Ethernet Switch vs Hub: Which Do You Need?

Setting up a reliable home or office network can feel confusing when you’re faced with similar-looking devices. One of the most common questions people ask is about an Ethernet switch vs hub. Are they the same thing, and does it really matter which one you use?

While both connect multiple devices on a network, they handle traffic in very different ways. Understanding those differences can save you from slower speeds, security issues, and wasted money. In this guide, you’ll get a clear comparison of hubs and switches, plus practical advice on when to use each.

What Is an Ethernet Switch?

An Ethernet switch is the backbone of most modern wired networks. Its job is simple but powerful: connect multiple devices and make sure data only goes where it needs to.

So, how does an internet switch work? When a frame arrives at a switch port, the device checks the source MAC address, learns which device lives on that port, and builds a table (often called a CAM or MAC table). Using that table, it forwards future traffic only to the right destination port instead of flooding the entire network.

Most switches work at Layer 2 of the OSI model, where they use MAC addresses to make decisions. More advanced models, known as Layer 3 switches, can also handle routing based on IP addresses, reducing the need for a separate router in some setups.

Because each port gets dedicated bandwidth and can run in full-duplex mode—meaning devices can send and receive data at the same time—switches eliminate the collisions that plagued older shared-media networks. This micro-segmentation is one reason they replaced hubs almost entirely.

Switches also come in several types, each designed for different needs:

• Unmanaged switches: basic, plug-and-play devices for small offices or home networks.
• Managed switches: configurable models that let you set VLANs, monitor traffic, apply security, or prioritize certain data with Quality of Service (QoS).
• PoE (Power over Ethernet) switches: deliver power and data over the same cable, useful for access points, VoIP phones, or PoE security cameras.

What Is a Hub?

A hub, sometimes called an Ethernet hub or repeater hub, is a much simpler device that has largely fallen out of use. Instead of making decisions about where to send data, it simply repeats every signal it receives to all other ports. Every connected device hears every transmission, whether it was meant for them or not.

Because a hub works at Layer 1 of the OSI model, it has no awareness of MAC addresses or frames. All devices share the same collision domain and must take turns transmitting. That means hubs operate in half-duplex mode, like a walkie-talkie where only one person can speak at a time, which often results in collisions and slower speeds.

Over time, different kinds of hubs appeared:

• Active hubs: amplify and regenerate signals to extend transmission distance, but still broadcast to all ports.
• Passive hubs: act purely as a connection point without boosting the signal.
• Intelligent hubs: offered limited monitoring features, but were quickly replaced by more capable switches.

Ethernet Switch vs Hub: Key Differences

A hub and a switch may look alike—small boxes with Ethernet ports—but they behave very differently once data starts flowing. Here are the key differences between Ethernet hub and switch:

How They Handle Traffic

• Switch: Think of a switch as a traffic controller. It builds a “map” of MAC addresses and forwards frames only to the correct device. This keeps conversations private between sender and receiver and prevents unnecessary congestion.
• Hub: A hub acts more like a loudspeaker. Every signal is blasted to every connected device, even if only one machine actually needs the data. This wastes bandwidth and clutters the network with noise.

Layer and Duplex Mode

• Switch:Works at OSI Layer 2, with some models adding Layer 3 routing features. Ports run in full-duplex mode, meaning you can send and receive at the same time, like a phone call. That eliminates collisions and doubles effective bandwidth.
• Hub:Sits at Layer 1. All connected devices share the same medium and are limited to half-duplex, like a walkie-talkie where only one side can talk at a time. This setup leads to collisions and reduced performance.

Collision and Broadcast Domains

• Switch:Each port is its own collision domain, so devices don’t interfere with each other. Broadcasts still reach all devices in the same VLAN, but unicast traffic stays targeted.
• Hub:Every port belongs to the same collision domain. If two devices transmit at once, their signals collide and must be resent, slowing everything down.

