Walk into any office supply store or browse a networking aisle online, and you’ll find hubs, switches, and routers sitting near each other — all boxes with Ethernet ports, all seemingly interchangeable. They’re not. Each device handles network traffic in a fundamentally different way, and picking the wrong one can mean anything from a minor performance hit to a network that simply doesn’t work as expected. This guide breaks down how each device operates, why one of these three is now essentially obsolete, and how to decide what you actually need when you run out of wired ports at home.
Table of Contents
How Hubs, Switches, and Routers Differ
The clearest way to understand these three devices is by looking at how each one handles incoming data and which layer of the OSI networking model it operates on.
| Feature | Hub | Switch | Router |
|---|---|---|---|
| OSI layer | Layer 1 (Physical) | Layer 2 (Data Link) | Layer 3 (Network) |
| How it handles traffic | Broadcasts all incoming data to every connected port | Reads MAC addresses and sends data only to the intended device’s port | Reads IP addresses and directs traffic between different networks (e.g., your home network and the internet) |
| Creates a local network? | No — just extends an existing one | No — just extends an existing one | Yes — assigns IP addresses and manages the local network via DHCP |
| Connects to the internet? | No | No (unless it’s a “smart”/managed switch with added features) | Yes — this is its primary function |
| Collision handling | Poor — all devices share one collision domain, causing slowdowns as more devices are added | Excellent — each port is its own collision domain | Excellent — manages traffic between separate networks entirely |
| Security | Minimal — all traffic is visible to every connected device | Better — traffic is only sent to its intended destination | Strongest — includes NAT and firewall functions by default |
| Typical use case | Legacy/obsolete | Expanding wired ports on an existing network | Managing and connecting a network to the internet |
The short version: a router is the only one of the three that actually manages a network and connects it to the internet. A switch and a hub both simply add more wired connection points to a network that already exists — the difference is that a switch is smart about where it sends data, while a hub isn’t.
Why Hubs Are Considered Obsolete Today
Given how similar hubs and switches look on paper, it’s worth understanding specifically why hubs have all but disappeared from modern networking.
Are Ethernet hubs still used today? Rarely. Hubs have been almost entirely phased out of consumer and business networking in favor of switches, which cost about the same today but perform significantly better. You’ll mostly encounter hubs now only in old equipment or very specific legacy industrial setups.
Why is a switch better than a hub for speed? As shown in the comparison above, a hub broadcasts every packet of data to every connected device regardless of which one it’s actually intended for. This means all devices on a hub share the same total bandwidth and the same “collision domain” — as more devices are added, the odds of data collisions (and the resulting retransmissions) increase, slowing the whole network down. A switch avoids this entirely by learning each device’s MAC address and sending data only to the correct port.
Why is a switch better than a hub for security? Because a hub broadcasts all traffic to every port, any device connected to it can technically see data intended for other devices on the network — a meaningful security weakness. A switch’s targeted delivery means devices only receive traffic addressed to them, significantly reducing this exposure.
Is there ever a reason to choose a hub over a switch today? Practically, no. Unmanaged switches are widely available at prices close to what hubs used to cost, offer far better performance and security, and are the standard recommendation for any wired network expansion — which is exactly the scenario covered next.
Do You Need a Switch or a Router to Add More Ethernet Ports?
If you’ve run out of open Ethernet ports on your existing router or modem, the good news is that the fix is usually simple — but it’s worth understanding when a switch is enough versus when you actually need a second router.
- Check whether you’re actually out of network ports, not out of network access. If your goal is simply to plug in more wired devices — a desktop, a smart TV, a game console, a NAS — and your existing router is already handling internet access and Wi-Fi just fine, you don’t need another router. You need more ports.
- An unmanaged switch is the right tool for adding ports. A switch doesn’t create a new network or interfere with your router’s IP addressing and DHCP — it simply extends your existing network’s physical reach, letting you plug more devices into the same network your router already manages.
- Can an Ethernet switch replace a router entirely? No. A switch has no way to connect to your ISP, assign IP addresses on its own, or manage traffic to the internet — it depends entirely on an upstream router to do that job. Without a router in the picture, a switch on its own provides no internet access.
