Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] vs NETGEAR Switches comparison

Dell Technologies and Netgear are both solutions in the LAN Switching category. Additionally, 90% of Dell Technologies users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 88% of Netgear users who would recommend it.

Dell PowerConnect Switches ...

Read 34 Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] reviews

90% willing to recommend

NETGEAR Switches

Read 57 NETGEAR Switches reviews

9,706 Views
971 Comparison Views

88% willing to recommend

Dell PowerConnect Switches ...

NETGEAR Switches

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] and NETGEAR Switches based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Netgear and others in LAN Switching.

To learn more, read our detailed LAN Switching Report (Updated: May 2026).

Buyer's Guide

LAN Switching

May 2026

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Helped 902,270 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

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

Categories and Ranking

Dell PowerConnect Switches ...

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

8.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

NETGEAR Switches

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

LAN Switching (6th), Ethernet Switches (5th), AV Over IP Switching (2nd)

Featured Reviews

LarsEvans

Chief Technology Officer / Chief Information Security Officer at Lorton Data, Inc.

Reliable and useful for network segmentation

The solution's most valuable feature stands up well. The tool is reliable, and it stands up well. The solution works fine and lasts a long time. I think if you speak about the features that have a flow and you can measure, it is hard to say. I don't spend a lot of my time with the tool, but I know that Dell APEX is the solution's cloud. I would say the VLAN features are important. The VLAN features are really useful because network segmentation is important. I would say the tool is easy to program. I don't know if the tool has any security features that I am aware of other than the fact that the solution is for networking. The VLAN and the ability to segment your networks are easy, which is its security feature.

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Tomas Devriese

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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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"Their support has been excellent, and it has been quite stable and easy to set up."

"The most valuable feature of this solution is simplicity."

"Dell PowerConnect Switches are very easy to configure with the GUI. Dell supports the solution even though it has been discontinued."

"This is a very good product, and it can be used lightly, but you have to understand how it works before implementing it."

"The technology is good and the interface is simple. We haven't had any bugs, disconnections or delays."

"Dell PowerConnect Switches have a VTL feature similar to Cisco's VSS. With VTL, using this technology, you can cluster two switches together to increase redundancy in the environment."

"This solution comes with a lifetime warranty."

"The most valuable feature of Dell PowerConnect Switches for me is the throughput. I also like that the product has more compatibility with Dell infrastructure, especially with EMC and new generation Dell servers. Dell PowerConnect Switches can also easily integrate with Dell servers, and this is another pro."

More Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] pros

"I'm satisfied with the stability of NETGEAR Switches."

"The cloud management has just been huge for us. We have 80 clients and they all have switches... With the cloud-managed Insight ones... we know more information without having to do complicated SNMP traps. We get nice emails, we get a web interface, and we're not having to wait for our RMM tools to get SNMP traffic to notify us. We don't have to do complicated configurations."

"We have a wide range of switches for various applications, including a collection specifically designed for ProAV, as well as Multi-gig Switches, which are also quite well-known or unique."

"It is easy to implement and work with; it is easy to run, and it is a nice system to work with."

"One of the biggest benefits of the remote management is that it's easy to use and you can use it from a mobile device or tablet with the app they've developed... If one of my engineers is out in the field at a client and an alert comes in from another client, that engineer can take that alert and look at it in real-time."

"It has saved us a lot of time and money and it allows our customers to be more efficient and save money too."

"The solution is stable."

"This switch is Layer 3, so it is a totally managed system."

More NETGEAR Switches pros

Cons

"I do not like this solution. It runs ok but we have had problems."

"Scalability, especially with the power connect series is something that you have to take into account before starting the project because any changes to an ongoing project can be difficult."

"The pricing could always be a bit lower."

"The IOS software that is used on the switches could be improved."

"What's lacking in Dell PowerConnect Switches is SD-WAN integration, and this is what needs to be improved in it. All enterprises now move towards SD-WAN infrastructure, and because Dell PowerConnect Switches don't currently support SD-WAN, the product would be replaced, considered a secondary switch, or linked up to a different switch. Integration or support for SD-WAN is what I'd like to see in the next version of Dell PowerConnect Switches."

