Network Switch vs Router: Which Do You Need?
TP-Link TL-SG105
Worth it
- you have more gigabit devices than router ports
- you want plug and play with zero configuration
- you want a quiet fanless box that just runs
GL.iNet GL-SFT1200 Opal Travel Router
Worth it, with a setup tax
- you already pay for a VPN service and want it protecting every device at once
- you travel with more than one device that needs protecting
- you'd rather configure security once than log into an app on every screen
By the numbers: TP-Link TL-SG105 scores 5/5, GL.iNet GL-SFT1200 Opal Travel Router 4/5 on our verdict scale. Full dataset.
Network Switch vs Router
Your internet setup works until the router runs out of wired ports, or you need several devices to share one connection while traveling. That is where network switch vs router stops being a vocabulary question and becomes a buying decision. A switch adds wired gigabit connections with no configuration. A router manages the connection itself and can apply one VPN login across several devices, but the travel model here brings an OpenWrt setup step. Choose the switch for simple expansion. Choose the router when shared security is the point.
The mechanism is different, and the marketing skips this part. A network switch is a quiet traffic junction: connect it to your existing network, plug in more wired devices, and its five gigabit ports let packets move without a settings menu. The TP-Link representative is unmanaged, fanless, and built around that narrow job. It does not provide VLANs, remote management, Power over Ethernet, traffic monitoring, or a dashboard.
A router is the device that creates and manages a network connection. The GL.iNet travel router adds dual-band Wi-Fi, three gigabit ports, and OpenWrt with OpenVPN and WireGuard support. That changes the day when several devices need the same VPN service: configure security once on the router instead of signing in separately on each screen. The catch is the setup tax. OpenWrt menus require time, and this is not a zero-setup purchase. So, no, a switch does not replace a router. It expands one; the router handles the broader connection job.
Choose the network switch if
- Choose the network switch if you have more gigabit devices than your router has ports.
- Choose it if you want plug-and-play expansion with no configuration.
- Choose it if a quiet, fanless box is enough and you do not need VLANs, monitoring, or Power over Ethernet.
Choose the router if
- Choose the router if you travel with several devices that need one VPN service.
- Choose it if you would rather configure security once than sign in on every screen.
- Choose it only if you accept OpenWrt setup and do not need zero setup out of the box.
For extra wired devices at home, the unmanaged switch is the clean answer: plug it in, leave it alone, and get more gigabit ports. For travel with several devices and an existing VPN service, the router earns its setup time by centralizing that login. The switch is the stronger fit for simplicity. The router is the stronger fit for shared VPN security, provided you are willing to configure it. Neither choice covers the other's job.
Before you go
Can a network switch replace a router?
No. A switch adds wired ports to an existing network; a router manages the network connection and can provide the broader routing and security setup.
Do you need both a router and a switch?
Yes, if your router lacks enough wired ports. The switch expands the router's connections, while the router continues managing the network.
Which is better, a switch or a router?
A switch is better for simple wired expansion. A router is better when several devices need shared VPN security, provided you accept its setup.
Full verdicts: TP-Link TL-SG105 · GL.iNet GL-SFT1200 Opal Travel Router