Best Managed Switches for Homelab
Quick Recommendation
Most self-hosters don’t need a managed switch. A basic unmanaged gigabit switch ($15-25) works fine if all your devices are on one network and you don’t need VLANs.
If you want VLANs (to isolate IoT devices, servers, and personal devices): get a TP-Link TL-SG108E ($30) for basic VLAN tagging, or a Ubiquiti USW-Lite-8-PoE ($110) if you also need PoE for access points and cameras.
Do You Need a Managed Switch?
You DON’T Need One If:
- All your devices are on one flat network
- You’re running Tailscale or Cloudflare Tunnel (no local network complexity)
- You have fewer than 10 wired devices
- Your router handles DHCP and DNS adequately
A $15 unmanaged 8-port gigabit switch handles this perfectly.
You DO Need One If:
- You want VLANs to segment your network (server VLAN, IoT VLAN, guest VLAN)
- You need PoE to power access points, cameras, or Pi boards
- You want to monitor per-port traffic
- You need link aggregation (LACP) between your server and switch
- You’re running OPNsense or pfSense and need tagged VLANs to reach the router
Top Picks
1. TP-Link TL-SG108E — Best Budget Managed Switch
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ports | 8x Gigabit |
| Management | Web UI (smart switch, not full L2) |
| VLAN | 802.1Q VLAN tagging |
| PoE | No |
| Power | 3.5W |
| Price | ~$30 |
Supports VLANs, QoS, port mirroring, and IGMP snooping. Not a full L2 managed switch, but has every feature a homelab needs. Powered by a small external adapter.
2. Ubiquiti USW-Lite-8-PoE — Best PoE Switch
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ports | 8x Gigabit (4x PoE+) |
| PoE budget | 52W |
| Management | UniFi Controller (web/cloud) |
| VLAN | Full 802.1Q |
| Power | 8W + PoE load |
| Price | ~$110 |
4 PoE+ ports power access points and cameras without separate adapters. Managed via UniFi Controller (free software, or runs on your server as a Docker container). Best for UniFi ecosystem users.
3. TP-Link TL-SG2008P — Best Budget PoE
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ports | 8x Gigabit (4x PoE+) |
| PoE budget | 62W |
| Management | Web UI (full L2+) |
| VLAN | Full 802.1Q |
| Price | ~$70 |
Full L2+ management with VLAN, ACLs, LACP, and PoE — at a lower price than Ubiquiti. No ecosystem lock-in.
4. MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN — Best 10GbE
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ports | 4x 10G SFP+, 1x 1GbE |
| Management | RouterOS / SwOS |
| VLAN | Full support |
| Price | ~$130 |
For 10GbE connections between your server and NAS. Uses SFP+ modules or DAC cables. MikroTik’s interface has a learning curve but is extremely powerful.
Honorable Mention: Netgear GS308E (~$30)
Same concept as the TP-Link TL-SG108E — 8 ports, basic VLAN support, web management. Good alternative if you prefer Netgear.
VLAN Setup for Self-Hosting
A typical VLAN layout with a managed switch and OPNsense router:
| VLAN ID | Name | Subnet | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Default | 192.168.1.0/24 | Management, personal devices |
| 10 | Servers | 192.168.10.0/24 | Mini PC, NAS, Docker host |
| 20 | IoT | 192.168.20.0/24 | Smart home devices, cameras |
| 30 | Guest | 192.168.30.0/24 | Guest WiFi |
Firewall rules (on OPNsense):
- VLAN 1 → can access all VLANs
- VLAN 10 → can access internet, can accept connections from VLAN 1
- VLAN 20 → can access internet only (blocked from VLANs 1 and 10)
- VLAN 30 → internet only, rate-limited
This setup means a compromised IoT device can’t reach your server or personal devices.
Power Consumption
| Switch | Power |
|---|---|
| Unmanaged 8-port | 3-5W |
| TP-Link TL-SG108E | 3.5W |
| Ubiquiti USW-Lite-8-PoE (no PoE load) | 8W |
| Ubiquiti USW-Lite-8-PoE (with 2 APs) | 20-25W |
| MikroTik CRS305 10GbE | 5W |
Add the switch’s power draw to your power consumption calculations.
FAQ
Can I use VLANs with an unmanaged switch?
No. VLANs require 802.1Q VLAN tagging, which only managed switches support. An unmanaged switch treats all traffic the same — no isolation.
Do I need PoE?
Only if you have PoE devices: WiFi access points, IP cameras, or Raspberry Pis with PoE HATs. If all your devices have their own power adapters, skip PoE and save $40-80.
1GbE or 2.5GbE?
1GbE is fine for most self-hosting. 2.5GbE matters if you regularly transfer large files between your PC, server, and NAS. 2.5GbE managed switches are still expensive (~$100-150 for 8 ports). Unless you have specific bandwidth needs, stick with 1GbE.
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