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Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches vs NETGEAR Switches comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 2, 2025

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

ROI

Sentiment score
5.8
Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches offer substantial ROI with enhanced functionality, security, and value, typically recouped in seven years.
Sentiment score
7.2
NETGEAR Switches offer cost-effective, reliable solutions with labor savings, minimal management, and enhanced efficiency for business growth.
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
6.0
Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches customer service is mixed, with notable improvements and some users experiencing delays or regional accessibility issues.
Sentiment score
6.8
Customers find NETGEAR's support effective and responsive but face challenges with service navigation and understanding new products.
They've integrated it over the last few years, and they don't differentiate with the support as far as the Linksys versus the full-blown Cisco switches.
Systems Engineer at Casa Loma College
They were easily reachable for technical support in our last project.
General Manager at Bilgipark Görüntü ve İletişim San. Tic. A.S.
I rate Cisco's technical support at eight out of ten.
Chief Technology Officer at Mehbub General Trading PLC
There are issues distinguishing which switches support cloud features.
Managing Director at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.0
Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches offer scalability for small and medium setups, praised for adaptability but limited for enterprise needs.
Sentiment score
7.0
NETGEAR Switches offer adaptability and scalability, supporting various network sizes with easy expansion and robust connectivity features.
The scalability of NETGEAR Switches is easy and very beneficial for us.
Assistant Manager ICT at IHS
We used to use a lot of the 4300 switches and they're not completely compatible with the new AV line.
Teamleader Av Installers at solufak
NETGEAR's scalability through its Insight Cloud system is on par with Ubiquiti's, although it must offer features beyond its competitors.
Managing Director at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
8.4
Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches are reliable and stable, trusted by data centers and appreciated for dependable uptime despite rare issues.
Sentiment score
7.8
NETGEAR Switches are praised for their reliability and stability, making them ideal for demanding applications despite minor quirks.
I haven't experienced any problems with latency or other issues.
Head of Infrastructure Sector at Mezzo
The Linksys depends on the environment; if it's an easy-going environment, they're pretty stable, but in more complex network environments, Cisco is definitely a lot more stable.
Systems Engineer at Casa Loma College
We've experienced failures such as a 16-port dying after three to four years.
Managing Director at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees
I rarely see glitches, but we had some minor glitches over the past years, and they were easily resolved.
Teamleader Av Installers at solufak
 

Room For Improvement

Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches struggle with pricing, scalability, user interface, stability, support, and integration, needing improvements overall.
Enhancing security, management, compatibility, and support while refining costs and integration could strengthen NETGEAR's position in enterprise networks.
The reason for improvement is that we have some projects related to the segregation of the LAN and the establishment of a matrix of traffic.
Head of Infrastructure Sector at Mezzo
There should be an improvement in Cisco's response time and overall competence.
General Manager at Bilgipark Görüntü ve İletişim San. Tic. A.S.
Having tools that allow for easier management and configuration would benefit the Cisco switches because the Linksys switches are easier to manage, set up, configure, and get up and running than doing configs on Cisco switches.
Systems Engineer at Casa Loma College
They should introduce features like dual firmware or dual boot that allow systems to be updated without downtime.
Managing Director at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees
Real-time analytics would be helpful regarding the analytics aspect, and this feature is not yet present and would be an improvement regarding analytics.
Teamleader Av Installers at solufak
They can improve on the commercial part, specifically the cost, as it is higher than other brands.
Assistant Manager ICT at IHS
 

Setup Cost

Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches offer competitive subscription pricing but vary in affordability compared to competitors and advanced feature costs.
Enterprise users praise NETGEAR Switches for competitive pricing, excellent performance, low costs, and strong warranties compared to rivals.
Pricing can be high when compared to other solutions in the market.
General Manager at Bilgipark Görüntü ve İletişim San. Tic. A.S.
Some high-end switches required for specific advanced features, like precision time protocols, can be more expensive.
Managing Director at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees
It is an expensive product.
Teamleader Av Installers at solufak
 

