MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN vs MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM

Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›

all judged against network switches at a similar price

The MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN scores 7.8/10 overall, ahead of the MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM at 7.4/10.

The MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN leads on port speeds, management and firmware and support.

The MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM leads on port count and uplinks and noise and efficiency.

They score the same on poE.

MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN

7.8/10verdict: buy

The MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN is for homelabbers and sysadmins who need a few 10G SFP+ links on a small, silent switch. It suits anyone who wants to link a server, NAS or workstation at 10G and is happy to configure RouterOS or SwitchOS. It is not aimed at buyers who need many ports, PoE output or fast routing for a gigabit internet connection.

Typically about £121.19 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK

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MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM

7.4/10verdict: buy

This is for sysadmins and homelabbers who want a managed 24-port gigabit switch with two 10Gb SFP+ uplinks for a rack. It suits anyone who wants VLANs and a silent, passively cooled switch. It is a poor fit for buyers who need PoE or who plan to use it as a busy router.

Typically about £175.32 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Scores, criterion by criterion

Criterion	Weight	MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN	MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM
Port speeds	30%	9/10	7/10
Management	20%	9/10	8/10
Port count and uplinks	15%	6/10	8/10
Noise and efficiency	15%	8/10	9/10
PoE	10%	5/10	5/10
Firmware and support	10%	7/10	6/10
Overall		7.8/10	7.4/10

Specifications

Spec	MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN	MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM
Ports	Four SFP+ ports plus one 10/100/1000 Ethernet port	24 x 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports, 2 x SFP+ ports, serial console RJ45
Port speeds	Gigabit copper port; SFP+ cages support up to 10 Gbit per port; 1.25 Gbit SFP modules also supported	Copper ports 1 GbE; SFP cages support 1.25 Gb SFP and 10 Gb SFP+ modules
Management	RouterOS or SwitchOS selectable via dual boot; configurable through WebFig or WinBox	Dual-boot SwOS/RouterOS; configurable VLANs, port mirroring, MAC filter, bandwidth limitation
PoE budget	No published PoE output budget; accepts PoE (802.3af/at) input on its Gigabit port with 12–57 V input; maximum consumption 18 W, or 10 W without attachments	not listed
Uplinks (SFP/SFP+)	Four SFP+ cages; modules not included	2 x SFP+
Switching capacity	82 Gbps switching capacity; 41 Gbps non-blocking throughput	Non-blocking Layer 2 capacity 86,855.7 Mbps at 1518-byte packets; 88,000 Mbps at Layer 1
Cooling	Passive, fanless, metal case	Passive

Strengths and weaknesses

MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN

+ Four SFP+ cages with up to 10 Gbit per port
+ Fanless metal case; owners praise silent, low-power running
+ Choice of RouterOS or SwitchOS via dual boot
− Only five ports, and SFP+ modules are not included
− Owners report weak routing for gigabit internet
− Copper SFP+ modules reportedly run hot in the fanless case

Skip it if:

Buyers who need PoE output to power cameras or access points
Anyone who wants to route a gigabit internet connection
Buyers who need many ports or copper multi-gig without SFP+ modules

Read the full MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN review ›

MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM

+ Passive cooling, praised by owners as quiet and fanless
+ Two SFP+ cages for 1.25Gb and 10Gb modules
+ Dual-boot SwOS/RouterOS with VLANs and port mirroring
− Routing is slow, according to owners
− No PoE listed in the specifications
− Warranty is only 1 year

Skip it if:

Buyers who need PoE ports to power access points or cameras
Anyone wanting 2.5GbE or 10GbE copper ports on every port
People planning to use the switch as their main router

Read the full MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM review ›

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