Speed and Efficiency

• Switchessupport modern Ethernet standards—Fast Ethernet (100 Mbps), Gigabit (1 Gbps), 10 Gbps, and higher. Because each device gets its own dedicated bandwidth, performance scales well.
• Hubsare limited to older 10 Mbps or, at best, 100 Mbps shared across all ports. In a busy environment, real throughput drops sharply.

Power over Ethernet (PoE)

• Switchesare available with PoE, allowing them to deliver both power and data over the same cable. This is invaluable for IP cameras, Wi-Fi access points, and VoIP phones.
• Hubsnever offered PoE support.

Cost and Availability

• Switchesused to be more expensive, but today, small, unmanaged models are cheap and widely available. Managed switches cost more but add features like VLANs, QoS, and monitoring.
• Hubsare largely obsolete. You’ll rarely find them in stores except as surplus or for niche lab use.

Typical Use Cases

• Switch:The default for nearly every home, office, or data center. Scales from small desktop switches to massive enterprise gear.
• Hub:Obsolete in production networks. May still be used for packet sniffing, network labs, or simple test setups where broadcasting traffic is actually helpful.

Switch vs Hub Side by Side

Ethernet Hub vs Switch: When to Use a Hub

Hubs are outdated, but they aren’t completely gone. In most production networks, they’ve been replaced by switches because of performance and security limitations. Still, there are a few situations where a hub can be useful:

• Network monitoring and troubleshooting: Since hubs broadcast all incoming data to every port, they can be useful in diagnostics—letting network engineers monitor all traffic with a packet sniffer without complex port mirroring.
• Simplified legacy connections: In environments with old cabling (like mixed 10 Mbps and 100 Mbps segments), a dual-speed hub can bridge different media types without requiring a full overhaul.
• Educational and experimental setups: For teaching or testing low-bandwidth scenarios, hubs offer an easy plug-and-play introduction without worrying about MAC learning or VLANs.

Outside of these niche cases, using a hub in a modern network is generally not recommended. They introduce collisions, limit speed to 10 or 100 Mbps, and offer no features like VLANs or PoE. If you want stability and performance, a hub won’t deliver.

Ethernet Hub vs Switch: When to Use a Switch

Switches are the standard choice for almost any wired network today. Whether at home, in a small office, or in a large enterprise, a switch provides the speed, reliability, and efficiency that hubs cannot. Typical use cases include:

• Home networks: Unmanaged switches are inexpensive and plug-and-play. They’re perfect for connecting PCs, smart TVs, game consoles, and network storage at gigabit speeds.
• Small business networks: Switches help provide consistent performance as multiple employees share resources. Managed switches add VLANs, QoS, and security features to keep traffic organized and safe.
• Enterprise environments: Data centers and corporate offices rely on large, managed switches to handle thousands of connections. Features like Layer 3 routing, redundancy, and advanced monitoring keep critical services running smoothly.
• Power over Ethernet (PoE) deployments: PoE switches simplify installation of devices like Wi-Fi access points, VoIP phones, and IP security cameras by delivering both data and power over the same cable.

If you’re building a PoE security setup, a straightforward path is a PoE switch feeding an NVR (network video recorder). eufy’s PoE NVR Security System S4 family is designed for 24/7 local recording with expandable storage (2 TB included, up to 16 TB) and 8 channels that can scale to 16, making it a tidy fit for home or small business deployments.

Here are two camera options that work seamlessly with the eufy NVR S4:

eufy PoE Bullet-PTZ Cam S4: wide coverage with detail tracking

The eufy PoE Bullet-PTZ Cam S4 combines three lenses in one housing. On top, a fixed 4K ultra-wide bullet lens delivers a 122° field of view to capture the big picture. Below, a dual 2K+2K PTZ module provides 360° rotation, auto tracking, and 8× hybrid zoom, so you can follow a moving subject while still seeing the overall scene. Together, they deliver 16MP clarity, making it possible to spot fine details from up to 164 ft away.

