Best Cisco Switches in 2026: Top 10 Picks for Every Network

The best Cisco switch in 2026 is the Cisco Catalyst 9300 for most businesses. It combines stacking, high-power PoE, multigigabit ports and full Layer 3 routing. It scales from a single branch office to a large campus.

Small businesses get more value from the Catalyst 1300. Teams that want cloud management should choose the Meraki MS150.

Every switch on this list can be ordered new in 2026. Older favorites such as the CBS350, Catalyst 1000 and Meraki MS390 are end-of-sale, so we excluded them.

Best Cisco Switches in 2026 at a Glance

Here's how the 10 best Cisco switches compare on ports, PoE and uplink speed.

Switch	Best For	Ports	Max PoE per Port	Uplinks	Management
1. Catalyst 9300	Best overall	24–48, 1G to 10G	90W	Up to 100G	IOS XE, Catalyst Center, Meraki
2. Catalyst 9200	Best value for branches	24–48, 1G to 10G	30W	Up to 40G	IOS XE, Catalyst Center, Meraki
3. C9350 Smart Switch	Best for Wi-Fi 7	24–48, 1G to 10G	90W	Up to 100G	IOS XE, Catalyst Center, Meraki
4. Catalyst 1300	Best for small business	8–48, 1G to 10G	60W	10G	Web UI, CLI, Business Dashboard
5. Catalyst 1200	Best budget pick	8–48, 1G	30W	10G	Web UI, CLI, Business Dashboard
6. Meraki MS150	Best cloud-managed	24–48, 1G to 5G	60W	10G	Meraki dashboard
7. Catalyst 9500	Best core switch	24–60, 10G to 100G fiber	None	Up to 400G	IOS XE, Catalyst Center
8. C9610 Smart Switch	Best modular core	Up to 448, 10G to 50G	None	Up to 400G	IOS XE, Catalyst Center
9. Nexus 9300	Best for data centers	Up to 64, 10G to 800G	None	Up to 800G	NX-OS, ACI
10. Catalyst 9200CX	Best compact fanless	8–12, 1G to 10G	60W	10G	IOS XE, Catalyst Center

Figures show each series' range. Exact ports and PoE budget depend on the model and power supply.

Top 10 Cisco Switches in 2026, Ranked

We ranked each switch on performance, PoE capacity, management options, lifecycle status and total cost.

1. Cisco Catalyst 9300 / 9300X: Best Overall Enterprise Access Switch

Best for: Mid-size to large offices, campuses and multi-floor buildings that need PoE, stacking and full Layer 3 routing.

Spec	Catalyst 9300 / 9300X
Ports	12–48 ports: 1G, multigigabit up to 10G, or 25G fiber
PoE	Up to 90W per port (UPOE+); up to 3,390W per switch
Uplinks	1G to 100G (100G on 9300X)
Stacking	Up to 8 switches; 1 Tbps on 9300X, 480 Gbps on 9300
Routing	Full Layer 3; BGP, EIGRP and IS-IS need Network Advantage
Management	IOS XE CLI, Web UI, Catalyst Center or Meraki dashboard
License & warranty	Mandatory 3-, 5- or 7-year subscription; enhanced limited lifetime warranty

Why we picked it: The Catalyst 9300 is Cisco's lead stackable enterprise access platform. It scales from one wiring closet to an 8-switch stack with up to 90W PoE, 100G uplinks and 1 Tbps stacking on 9300X models. The same hardware runs on-premises with Catalyst Center or in the cloud with the Meraki dashboard.

Top models to buy:

• C9300-48P: 48 × 1G PoE+ with modular uplinks. The standard 48-port office switch.
• C9300L-48P-4X: 48 × 1G PoE+ with fixed 4 × 10G uplinks. Lower entry cost.
• C9300-48UXM: 36 × 2.5G and 12 × 10G multigigabit ports with 60W UPOE. Built for dense Wi-Fi 6/6E.
• C9300X-48HXN: 8 × 10G and 40 × 5G multigigabit ports with 90W UPOE+. Built for Wi-Fi 7 and high-power devices.

Watch out for: Cisco now recommends the C9350 as the replacement for Catalyst 9300 1G models and the 48HX/TX. For those configurations, compare pick #3 before buying.

