Buying Guide
The Best 24-Port Network Switches for a Cleaner, More Useful Desk
We looked at 6 24-port network switches side by side, with the trade-offs that separate them and who each one suits.
By Jamie Cole, Lead Product Researcher
8 min read6 products evaluated
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24 ports is where a switch stops being a desk accessory and starts being real network infrastructure, typically living in a server room, network closet, or rack rather than sitting visibly on a desk.
We compared this cluster across unmanaged, PoE, and smart-managed tiers, since 24-port switches at this scale benefit from at least basic management most buyers should consider even if they'd skip it on a smaller switch.
Quick Picks
Our 6 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Best Unmanaged
NETGEAR GS324 24-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch
Buyers prioritizing 24 gigabit ports, fanless
Our take Check price for NETGEAR GS324 24-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch (opens in a new tab)
Best Rackmount Unmanaged
TP-Link TL-SG1024S 24-Port Gigabit Switch
Buyers prioritizing 24 gigabit ports, 1u rackmount
Our take Check price for TP-Link TL-SG1024S 24-Port Gigabit Switch (opens in a new tab)
Runner-Up Unmanaged
NETGEAR GS524 24-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch
Buyers prioritizing 24 gigabit ports, fanless
Our take Check price for NETGEAR GS524 24-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch (opens in a new tab)
Best PoE+
NETGEAR GS324P 24-Port PoE+ Unmanaged Switch
Buyers prioritizing 24 ports, 16x poe+ @190w total
Our take Check price for NETGEAR GS324P 24-Port PoE+ Unmanaged Switch (opens in a new tab)
Best PoE+ Smart Managed
TP-Link TL-SG1428PE 24-Port PoE+ Easy Smart Switch
Buyers prioritizing 24x poe+ @250w total, 2 sfp slots
Our take Check price for TP-Link TL-SG1428PE 24-Port PoE+ Easy Smart Switch (opens in a new tab)
Best Fanless Aruba Smart
HPE Aruba Instant On 1830 24G 2SFP Fanless Switch
Buyers prioritizing 24 gigabit ports, fanless
Our take Check price for HPE Aruba Instant On 1830 24G 2SFP Fanless Switch (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Best Unmanaged1 of 6
NETGEAR GS324 24-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The GS324 scales NETGEAR's unmanaged design up to 24 Gigabit ports while staying fanless, supporting desktop, wall-mount, or full rack-mount placement, a genuine step up in flexibility from NETGEAR's smaller 5- and 8-port models.
Best for
- Buyers prioritizing 24 gigabit ports, fanless
Why we like it
Like the rest of the GS-series, it's true zero-configuration: no software, no app, no web login. The tradeoff for that simplicity is no VLANs or port monitoring at all, appropriate for a straightforward port-count expansion, not network segmentation.
Key dimensions & specs
- 24 Gigabit ports, fanless
- Desktop, wall, or rack mount
- Auto-negotiating with EEE
Pros
- High port count stays fully fanless
- Rack-mount option adds real deployment flexibility
- Simple zero-touch setup
Cons
- No management, VLANs, or port monitoring
- US/CA regional model only
Best Rackmount Unmanaged2 of 6
TP-Link TL-SG1024S 24-Port Gigabit Switch on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
7 inches to fit a 1U rackmount slot, while its all-metal casing improves heat dissipation and EMI protection over cheaper plastic-cased switches.
Best for
- Buyers prioritizing 24 gigabit ports, 1u rackmount
Why we like it
It remains a fully unmanaged, fanless design despite the port count, so it's whisper-quiet even in an enclosed rack. TP-Link backs it with the same 3-year warranty and free technical support as its smaller SG-series models.
Key dimensions & specs
- 24 Gigabit ports, 1U rackmount
- 11.6 x 7.1 x 1.7in metal case
- Fanless, EMI-shielded
Pros
- True 1U rack fit, not just rack-adjacent
- Fanless even at 24 ports
- Metal casing improves EMI protection
Cons
- No management features at 24-port scale
- Rack ears/kit sold separately on some listings
Runner-Up Unmanaged3 of 6
NETGEAR GS524 24-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The GS524 is NETGEAR's newer 24-port unmanaged model, carrying NETGEAR's Lifetime Warranty and the same fanless, zero-configuration design as the rest of the GS-series, with desktop, wall, or rack-mount flexibility.
Best for
- Buyers prioritizing 24 gigabit ports, fanless
Why we like it
It's a straightforward, no-frills port-count expansion for buyers who've outgrown a smaller switch and want NETGEAR's reliability without any management overhead.
Key dimensions & specs
- 24 Gigabit ports, fanless
- NETGEAR Lifetime Warranty
- Desktop, wall, or rack mount
Pros
- Lifetime warranty on a 24-port unmanaged switch
- Zero configuration required
- Flexible mounting options
Cons
- No management features
- US/CA regional model only
Best PoE+4 of 6
NETGEAR GS324P 24-Port PoE+ Unmanaged Switch on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The GS324P brings PoE to NETGEAR's 24-port unmanaged line, with 16 PoE+ ports and a 190W total budget plus dynamic allocation, striking a balance between port count and PoE-capable ports for mixed camera/AP/workstation deployments.
Best for
- Buyers prioritizing 24 ports, 16x poe+ @190w total
Why we like it
Desktop or rack-mount flexibility and the same fanless energy-efficient design carry over from NETGEAR's non-PoE 24-port models.
