MikroTik CRS310-8G+2S+IN vs NETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged Switch

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

all judged against network switches at a similar price

The MikroTik CRS310-8G+2S+IN scores 7.2/10 overall, ahead of the NETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged Switch at 6.1/10.

The MikroTik CRS310-8G+2S+IN leads on port speeds, management and port count and uplinks.

The NETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged Switch leads on noise and efficiency and firmware and support.

They score the same on poE.

The biggest difference is noise and efficiency, where the NETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged Switch scores 9/10 to the MikroTik CRS310-8G+2S+IN's 3/10.

MikroTik CRS310-8G+2S+IN

7.2/10verdict: buy

The MikroTik CRS310-8G+2S+IN is for homelabbers and small-office admins who want 2.5GbE access ports with 10G SFP+ uplinks. It suits people who are happy to configure VLANs, link aggregation and ACLs in RouterOS. It is a poorer fit for anyone who needs PoE or wants a low-power, set-and-forget switch.

Typically about £185.57 in the UK when we researched itSearch Amazon UK

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

NETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged Switch

6.1/10verdict: good, not the best

The NETGEAR MS305 is for anyone who wants to move a small wired network to 2.5GbE without configuring anything. It suits a desk, a home office or a homelab shelf where five ports and silence matter more than VLANs or PoE. Buyers who need segmentation, powered devices or fibre uplinks should look at other models.

Typically about £127.77 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 CRS310-8G+2S+IN	NETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged Switch
Port speeds	30%	9/10	7/10
Management	20%	9/10	4/10
Port count and uplinks	15%	8/10	5/10
Noise and efficiency	15%	3/10	9/10
PoE	10%	5/10	5/10
Firmware and support	10%	5/10	6/10
Overall		7.2/10	6.1/10

Specifications

Spec	MikroTik CRS310-8G+2S+IN	NETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged Switch
Ports	8 x 2.5GbE RJ45 plus 2 x SFP+, and one USB type-A port	5 copper RJ-45 ports
Port speeds	RJ45 ports 2.5G; SFP+ cages support 1G, 2.5G and 10G	100M/1G/2.5G on each port
Management	RouterOS v7 or SwitchOS; VLANs, link aggregation and ACL rules on RouterOS	Unmanaged
PoE budget	not listed	None (non-PoE switch)
Uplinks (SFP/SFP+)	2 x SFP+	not listed
Switching capacity	Non-blocking Layer 1 capacity 80000 Mbps; Layer 2 about 78,959.7 Mbps at 1518-byte frames	25 Gbps switching capacity; 16K MAC entries; 1 MB buffer
Cooling	1 fan	Fanless

Strengths and weaknesses

MikroTik CRS310-8G+2S+IN

+ Eight 2.5GbE ports plus two 10G-capable SFP+ cages
+ RouterOS offers VLANs, link aggregation and ACL rules
+ Wide 18–57 V DC input and -40°C to +60°C range
− One fan, and owners report higher power draw than expected
− Owners report 2.5G link negotiation problems
− No PoE listed

Skip it if:

Buyers who need PoE for access points, cameras or phones
Anyone who wants a quiet, low-power switch for a living space
Buyers who want a simple unmanaged switch with no configuration

Read the full MikroTik CRS310-8G+2S+IN review ›

NETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged Switch

+ 2.5G on all five ports with 1G fallback
+ Fanless and silent, according to owners
+ 3-year hardware warranty
− Unmanaged, so no VLAN support
− No PoE on any port
− No SFP or SFP+ uplink ports

Skip it if:

Buyers who need VLANs or any switch management features
Anyone planning to power access points or cameras over PoE
People who want SFP or SFP+ uplinks or more than five ports

Read the full NETGEAR MS305 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Unmanaged Switch review ›

More comparisons

Compare all network switches · Best network switches