→ Shop Cisco Catalyst 9300 switches

2. Cisco Catalyst 9200 / 9200L: Best Value Switch for Branch Offices

Best for: Branch offices, retail sites and mid-size businesses that want Catalyst 9000 features at a lower price.

Spec	Catalyst 9200 / 9200L
Ports	24 or 48 × 1G; PXG models add 8–12 multigigabit ports up to 10G
PoE	Up to 30W per port (PoE+); up to 1,440W per switch
Uplinks	Modular up to 40G (9200) or fixed up to 25G (9200L)
Stacking	Up to 8 switches; 160 Gbps (9200) or 80 Gbps (9200L); no mixing
Routing	RIP and OSPF; full OSPF, EIGRP and IS-IS need Network Advantage
Management	IOS XE CLI, Web UI, Catalyst Center or Meraki dashboard
License & warranty	Mandatory 3-, 5- or 7-year subscription; enhanced limited lifetime warranty

Why we picked it: The 9200 brings Catalyst 9000 hardware and IOS XE to smaller sites. It is Cisco's entry-level platform for SD-Access. You get Layer 3 routing, stacking and cloud management for less than a 9300.

Top models to buy:

• C9200L-24P-4G: 24 × 1G PoE+ with 4 × 1G uplinks. The entry-level branch switch.
• C9200L-48P-4X: 48 × 1G PoE+ with 4 × 10G uplinks. The best all-round value.
• C9200-48P: 48 × 1G PoE+ with modular uplinks and 160 Gbps stacking.
• C9200L-48PXG-4X: 12 × 10G multigigabit and 36 × 1G PoE+ ports. Built for Wi-Fi 6/6E.

Watch out for: PoE tops out at 30W per port. It can't power devices that need 802.3bt, such as some Wi-Fi 7 access points, PTZ cameras and LED lighting.

→ Shop Cisco Catalyst 9200 switches

3. Cisco C9350 Smart Switch: Best for Wi-Fi 7 and AI-Ready Networks

Best for: New builds and network refreshes that are rolling out Wi-Fi 7, high-power PoE devices or zero-trust segmentation.

Spec	Cisco C9350
Ports	24 or 48 copper: 1G or multigigabit up to 10G; 1G and 25G fiber models
PoE	Up to 90W on all 48 ports (UPOE+); up to 4,320W per switch
Uplinks	Modular 1G to 100G; up to 4 × 100G on select models
Stacking	Up to 8 switches; 1.6 Tbps (StackWise-1.6T)
Routing	Full Layer 3, VXLAN and BGP EVPN
Management	IOS XE, Catalyst Center or Meraki dashboard
License & warranty	Mandatory 3-year Cisco Networking Subscription; limited lifetime warranty with next-business-day replacement

Why we picked it: The C9350 is Cisco's newest access switch, built on Cisco Silicon One. It delivers 90W to all 48 ports at once and 10G multigigabit speeds for Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 access points. It encrypts traffic at line rate and supports post-quantum cryptography. The C9350-48HXG model is hardware-ready for on-box AI inference.

Top models to buy:

• C9350-48P: 48 × 1G with 30W PoE+ and up to 1,440W. The 1G wiring-closet upgrade.
• C9350-48U: 48 × 1G with 60W UPOE and up to 2,880W.
• C9350-24HX: 24 × 10G multigigabit with 90W UPOE+ and up to 2,160W.
• C9350-48HX: 48 × 10G multigigabit with 90W UPOE+, up to 4,320W and up to 400G of uplinks.

Watch out for: It requires a 3-year Cisco Networking Subscription. It also can't stack with existing Catalyst 9300 switches, because it only works with its own StackWise-1.6T cables.

→ Shop Cisco C9350 Smart Switches

4. Cisco Catalyst 1300: Best Cisco Switch for Small Business

Best for: Growing small businesses and branch offices that need managed switching, PoE and stacking without enterprise licensing.

