Cisco vs. Netgear Switches- Which is the better option?
In your quest of finding a Wi-Fi router for your home or office, Cisco and Netgear Switches are bound to pop up as they are two of the most popular and well-rated router manufacturer. This begs the question, which one reigns supreme?
Before settling on any one product or system for your connection needs, there are many elements you need to consider. While a budget might be limiting, you should not settle for poor quality. Whether you want a networking device for your home or office, poor connection can quite frustrating.
For Cisco and Netgear Switches, they are two quality options for your connectivity issues. They also rank highly on performance tests. To help you pick between the two, this guide is an overview of both highlighting their subtle differences as well as their features that stand out.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between Cisco and Netgear Switches?
Model |
Cisco (Winner) |
Netgear Switches |
Production |
Varied designs in models and series |
Categorized by design |
Affordability |
High end prices |
Variation of prices |
Performance |
U.S. distributor |
U.S. distributor |
Reliability |
Stable and reliable performance for enterprise use |
Steady performance mainly for home use |
Cisco vs. Netgear Switches – A look at how they differ
Production
Cisco has been in the networking industry since December 1984. From its inception, it has grown to the reputable company today with many products under its belt. Some of these include routers, switches and wired access points. They are designed for optimal performance.
For Netgear Switches they are developed in either an unmanaged model or one that is smart managed plus. For unmanaged Netgear Switch it offers a secure and reliable network without the need of special management software or configurations to have it up and running. Smart Managed Plus Netgear Switches, on the flipside, are produced to be an upgrade to unmanaged ones. They come with the basic options to configure, monitor and secure your network to your own preferences.
Performance
Cisco and Netgear Switches do not disappoint in their performance. They are mostly built for small to medium sized enterprises. Some of the features that make this possible for Netgear include the Netgear Insight app and Smart Cloud portal.
Cisco routers, on the flipside do come in sizes for all sorts of needs with most being best suited for complex and intense environments. One unique feature that cuts across board is the security features that offer ample security against cyber threats. The embedded security is able to decipher cyber threats within a few hours compared to other routers. This, couple with other specs ensures you get a good performance with this product.
Cisco Overview
Starting out in December 1984, as a mid-sized company, Cisco has grown in its reach and performance.
Nowadays, Cisco routers are mainly used by corporates like in offices or people with really large household. This is because they are built to handle environments that are usually resource intensive with their demands on the router.
Cisco routers are able to handle more than 500 users on its network both remotely and on-campus as well. This makes them ideal for commercial use. Depending on the kind of router you settle for, it might be overkill if you have a small household and you do not have many needs.
They also stand out for a number of reasons. First, the set up process is easy even with the IOS derivatives it comes with. Secondly, they are highly compatible with many systems including all routing standards and Cisco switches. The only downer with these routers is that they are quite technical and the documentation is not entirely simple. If you come across an issue, it can be quite overwhelming to troubleshoot. There is a need to be quite Cisco-savvy for smooth sailing with these routers.
Cisco RV042G
- Cisco RV042G-K9-NA Dual Gigabit WAN VPN Router (RV042G-K9-NA)
- Cisco RV042G-K9-NA
Cisco RV042G is a quality router that is a good fit for small businesses as well as home use. For instance, it is a good fit for a law firm that has anywhere between 20 and 100 users. It also works well in households too. Secondly, it comes with a fully functional VPN that can be tweaked to suit small enterprises. Regular firmware updates ensure the router runs perfectly all through.
In terms of its design, it is a single-band router that can deliver up to 300Mbps on its 2.4GHz band. As for its wireless compatibility, it works with 802.11a/b/g/n network standards. Coupled with the high-performance internal antennas, you can be assured of wide enough coverage in your entire area with minimal lags and buffering. For fast wired connections, Cisco RV042G comes with four Gigabit Ethernet ports with which you can connect wide devices for data transfer. In fact, the Ethernet ports fitted on this router are up to ten times faster than ordinary ports.
Other tech-specs include Quality of Service, Network Address Translation (NAT) and SPI firewall. This Cisco router therefore has security, coverage and blazing fast speeds covered. It is also compact-sized to be a good blend for right about any room you place it in.
Cisco E4200
- Transfer rates up to 300 + 450 Mbps speed for a premium home network experience
- Full 3x3 MIMO antenna array boosts signal strength to provide exceptional coverage and reliability
Cisco E4200 is a dual-band router in the Cisco line. It delivers on fast combined speeds of up to 750Mbps. The first band (2.4GHz) can speed up to 300 Mbps and the second band (5GHz) adds with fast speeds of up to 450Mbps. When working together, you can be assured that this Cisco E4200 can handle all tasks ranging from online gaming, web surfing and HD video streaming. It is able to do this with ease as the network bandwidth is able to handle the requirements.
As for its hardware features, Cisco E4200 comes with an in-built USB port for fast data transfer speeds between connected devices and an external storage device. It also has
It also has impressive software specs like the Cisco Connect that allows for easy installation and monitoring of your network. WAP/WPA2 encryption and Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) firewall also adds to the security features you get with Cisco E4200 assuring your network is protected from cyber- attacks. Like Cisco RV042G, this router also allows for Virtual Private Network (VPN) further adding to the protection you get with this router.
Cisco Valet
- Create a wireless hotspot in your home and connect your laptops, desktops, game consoles, and mobile...