- A second router is only necessary in specific cases. You might genuinely need a second router if you want to create a separate network entirely (a guest network, for instance, isolated from your main devices) or extend Wi-Fi coverage in a large space — but be aware that adding a second device in full router mode can cause double NAT issues unless it’s set to bridge or access point mode.
- For simply expanding wired ports, a switch is cheaper, simpler, and sufficient. It requires no configuration for basic use, doesn’t introduce any of the network conflicts a second router can cause, and typically costs less than a router with comparable port capacity.
For the vast majority of “I’m out of Ethernet ports” situations, an unmanaged switch connected to your existing router is the correct and simplest fix — which is exactly what the next section walks through.
How to Connect an Ethernet Switch to Your Router
Setting up an unmanaged switch is one of the simplest networking tasks there is, since it requires no software configuration in most cases.
- Choose an open LAN port on your router. Your router will have several numbered Ethernet (LAN) ports on the back, separate from the single WAN/Internet port used for your modem connection.
- Connect an Ethernet cable from the router to the switch. Plug one end into any open LAN port on the router, and the other end into any port on the switch — most unmanaged switches don’t have a dedicated “uplink” port, so any port works.
- Power on the switch. Plug the switch into a power outlet; most unmanaged switches power on automatically and require no setup or login.
- Wait for the link lights to confirm the connection. Both the router’s port and the corresponding switch port should show a solid or blinking light indicating an active connection.
- Connect your devices to the switch’s remaining ports. Plug in any wired devices — computers, consoles, smart TVs, printers — using standard Ethernet cables into the switch’s open ports.
- Confirm internet access on a connected device. Each device plugged into the switch should automatically receive an IP address from the router’s DHCP server and have internet access, exactly as if it were plugged directly into the router.
- Add additional switches if needed (optional). If you need even more ports than one switch provides, you can chain a second switch into an open port on the first one, though for most home setups a single 5- or 8-port switch is more than enough.
No login, app, or admin dashboard is required for this setup — unmanaged switches are designed to work immediately once connected, which is part of why they’re the standard recommendation for this kind of expansion, as covered above.
Best Unmanaged Gigabit Switches for Expanding Home Network Ports
If you’ve confirmed a switch is what you need, here are well-regarded, budget-friendly options worth considering for a typical home setup, based on port count, reliability, and value.
- TP-Link TL-SG105 (5-Port Gigabit Switch): A compact, fanless, plug-and-play switch that’s a common recommendation for small expansions — ideal if you only need a few extra ports for a desk setup or entertainment center.
- TP-Link TL-SG108 (8-Port Gigabit Switch): The larger sibling of the SG105, offering more headroom for growing setups like a home office with multiple wired devices or a small home lab, while remaining fully unmanaged and easy to set up.
- Netgear GS305 (5-Port Gigabit Switch): A reliable, similarly priced alternative to the TP-Link SG105, known for a compact metal housing and consistent performance — a solid choice if you prefer Netgear’s build quality or ecosystem.
- Netgear GS308 (8-Port Gigabit Switch): Netgear’s 8-port equivalent to the TP-Link SG108, offering the same plug-and-play simplicity with a slightly different port layout and housing design.
- TP-Link TL-SG1016D (16-Port Gigabit Switch): Worth considering if you’re wiring up a larger space — a home lab, a multi-room media setup, or a small office — where 5 or 8 ports won’t be enough.
When comparing TP-Link and Netgear specifically, the practical difference for basic unmanaged use is minimal — both brands offer similar performance, port speeds, and reliability at comparable prices, so the decision often comes down to preferred build quality, warranty terms, or simply what’s in stock at the time of purchase.
Understanding the real differences between hubs, switches, and routers makes it much easier to solve the two problems people usually run into: needing more wired ports, and needing an actual second network. As covered throughout this guide, a switch handles the first case cleanly and affordably, while a router remains the only device of the three actually built to manage a network and connect it to the internet.
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