Most people don’t realize MikroTik still leads with highly configurable switches that mash up RouterOS power and true 10G uplink value. If you manage networks, you’ll appreciate how these five models span compact lab gear to full PoE farms, each tuned for different uplink, power, and scale needs. I’ll point out which fits installers, small businesses, or high-density deployments so you can quickly narrow your choice.
| MikroTik CSS326-24G-2S+RM Managed Gigabit PoE Switch | Compact Managed Pick | Port Count: 24 x Gigabit Ethernet + 2 SFP+ cages | SFP/SFP+ Support: 2 SFP+ cages (support 1.25 G SFP and 10 G SFP+) | PoE Capable: Supports PoE on applicable ports | CHECK LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis | |
| MikroTik CRS328-24P-4S+RM 24-Port PoE Gigabit Switch |
| Best PoE Powerhouse | Port Count: 24 x Gigabit Ethernet + 4 SFP+ (total 28 ports) | SFP/SFP+ Support: 4 SFP+ ports (10 G capable) | PoE Capable: 24 ports with PoE output (multiple modes, up to 30 W per port) | CHECK LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
| MikroTik CRS112-8P-4S-IN Gigabit PoE-Out Smart Switch | Small-Office PoE | Port Count: 8 x Gigabit Ethernet + 4 SFP (total 12 ports) | SFP/SFP+ Support: 4 SFP ports (1 G) | PoE Capable: 8 ports with PoE-out (autosensing 802.3af/at and Passive PoE) | CHECK LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis | |
| MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM 24-Port Gigabit Switch | Dual-Boot Versatile | Port Count: 24 x Gigabit Ethernet + 2 SFP+ | SFP/SFP+ Support: 2 SFP+ ports (support 1.25 G SFP and 10 G SFP+) | PoE Capable: Not explicitly PoE-out focused but PoE support implied (managed switch; product list shows PoE capability) | CHECK LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis | |
| MikroTik CRS354-48P-4S+2Q+RM 48-Port PoE Switch | Enterprise Backbone | Port Count: 48 x Gigabit Ethernet + 4 SFP+ + 2 QSFP+ | SFP/SFP+ Support: 4 x 10G SFP+ ports (plus 2 QSFP+) | PoE Capable: All 48 ports support PoE (multiple modes including 802.3af/at and Passive PoE) | CHECK LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
More Details on Our Top Picks
MikroTik CSS326-24G-2S+RM Managed Gigabit PoE Switch
Compact Managed Pick
Check Latest PriceIf you need a compact, rackmount Gigabit switch with 10 Gb uplink options and simple web-based management, the MikroTik CSS326-24G-2S+RM delivers: 24 Gigabit ports, two SFP+ cages that accept both 1.25 Gb SFP and 10 Gb SFP+ modules, SwOS for straightforward VLANs, MAC filtering and per-port bandwidth control, plus PoE on applicable ports-making it a strong choice for small offices and lab environments that want affordable 10 Gb-ready uplinks without complex configuration. You’ll get a 1U rackmount white chassis, traffic mirroring, packet/header tweaks, and managed port-to-port forwarding, useful if you need predictable performance.
- Port Count:24 x Gigabit Ethernet + 2 SFP+ cages
- SFP/SFP+ Support:2 SFP+ cages (support 1.25 G SFP and 10 G SFP+)
- PoE Capable:Supports PoE on applicable ports
- Managed/Switch OS:SwOS (managed switch functionality)
- Rackmount Form Factor:1U rackmount
- VLAN & Traffic Controls:VLAN configuration, port-to-port forwarding, MAC filtering, traffic mirroring, bandwidth control
- Additional Feature:White chassis color
- Additional Feature:SwOS-only management
- Additional Feature:1U rackmount form
MikroTik CRS328-24P-4S+RM 24-Port PoE Gigabit Switch
For network teams needing lots of PoE on a compact rackmount box, the CRS328-24P-4S+RM delivers: 24 Gigabit ports that can each supply up to 30 W, four 10 G SFP+ uplinks, and a 500 W PSU that leaves about 450 W for PoE-enough to power dense wireless, camera, or VoIP deployments while you choose RouterOS or the simpler SwOS. You get 28 independent ports in a 1U chassis, dual-boot flexibility, and SFP+ support for fiber or 10G modules (not included). PoE options include passive, low-voltage, and 802.3af/at with auto-sensing; power allocation guarantees 3×150 W per eight-port group.