Key dimensions & specs
- 24 ports, 16x PoE+ @190W total
- Dynamic PoE allocation
- Desktop or rack mount
Pros
- 190W budget solid for 16 PoE+ ports
- Mix of PoE and non-PoE ports fits real deployments
- Fanless despite PoE power delivery
Cons
- Only 16 of 24 ports support PoE
- No management interface
Best PoE+ Smart Managed5 of 6
TP-Link TL-SG1428PE 24-Port PoE+ Easy Smart Switch on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The TL-SG1428PE packs 24 PoE+ ports into a 28-port switch with a 250W total budget, 2 non-PoE Gigabit ports, and 2 SFP slots, managed through TP-Link's Easy Smart web interface for VLAN segmentation and traffic control.
Best for
- Buyers prioritizing 24x poe+ @250w total, 2 sfp slots
Why we like it
PoE Auto Recovery automatically restarts dropped devices without manual intervention, a genuine time-saver for a 24-camera or AP deployment where checking every port manually isn't practical.
Key dimensions & specs
- 24x PoE+ @250W total, 2 SFP slots
- Easy Smart web management
- PoE Auto Recovery
Pros
- 250W budget covers a large PoE+ fleet
- SFP slots add fiber uplink option
- Auto-recovery reduces manual camera resets
Cons
- Web management setup step vs unmanaged
- Larger physical footprint at 28 total ports
Best Fanless Aruba Smart6 of 6
HPE Aruba Instant On 1830 24G 2SFP Fanless Switch on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Instant On 1830 24-port brings smart-managed Layer 2 switching to a 24-port fanless design with flexible mounting: table-top, wall, or under-table with ports facing either direction depending on install constraints.
Best for
- Buyers prioritizing 24 gigabit ports, fanless
Why we like it
Management runs through the Instant On mobile app or web browser with no recurring cost, using a quick-start wizard that simplifies initial setup for buyers without networking experience.
Key dimensions & specs
- 24 Gigabit ports, fanless
- 2x SFP uplinks
- Flexible table/wall/under-table mounting
Pros
- Fanless at 24 ports for quiet office deployment
- Flexible mounting orientation options
- No-subscription app management
Cons
- No PoE on this model
- Smart-managed only, not full Layer 3
How We Chose These 24-Port Network Switches
Each pick was assessed across 5 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- Port Count & Speed Tier
- Verified the actual port count, Gigabit vs multi-gig speed rating, and whether every port runs at the advertised speed or only some do, since several switches mix full-speed and lower-speed ports.
- Checked the total PoE wattage budget against realistic device counts, not just the per-port maximum, since a switch's total power pool is what actually limits how many cameras or access points it can run.
- Classified each switch as unmanaged, smart/easy-managed, or fully managed Layer 2/3, since this determines what troubleshooting and segmentation options are available after installation, not just at setup.
- Weighed fanless vs active cooling, metal vs plastic housing, and desktop/wall/rack mounting options against the switch's likely install environment.
- Favored listings that clearly state cabling requirements, host port requirements, and speed caveats over ones that only advertise the theoretical maximum.
What to Look for in a 24-Port Network Switch
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Port count is a headroom decision, not a current-need one
Buy for what you'll plug in over the next 2-3 years, not just today. An 8-port switch that's already full the day it arrives means buying a second switch and daisy-chaining, which adds a hop of latency and another point of failure.
PoE budget is a shared pool, not per-port
A switch rated for 8 PoE+ ports at 120W total does not mean every port gets 30W simultaneously. Add up the real draw of every camera, AP, and phone you'll connect, and make sure the total budget clears it with room to spare.
Managed vs unmanaged changes what you can diagnose later
An unmanaged switch is zero-configuration but gives you no visibility when something goes wrong. A smart-managed switch adds VLANs, port mirroring, and traffic monitoring for a modest price increase, worth it the first time you need to isolate a misbehaving device.
Fanless does not always mean silent under load
Most desktop switches are fanless and silent, but high-port-count PoE switches sometimes add active cooling once the power budget climbs past 200-300W. Check for a fan explicitly if a quiet office or bedroom install matters.
Multi-gig speed needs matching cable and network gear
5G or 10G switch only delivers those speeds if your cabling is Cat5e or better (Cat6a for 10G) and the devices on both ends actually support that speed. Mixing a multi-gig switch into an all-Gigabit network gets you nothing extra.
Renewed enterprise gear needs a licensing check first
Cisco Meraki, Juniper, and some Aruba/HPE switches on Amazon are frequently sold as renewed hardware without an active license or support contract. Confirm what functions before assuming a discounted enterprise switch works like a new one out of the box.
How to Choose a 24-Port Network Switch
Consider Management at This Scale
At 24 ports, even basic smart management (VLAN, port mirroring) meaningfully improves your ability to diagnose issues across a larger device count. Unmanaged is still viable for pure port expansion, but the case for at least Easy Smart management gets stronger as port count grows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do 24-port switches need a rack?
Not necessarily, several models in this list support desktop placement, but a rack keeps cabling organized and airflow consistent once you're running 24 cables, worth considering even for a small wall-mounted rack in a closet.
Bottom Line
Best overall: NETGEAR GS324 24-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch — best unmanaged pick in this roundup. See the full verdicts above for every pick, with pros, cons and who each one suits.
Browse all 24-port network switches on Amazon — Prime-eligible options with current pricing.