- Connect your wired devices to your Valet Plus for faster file transfers and streaming entertainment and...
Yet another quality router in the Cisco brand is the Cisco Valet which is a rather simple router that has formidable features to match. While it has lower speeds than Cisco E4200 (300Mbps) you can still be assured that this router can deliver on all you need like 4K video streaming and online gaming.
Beyond fast wireless speeds, Cisco Valet is fitted with four Gigabit Ethernet ports and one Gigabit Wide Area Network (WAN) port for fast wired connections. These ports allow you to directly connect wired devices to the router so that you get fast data transfer speeds as well.
Cisco Valet also comes with the quality software specs like Cisco Connect which helps in making the set-up process pain-free and simple. Through Cisco Connect, you can manage this router and create a guest network as well. To add, you can monitor the working of your router like checking on the upload and download speeds you are running on at all times. Sold at a reasonable price, you can use the Cisco Valet to boost your home network.
Netgear Switches – Overview
Netgear is well-known and reputable manufacturer that mainly deals with networking products ranging from those that are home-use (consumer level) to those that are great fits for enterprises (commercial use). Some of its most popular products include the Nighthawk router series, wireless VPN firewalls, adapters, NAS devices, and switches.
Netgear Switches like Netgear Pro Safe GS108 range from those that are for home use to those that are better suited for small businesses. No matter which one you settle for, Netgear Switches come with impressive features that cut across board. First, they do come in sleek, modern devices with the Netgear logo and name imprinted on it. The GS108, for example, has a stylish blue matte finish that keeps of the fingerprint marks. Most Netgear Switches are also compact-sized for easy use and placing around your home or office space.
Beyond their looks, Netgear Switches deliver on their performance. Whether you have it wall mounted or you place it somewhere on a horizontal surface, Netgear Switches ensure that you get stable connection throughout. Some versions come with an LED light to let you know on the status of your network at all times.
Here is a look at some of the Netgear Switches that have a lot going on for them.
Netgear Pro Safe
- 5 Gigabit Ethernet ports
- Simple plug-and-play setup with no software to install or configuration needed
The Netgear Pro Safe is one of the most prominent Netgear Switches. It does come with a nice list of features like its network that is 10 Gigabit for up to eight devices. Secondly, it comes with Netgear Plus Utility that comes in handy to give you options to configure the switch to suit your preferences. It also has Link Aggregation which is useful.
Netgear Pro Safe also comes with a lifetime warranty provided you purchased the switch from a credible and authorized seller. To add, this Netgear Switch is quite reasonably priced compared to similar products with the same features.
To check on the performance you are getting with this switch, you can use the IxChariot software. It is useful tool for assessment as well as troubleshooting in case you run into mishaps. For example, applications such as VoIP might prove challenging given that they are rather new in the market.
The only downer of Netgear Pro Safe Switch is that older versions do not come with a web interface for easy monitoring of your system.
Netgear 24p Gigabit POE with Smart Managed Pro
- 24 Gigabit Ethernet ports
- 24 PoE+ ports with 190W total power budget
With 24 Gigabit ports, this is another Netgear Switch that offers a great performance. It has up to 256 VLAN and a POE budget of 190W. Together, this ensures you get stable and secure connections. As for its structure, Netgear 24p has the dimensions of 17.32 x 8.03 x 1.7 inches and it weighs 3.72lbs. This means that it is not unnecessarily heavy to place it around your home or office space.
In case of any issues, the Netgear Community is a gem. It has a private bug bounty program that helps Netgear find and fix any security loopholes that might be in your Netgear Switch.
Netgear GS308 Unmanaged Switch
- 8 Gigabit Ethernet ports
- Simple plug-and-play setup with no software to install or configuration needed
The Netgear 8-port Gigabit Ethernet switch is a sturdy, noiseless and quality networking product. Wherever you place it, you are assured of minimal noise interruption while it powers on to give you stable connection. It works well in places that are noise sensitive like the workplace.
To add, this Netgear Switch is easy to use as all you need is to plug it in and play. The set-up process is pain-free as you do not need any configurations or software to have it up and running. You can also either mount it wherever you want.
With good customer ratings, this switch is bound to meet your needs and expectations. It also comes with an industry leading 3 year limited warranty on its hardware. This adds to the peace of mind you get using this switch.
Now let’s compare these two Cisco and Netgear Switches brand models.
Model |
Cisco Valet |
Netgear Pro Safe |
Chipset |
BCM4716 |
BCM53128 |
Ports |
4 Ethernet, 1 WAN port |
10 Gigabit Ethernet |
Dimensions |
8 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches |
9.4 x 6 x 2.4 inches |
Speeds |
300Mbps |
300Mbps+ |
Accessories |
Cisco Connect |
Auto switching |
Price |
Conclusion
Both these router companies have been in the market for quite a while. They have their own pros and cons as highlighted in this article. For Cisco, it makes an excellent choice for an organization that has many needs. For instance, they can host a company’s database without the need of paying hosting fees or cloud vendors. They also ensure maximum performance with good functionality, reliable speeds and security features. Netgear Switches, on the flipside, are mostly designed for enterprise set-ups. The offer stable, secure networking infrastructure for the entire area you place it in.
When it comes down to it, Cisco is the better company as it offers a wide array of routers to meet all kinds of client expectations.
