find a Trendnet managed switch with gigabit speed, such as the TEG-082WS 10-Port Gigabit Web Smart Switch. Alternatively, you can also choose a switch with industrial-grade 10G speed, such as TL2-G244 24-Port Gigabit Managed Layer 2 Switch.

3. Ubiquiti Managed Switches USA:

Ubiquiti is known for offering cost-effective and cloud-managed switches that can be integrated with the UniFi ecosystem easily. Their strength lies in the fact that they can deliver top-notch performance without the additional price tag that is associated with other brands. Therefore, Ubiquiti Ethernet managed switches are recommended for small to medium network infrastructures. 

Ubiquiti offers the following network switch families to cater to the needs of different users. 

• Enterprise Ubiquiti Switches: 

Enterprise switches are for high availability. Enterprise network switches can support speeds up to 100 Gbps and can offer high-capacity PoE+++ power output. They are suitable for large-scale, mission-critical professional environments needing maximum performance and reliability. 

For instance, Enterprise Campus Aggregation (High-density 100G QSFP28 / 25G SFP28 aggregation switch) and Enterprise Campus 48 PoE (High-capacity 10 GbE ports with PoE+++ output) are notable examples in this category.

• Professional Ubiquiti Switches: 

These are high-performing Ubiquiti switches featuring 25G SFP28, 10GbE & 2.5GbE, and PoE+++. They are suitable for robust, high-capacity enterprise or prosumer environments, allowing users to balance high throughput and PoE capabilities for demanding network setups. For instance, some notable Ubiquiti managed switches in this family are as follows: 

• Pro XG Aggregation (Etherlighting™ switch with high-capacity 25G SFP28 connections) 

• Pro XG 48 PoE (48-port L3 switch with 2.5GbE and PoE++ output)

• Pro XG 24 PoE (24-port L3 switch with 2.5GbE and PoE++)

That’s why

• Value Series:

These switches are cost-effective and affordable Gigabit Ethernet switches designed for mid-size businesses. They are recommended for SMBs or smaller office setups that require managed switching but with moderate traffic and power demands.

Examples of Ubiquiti managed switches in the Value Series are listed here. 

• USW-Aggregation (Designed for 10G SFP+ connections)

• Standard 48 PoE (USW-48-POE) - 48-port (32 PoE+) L2 PoE switch with fanless cooling

• Standard 24 PoE (USW-24-POE) 24-port (16 PoE+) L2 PoE switch with fanless cooling

4. TP-Link Managed Switches USA:

TP-Link Switches are suitable for those users who need basic network infrastructure without draining their budget. They don’t require setup, can reduce power consumption, and allow users to keep a network of small businesses organized. 

TP-LINK’s JetStream Series Managed Switches can help you build a future-proof network with high accessibility, great scalability, rich management features, and security functions. You can use TP-Link managed switches for high-end uses as well, for instance, enterprises, ISPs, and campus networks. 

• JetStream 52-Port Gigabit Stackable L3 Managed Switch

• JetStream 28-Port Gigabit Stackable L3 Managed Switch

• JetStream 24-Port Gigabit L2+ Managed Switch with 4 10GE SFP+ Slots and UPS Power Supply

5. QNAP Managed Switches USA:

QNAP is known for offering cost-effective and reliable network managed switches featuring Layer 2 and Layer 2+ capabilities and versatile connectivity options such as 1GbE, 2.5GbE, 10GbE, 25GbE access ports, PoE support, and high-speed uplinks (10G SFP+, 25G, and 100G). 

QNAP Guardian series offers multiple PoE managed switches, allowing users to meet their needs easily. For instance: 

• QNAP QSW-M3216R-8S8T-US Half Rackmount 16-Port 10GbE Layer 2 Web Managed Switch - 8 Ports - Manageable - 10 Gigabit Ethernet - 10GBase-T, 10GBase-X - 2 Layer Supported

• Qnap QSW-M5216-1T-US Managed Ultra-high-speed 25GbE Fiber Managed Switch

• QNAP QSW-M2108-2C 10-Port Managed Switch w/ 10GbE SFP+ Combo Ports

• QNAP QSW-M2108R-2C-US Managed Switch

• QNAP QSW-M408S 6-port layer 2 managed switch. 6 x 2.5GbE (1G/100M) ports and 4 x 10G SFP+/ NBASE-T (10G/5G/2.5G/1G/100M) combo ports. Easy management with a web browser

Final Thoughts: 

Managed switches are the most advanced network switches, featuring traffic management, VLAN support for network segmentation, enhanced security features, remote monitoring and control, scalability and future-proofing, comprehensive monitoring via GUI and CLI, and energy sustainability. The right managed Ethernet switch can help you accrue multiple benefits, such as improved network performance, enhanced network security, and traffic prioritization. 

However, you need to choose these switches carefully as they are expensive than smart managed and unmanaged network switches. In this article, we have discussed some top switch brands in the USA. We do hope that you can now make a well-informed decision regarding the best managed switch in the USA that can meet the budget, performance, security, and preference needs of your network. 

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