- Port Count:24 x Gigabit Ethernet + 4 SFP+ (total 28 ports)
- SFP/SFP+ Support:4 SFP+ ports (10 G capable)
- PoE Capable:24 ports with PoE output (multiple modes, up to 30 W per port)
- Managed/Switch OS:Dual boot – RouterOS or SwOS (managed)
- Rackmount Form Factor:1U rackmount
- VLAN & Traffic Controls:Managed features (RouterOS/SwOS) with VLAN and PoE controls, port management and bandwidth capabilities
- Additional Feature:Dual Boot (RouterOS/SwOS)
- Additional Feature:500W built-in PSU
- Additional Feature:Per-8-port PoE groups
MikroTik CRS112-8P-4S-IN Gigabit PoE-Out Smart Switch
Small-Office PoE
Check Latest PriceTargeting installers and small-business networks that need flexible PoE power options, the MikroTik CRS112-8P-4S-IN pairs eight Gigabit PoE-out ports with four SFP uplinks so you can power access points and cameras while keeping fiber links for backbone connectivity. You get RouterOS L5 feature set, autosensing 802.3af/at and passive PoE support, and automatic voltage detection to feed connected devices correctly. Note power limits: per-port current peaks at 1 A on 18–28 V and 450 mA on 48–57 V, with total current 2.8 A at 24 V or 1.4 A at 48–57 V. External 48–57 V supply sold separately.
- Port Count:8 x Gigabit Ethernet + 4 SFP (total 12 ports)
- SFP/SFP+ Support:4 SFP ports (1 G)
- PoE Capable:8 ports with PoE-out (autosensing 802.3af/at and Passive PoE)
- Managed/Switch OS:RouterOS L5 (smart/managed)
- Rackmount Form Factor:Small/indoor case with mounting options (intended for rack/installation) – in-unit form factor (compact)
- VLAN & Traffic Controls:Smart switch features via RouterOS (VLAN/port/PoE management and power controls)
- Additional Feature:RouterOS L5 included
- Additional Feature:External PSU required
- Additional Feature:Secondary rear DC jack
MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM 24-Port Gigabit Switch
Dual-Boot Versatile
Check Latest PriceThe MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM is ideal when you need a compact, rack‑mountable switch that mixes 24 gigabit Ethernet ports with two 10Gb SFP+ uplinks, so you can scale a small office or lab without breaking the bank. You get wire-speed switching across 24 Gigabit ports plus two SFP+ cages that accept 1.25 Gb SFP or 10 Gb SFP+ modules for uplinks or high-speed links. Dual-boot RouterOS or SwOS gives you either advanced routing/firewall scripting or a simplified switch interface. Managed features include VLANs, MAC filters, port forwarding control, traffic mirroring, per-port bandwidth limits, and header adjustments. International versions may vary.
- Port Count:24 x Gigabit Ethernet + 2 SFP+
- SFP/SFP+ Support:2 SFP+ ports (support 1.25 G SFP and 10 G SFP+)
- PoE Capable:Not explicitly PoE-out focused but PoE support implied (managed switch; product list shows PoE capability)
- Managed/Switch OS:Dual boot – RouterOS or SwOS (managed)
- Rackmount Form Factor:1U rackmount
- VLAN & Traffic Controls:VLAN configuration, port-to-port forwarding, MAC filter, traffic mirroring, bandwidth limitation
- Additional Feature:Dual Boot (RouterOS/SwOS)
- Additional Feature:Metal enclosure construction
- Additional Feature:Wire-speed switching
MikroTik CRS354-48P-4S+2Q+RM 48-Port PoE Switch
Enterprise Backbone
Check Latest PriceIf you need a high-density PoE switch that can power and uplink a large deployment without compromise, the CRS354-48P-4S+2Q+RM is built for that role. You get 48 gigabit RJ45 ports with multi-mode PoE (Passive, low-voltage, 802.3af/at auto-sensing), four 10G SFP+ and two 40G QSFP+ uplinks for fiber or 40 Gbps interconnects. It delivers 168 Gbps non-blocking throughput, 336 Gbps switching capacity and 235 Mpps forwarding, backed by a 750 W PSU. Rackmount design and cable-management bracket suit demanding aggregation, high-density PoE sites and fast fiber backbones.
- Port Count:48 x Gigabit Ethernet + 4 SFP+ + 2 QSFP+
- SFP/SFP+ Support:4 x 10G SFP+ ports (plus 2 QSFP+)
- PoE Capable:All 48 ports support PoE (multiple modes including 802.3af/at and Passive PoE)
- Managed/Switch OS:Managed switch (implied RouterOS/SwOS class device)
- Rackmount Form Factor:1U rackmount
- VLAN & Traffic Controls:Managed switch features for VLANs, port control, and traffic/aggregation (high-density PoE and uplink management)
- Additional Feature:2×40G QSFP+ ports
- Additional Feature:750W included PSU
- Additional Feature:336 Gbps switching capacity
Factors to Consider When Choosing MikroTik Switches
When picking a MikroTik switch, consider how many ports you’ll actually need and whether those ports must supply PoE to your devices. Check the switch’s throughput and CPU capacity for your expected traffic, and confirm the management features and RouterOS version support the controls you want. Finally, make sure uplink choices and available SFP/SFP+ slots match your fiber or aggregation requirements.