At night, the Bullet-PTZ uses Starlight Color Night Vision to produce clear color footage even in low light. When extra illumination is needed, a built-in spotlight provides full-color recording, while infrared mode allows discreet black-and-white video.

On-device AI can identify people, vehicles, pets, and strangers, while two-way audio and white plus red/blue warning lights add both awareness and deterrence. Rated IP65 for outdoor use, it’s durable enough for exposed locations.

Install two Bullet-PTZ S4s and you can take advantage of cross-cam AI tracking, where one camera hands off a moving subject to the other, perfect for driveways or large yards.

eufy PoE Turret Security Camera E41: compact 4K coverage where you need it

For a more compact and discreet option, the eufy PoE Turret Security Camera E41 delivers sharp 4K video with a 122° field of view. Its adjustable head tilts up to 82°, making it easy to fine-tune coverage under eaves, along garage corners, or near side gates.

Despite being smaller, it carries the same flexible night vision modes as the Bullet-PTZ: starlight color in low light, spotlight-assisted color in complete darkness, or infrared when you want maximum discretion.

The E41 also includes on-device AI that distinguishes between people, vehicles, pets, and strangers, plus two-way audio and active warning lights. It supports 5× digital zoom for closer inspection when needed and has a tougher IP67 weather rating, making it a strong choice for outdoor spots exposed to rain or dust.

What Is the Key Difference Between Hub and Switch and Router?

So far, we’ve looked at how hubs and switches differ. But in real networks, you’ll also find a router, and it’s easy to get the three confused. The simplest way to think about them is by scope:

• A hubconnects devices in the most basic way, repeating every signal to everyone.
• A switchconnects devices more intelligently, sending traffic only where it’s meant to go within a local network.
• A routerconnects different networks together—most often your local network to the internet.

If you imagine a neighborhood, the hub is like shouting across the street where everyone hears you, the switch is like calling someone directly on their phone, and the router is the post office that makes sure your letters reach other towns and cities.

Hub vs Switch vs Router Side by Side

Conclusion

Choosing between an Ethernet switch vs hub comes down to performance and practicality. A hub simply broadcasts data to all devices, which slows everything down and is now mostly obsolete. A switch, by contrast, directs traffic intelligently, eliminates collisions, supports higher speeds, and adds modern features like PoE. Routers then step in to connect your network to the wider internet. For nearly every real-world setup, whether at home, in a small office, or across a larger system, the switch is the clear choice for building a reliable, efficient, and future-ready wired network.

FAQs

Which is better, an Ethernet hub or a switch?

In nearly every case, a switch is the better choice. Hubs simply broadcast all data to every connected device, which creates one big collision domain and slows things down. Switches, on the other hand, send data only to the intended device by using MAC addresses, giving each port its own collision domain and often full-duplex links. This means fewer collisions, faster speeds, and much better scalability. That’s why hubs have become mostly obsolete today.

Do I need a hub or switch?

For modern networks, you’ll almost always want a switch. Unlike hubs, which repeat traffic to every device, switches direct traffic only where it’s needed, providing dedicated bandwidth and smooth full-duplex communication. Unless you’re maintaining some very old equipment that specifically requires a hub, a simple unmanaged switch is the right choice for home and office setups.

What are the downsides of the Ethernet switch?

While switches are more efficient, they do have a few drawbacks. They typically cost more than hubs, and managed models can add setup and maintenance complexity. Without safeguards like Spanning Tree, a poorly designed network could suffer from broadcast storms. Switches can also be targets for MAC table overflow attacks unless features like port security are enabled. In small or well-managed networks, though, these risks are minimal.

Why is a switch better than a hub?

A switch is better because it directs data only to the device that needs it, instead of broadcasting everything to all devices like a hub does. This reduces unnecessary traffic, prevents collisions, and allows each device to enjoy its own dedicated bandwidth. Most switches also support full-duplex communication, meaning devices can send and receive data at the same time. The result is faster, more efficient, and more reliable network performance compared to a hub.