"Their hardware is not reliable, it's faulty."

"More stable firmware releases would be an improvement because we have had them randomly power on and off."

"If I were to rate the support for Dell PowerConnect Switches, I'd give a rating of two out of five."

More Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] cons

"The tool needs to improve its network management. The tool can be also more simplified."

"Traffic management capability should have been a plus."

"There is a lack of documentation, and the documentation I have is unclear, so I have to rely on Google for information."

"A slightly more featureful CLI interface would be great."

"When the power does go out, or if we do a soft shutdown, some of the transceivers or the monitor don't recognize when it turns back on, so I have to physically unplug it and plug it back in and then it works. We're working with NETGEAR's engineers to figure out why that's happening."

"Even though I'm using it, I'd throw it down at a three out ten, because it is really bad that the status lights can't be seen from the front."

"It is an expensive product."

"I would like an email notification in case of errors or failures. If it was possible for the switch to email out an error log or notification note, especially in cases where we have the switches offsite (on the other side of town), then if something was to go wrong, it would be great to know about it before our client goes to use it for a big event, and it doesn't work. While I know that it does do SNMP, which is sort of standard, in the AV world, that is not always an option for us. We are usually running our own little network box and don't always have access to an SNMP server. We may just have simple Internet access or something similar."

More NETGEAR Switches cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"If you want to purchase a new Dell PowerConnect Switch, you will pay up to $1,600, but I bought them used. I bought the four Dell PowerConnect Switches that I used for $1,000."

"Dell PowerConnect switches are cheaper than Cisco switches. Cisco's higher capacity switches (100 or 200 gigs) are super-expensive. With the higher capacity, the price of the switches and the price of the architecture go high. Dell is cheaper and modular. So, I don't need to invest 100% upfront. I can invest as I progress. That is an option because the chassis will not be populated with all the pluggables. I have a choice because it is modular. I can go for 25 gigs today, and after four months, I can go for 100 gigs, and after that, I can go for 200 gigs. I have a choice when it is not a fixed switch."

"The initial cost was high but since they have lasted for over ten or twenty years they are worth it."

"PowerConnect Switches are priced well."

"In my opinion, it is a product that is priced somewhere in the middle, making it a well-priced solution in the middle. It is not a very cheap product."

"The product is cheaper than Cisco and licensing is yearly. We have to pay additional costs for support."

"On a scale of one to ten, if one means it is a cheap solution, and ten means it is a very expensive tool, I rate the product's price as seven. The tool is a bit pricey."

"Inexpensive"

More Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] pricing and cost advice

"From a price perspective, the solution comes in higher than a small business product from their competitors. The solution is a bit higher, but it's a fraction of the cost compared to an enterprise switch. For example, a Cisco Catalyst can run approximately $13,000, where their Small Business Series may run $800 on the Cisco side. With NETGEAR, it falls in around the $1,000 to $2,000 range for most of what we use it for. Essentially, at this price point, you're getting a lot of enterprise grade features (e.g., that you would on a Catalyst) on an M4300."

"Compared to other large names in the marketplace, the price of NETGEAR's product is extremely cost-effective compared to what Cisco or Extreme offer."

"The solution is expensive. You need to pay the costs one-time."

"The pricing is phenomenal. It's not only good for the company providing the solution, but the customer gets a good deal too. There's a good profit margin for the business to be able to resell it to a client or to offer a good price to the client. It's a win-win for both the company providing this particular equipment to the customer and for the customer."

"Another issue, when it comes to NETGEAR's competitors, is that other companies are offering the cloud management at no extra charge, whereas NETGEAR charges for it. You have to pay per-device for licenses."

"We find the cost of NETGEAR hardware and additional services to be below average compared to the top tier. There are still cheaper products out there, but they lack in functionality."

"It's a great price-to-performance solution. I think it's singularly the best price-per-performance we can find, if not just straight performance to begin with... The cost of hardware and additional services is lower, absolutely. I wouldn't say "low," but we found it to be lower than other options, and that helps us resell this back to customers who are looking at other things like a Cisco Meraki..."