Valuable Features

Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches deliver scalable, secure, cost-effective networking with user-friendly setup and high performance, ideal for SMBs and enterprises.
NETGEAR Switches offer affordability, ease, reliability, advanced features, robust performance, and strong support for diverse networking needs.
Cisco is trusted by most broadcast customers for data centers due to their experience and knowledge.
General Manager at Bilgipark Görüntü ve İletişim San. Tic. A.S.
The best feature I use the most is the 2950, which has served my needs excellently.
Head of Infrastructure Sector at Mezzo
Cost savings and ease of use are benefits I've seen from using this, as it's less complex to set up and configure compared to Cisco switching.
Systems Engineer at Casa Loma College
The most valuable features are routing and access control.
Assistant Manager ICT at IHS
The precision time protocol feature caught our interest for future use in specific settings like churches, where low latency is required.
Managing Director at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees
The best things about NETGEAR Switches are the support they provide and the ease of implementation.
Teamleader Av Installers at solufak
 

Categories and Ranking

Cisco Linksys Ethernet Swit...
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
13th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.6
Number of Reviews
77
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
NETGEAR Switches
Ranking in Ethernet Switches
4th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
57
Ranking in other categories
LAN Switching (6th), AV Over IP Switching (2nd)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Ethernet Switches category, the mindshare of Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches is 2.1%, down from 3.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of NETGEAR Switches is 7.7%, down from 9.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Ethernet Switches Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
NETGEAR Switches7.7%
Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches2.1%
Other90.2%
Ethernet Switches
 

Featured Reviews

TD
Systems Engineer at Casa Loma College
Cost savings and efficient configuration enhance network management
Cost is one of the best features compared to larger switches, Cisco switches and things, as Linksys tends to be more cost-effective. They are easier than a full-blown Cisco. I would recommend the Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches for simple LAN environments, while for more complex environments with a lot of VPNs, virtual networking, and connecting with a bunch of routers, or more wide area networks, WANs, I would suggest a solution other than Linksys. As for the Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches, overall, if getting the environment up and running quickly is important, I'd rate it pretty highly. I don't think it handles the more complex configurations as a full-blown Cisco, but for a basic environment, it's quite effective. I rate this solution 8 out of 10.
Tomas Devriese - PeerSpot reviewer
Teamleader Av Installers at solufak
VLAN support has improved audiovisual installations and secures network traffic for our projects
Our major use cases include audiovisual installations and we mainly use the AV line for that. We work with the VLAN support feature The best things about NETGEAR Switches are the support they provide and the ease of implementation. The ease of installation helps with network performance. It helps…
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Manufacturing Company
10%
Computer Software Company
8%
Comms Service Provider
7%
University
7%
Computer Software Company
10%
Manufacturing Company
9%
University
9%
Comms Service Provider
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business42
Midsize Enterprise13
Large Enterprise24
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business43
Midsize Enterprise4
Large Enterprise11
 

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches?
Regarding pricing, I take the cost of Cisco Linksys Ethernet switches into consideration.
What needs improvement with Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches?
I see some areas for improvement, particularly for security. The reason for improvement is that we have some projects related to the segregation of the LAN and the establishment of a matrix of traf...
How do NETGEAR switches compare with Cisco ethernet switches?
NetGear switches have a lot to offer. They have high availability, zero-downtime stacking, L2 and L3 functionality, and are AV-over-IP ready. NetGear switches also have a command line interface and...
Which switches are better - Ubiquiti Unifi or Netgear?
Ubiquiti Unifi offers a great set of features. For starters, it is easy to configure and implement, and also doesn’t require a learning curve because it is easy to use. It is also simple to reconfi...
What do you like most about NETGEAR Switches?
Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten. I have not faced any issues with the product whatsoever.
 

Also Known As

Linksys Ethernet Switches
NETGEAR Insight Managed Switches, NETGEAR GC Series, NETGEAR M Series
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Linz AG
Blaze Networks
Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches vs. NETGEAR Switches and other solutions. Updated: December 2025.
879,711 professionals have used our research since 2012.