Port Count Needs
Because your network needs will grow, count current wired devices and add 20–30% headroom so you won’t run out of ports in a couple years; also match uplink speeds (1G/10G/40G), separate PoE port requirements, plan for stacking or cascaded uplinks, and reserve spare ports for troubleshooting and segmented networks. Start by listing all endpoints-PCs, servers, printers, NAS-and forecast growth for 1–3 years. Select switches with the right number of high-speed uplinks to avoid aggregating many 1G ports when 10G or 40G is needed. Treat PoE-capable port count as its own metric so powered devices aren’t starved. Decide whether stacking or daisy-chaining will meet density goals; fewer uplinks can work if bandwidth and management stay sufficient. Keep several spare ports for temporary gear and VLAN separation.
PoE Requirements
Having planned port counts and uplinks, you also need to size PoE carefully so powered devices actually get the energy they require. Add up the maximum wattage of every PD and include roughly 20% headroom so the switch’s supply can handle simultaneous peaks. Match PoE standards-802.3af, 802.3at, or passive/legacy-to each endpoint so voltage and classification align. Inspect per-port limits and how ports are grouped or allocated to avoid overcommitment when several high‑power devices run together. Verify input power options: internal PSU, external DC feed, or support for redundant/dual supplies to fit your site and uptime needs. Finally, account for cable length and gauge-long Cat5e/Cat6 runs cause voltage drop and may necessitate higher-voltage inputs.
Performance & Throughput
Although you won’t always push a switch to its limits, you should size switching capacity and forwarding rate to handle your peak aggregate traffic so access ports never swamp the uplinks. Match Gbps and Mpps ratings to expected aggregate loads to avoid oversubscription and keep wire‑speed performance under peak conditions. Confirm uplink bandwidth (1G/10G/40G) and SFP/SFP+/QSFP counts meet backbone and aggregation needs so access ports don’t saturate uplinks. Prefer non‑blocking switches with sufficient internal backplane headroom to support all ports simultaneously. Verify per‑port and total packet‑processing capacity for VLANs, ACLs, and QoS, since feature processing can lower effective throughput. Finally, account for CPU and control‑plane limits-heavy management or monitoring tasks can impact data‑plane performance.
Management And OS
When you pick a MikroTik switch, decide up front whether you need a streamlined, switch‑focused OS for basic VLANs, port controls and mirroring or the full RouterOS feature set that adds advanced routing, firewall, scripting and extended L3 capabilities. From there, make sure the OS supports per‑port bandwidth limiting, MAC filtering, VLAN configuration and packet/header adjustments you require. Check for dual‑boot or selectable OS modes if you want flexibility between simple and advanced interfaces. Verify management interfaces – web GUI, CLI, SNMP, API – and automation options to fit your monitoring and operational workflows. Finally, confirm firmware update procedures, rollback options and documented config export/import so you can maintain security and recover quickly after problems.
Uplink And SFP Options
If you expect your switch to carry traffic between core devices, servers, or an aggregation layer, pick uplinks that match those links’ capacity so they won’t become bottlenecks. Determine whether you need 1 Gbps, 10 Gbps, or 40 Gbps uplinks to align with core switches and servers. Check how many SFP/SFP+/QSFP cages the model offers and which module types it accepts for your planned fiber or DAC links. Verify transceiver compatibility-single‑mode vs multimode, LC vs MPO, wavelengths and distances-so modules work with your fiber plant. Consider uplink port count and oversubscription: more high‑speed ports let you aggregate links and provide redundancy. Finally, confirm the switch OS supports LACP, VLAN tagging, link monitoring, and fiber diagnostics on those SFP ports.
Power Budgeting
Start by totaling the PoE draw of every device you’ll power-add about a 20% safety margin for startup and peak loads-then confirm the switch’s PoE budget comfortably exceeds that number. Next, verify the switch’s total available PoE wattage from its PSU and compare it to your summed requirement including the margin. Check per-port power limits and supported PoE standards (802.3af/at or passive) so each device gets correct voltage and current. Inspect power grouping or rail allocation-some ports share a capped pool and can’t all run at max simultaneously. Finally, plan headroom for future devices, firmware-driven power changes, and PSU redundancy or failure so you don’t overload the system during growth or fault conditions.