"The pricing for what you get with the Insight product line is very fair and the value is there, including the annual licensing fees for the Insight Pro for each device... the Insight Pro level, which is their highest level, where you get a lot of features with the Insight, is a bargain. You get a lot of good features for what you're paying there annually."

More NETGEAR Switches pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Construction Company

22%

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Energy/Utilities Company

Manufacturing Company

10%

Construction Company

University

Financial Services Firm

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	21
Midsize Enterprise	6
Large Enterprise	6

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	43
Midsize Enterprise	4
Large Enterprise	11

Questions from the Community

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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...

See all answers

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...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for NETGEAR Switches?

If I were to rate price, I would give it eight or nine points. It is an expensive product.

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Comparisons

Cisco Catalyst Switches vs Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL]

Compared 26% of the time

HPE ProCurve vs Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL]

Compared 17% of the time

Dell PowerSwitch N-Series vs Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL]

Compared 13% of the time

Arista Networks Platform vs Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL]

Compared 11% of the time

ExtremeSwitching vs Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL]

Compared 8% of the time

More Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] Competitors

Cisco Linksys Ethernet Switches vs NETGEAR Switches

Compared 28% of the time

Ubiquiti UniFi Switches vs NETGEAR Switches

Compared 11% of the time

D-Link Ethernet Switches vs NETGEAR Switches

Compared 10% of the time

Cisco Ethernet Switches vs NETGEAR Switches

Compared 6% of the time

Cisco Catalyst Switches vs NETGEAR Switches

Compared 4% of the time

More NETGEAR Switches Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL]

June 2026

Download Dell PowerConnect Switches [EOL] product report

Buyer's Guide

NETGEAR Switches

June 2026

Download NETGEAR Switches product report

Also Known As

PowerConnect Switches

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

Overview

PowerConnect Switches family offers a set of flexible, manageable and comprehensive switch solutions supporting up to 10 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) and optimized Internet iSCSI (iSCSI) performance with Dell Storage solutions, ideal for enterprise and campus LAN environments alike.

Dell Technologies

NETGEAR Switches offer ease of setup, low cost, and power efficiency. With robust remote management and modular designs, they are ideal for small businesses and large enterprises, ensuring reliable performance and flexible connectivity solutions.

NETGEAR Switches provide intuitive interfaces with both GUI and CLI options, supporting VLANs, multicast, and stackable configurations. Their competitive pricing, lifetime warranty, and powerful AV-over-IP capabilities make them a preferred choice. Despite their strengths, there is room for improvement in virtual stacking compatibility, feature expansion on the Insight portal, and consistent firmware management. A more refined remote management tool and enhancements in scalability and security are also needed. NETGEAR Switches' scalability serves sectors such as audiovisual, education, and healthcare.

What are the key features of NETGEAR Switches?

Ease of Setup: Simple installation process with user-friendly interfaces.
Cost Efficiency: Competitive pricing with valuable features for investment.
Power Efficiency: Designed to minimize energy consumption.
Remote Management: Offers robust remote and cloud-based control capabilities.
Modular Design: Flexible structures for easier network customization.
AV-over-IP Capabilities: Supports audiovisual transmission over IP networks.
VLAN and Multicast Support: Enhanced network segmentation and data transmission.

What benefits should be considered in reviews?

Competitive Pricing: Provides great value for a wide range of features.
Lifetime Warranty: Peace of mind with long-term support and coverage.
Reliable Performance: Consistent and stable network operations.
Scalability: Easily adjustable to fit growing business needs.
Excellent Technical Support: Backed by a knowledgeable support team to assist users.

IT service providers utilize NETGEAR Switches for small to medium business infrastructures, enabling 10GB internet and office network expansion. Models like M4300, GC728XP, and GC752XP are deployed for enterprise connectivity and Pro AV tasks in audiovisual, educational, and medical sectors, offering robust performance and management.

Netgear

Sample Customers

Amerijet Holdings Inc., CGD Securities, MavenWire, Tulane University

Blaze Networks

Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Netgear and others in LAN Switching. Updated: May 2026.

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