Spec	Catalyst 1300 / 1300X
Ports	8–48 × 1G; multigigabit (2.5G/5G) and 10G models available
PoE	Up to 30W PoE+, or 60W on 1300X models; up to 740W per switch
Uplinks	1G SFP or 10G SFP+
Stacking	Up to 8 switches on 10G-uplink, multigigabit and 1300X models
Routing	Static, RIP and policy-based routing; OSPF on 1300X
Management	Web UI, CLI, Cisco Business Dashboard and mobile app
License & warranty	No license required; limited lifetime warranty

Why we picked it: The Catalyst 1300 replaces the discontinued CBS350. It adds dynamic Layer 3 routing, 10G uplinks and 8-switch stacking at a small-business price, with no license fees. Most models are fanless, so they suit open offices and classrooms.

Top models to buy:

• C1300-8FP-2G: 8 × 1G PoE+ with a 120W budget. Fanless, for small offices.
• C1300-24FP-4X: 24 × 1G PoE+ with 4 × 10G uplinks. Stackable.
• C1300-48FP-4X: 48 × 1G PoE+ with a 740W budget and 4 × 10G uplinks.
• C1300X-24NGU-4X: 16 × 1G and 8 × 5G multigigabit ports, with 60W PoE++ on the 5G ports. Built for Wi-Fi 7 access points.

Watch out for: It runs a Linux-based OS, not IOS XE. If you later move up to Catalyst 9000 switches, your configurations and management tools won't carry over.

→ Shop Cisco Catalyst 1300 switches

5. Cisco Catalyst 1200: Best Budget Cisco Switch

Best for: Small offices, retail stores and home labs that need VLANs, PoE and web management on a tight budget.

Spec	Catalyst 1200
Ports	8–48 × 1G
PoE	Up to 30W PoE+; up to 375W per switch
Uplinks	1G SFP, or 4 × 10G SFP+ on -4X models
Stacking	Not supported
Routing	Static routing only (up to 32 routes)
Management	Web UI, CLI, Cisco Business Dashboard and mobile app
License & warranty	No license required; limited lifetime warranty

Why we picked it: The Catalyst 1200 replaces the discontinued CBS250 as Cisco's entry-level Catalyst line. It still delivers VLANs, QoS, 802.1X security and PoE+. Most models are fanless and silent.

Top models to buy:

• C1200-8FP-2G: 8 × 1G PoE+ with a 120W budget. Compact and fanless.
• C1200-24T-4G: 24 × 1G data ports. Fanless, no PoE.
• C1200-24FP-4G: 24 × 1G PoE+ with a 375W budget.
• C1200-48P-4X: 48 × 1G PoE+ with a 375W budget and 4 × 10G uplinks.

Watch out for: It can't stack and supports only 32 static routes. When you outgrow it, you have to replace it rather than expand it.

→ Shop Cisco Catalyst 1200 switches

6. Cisco Meraki MS150: Best Cloud-Managed Cisco Switch

Best for: Multi-site businesses, retail chains and small IT teams that want to manage every switch from one cloud dashboard.

Spec	Meraki MS150
Ports	24 or 48 × 1G; MP models include 8–16 × 5G multigigabit ports
PoE	Up to 30W PoE+, or 60W on MP multigigabit ports; up to 740W per switch
Uplinks	4 × 1G SFP or 4 × 10G SFP+
Stacking	Up to 8 switches; 80 Gbps via dedicated stacking ports
Routing	Static routing (Layer 2 access switch)
Management	Meraki dashboard (cloud only)
License & warranty	Enterprise or Advanced license, 1–10 years; limited lifetime warranty with next-day advance replacement

Why we picked it: The MS150 is Meraki's stackable access switch and the replacement for the MS210 and MS225. You configure, monitor and update every switch from the Meraki dashboard, with no controller to run on-site. Its MP models add 5G multigigabit ports and 60W PoE for Wi-Fi 7 access points.

Top models to buy:

• MS150-24P-4G: 24 × 1G PoE+ with a 370W budget and 4 × 1G uplinks.
• MS150-48LP-4X: 48 × 1G PoE+ with a 370W budget and 4 × 10G uplinks.
• MS150-48FP-4X: 48 × 1G PoE+ with a 740W budget and 4 × 10G uplinks.
• MS150-48MP-4X: 32 × 1G and 16 × 5G multigigabit ports, with 60W PoE on the 5G ports. Built for Wi-Fi 7.

Watch out for: The MS150 needs an active Meraki license. Under co-term licensing, switches stop passing traffic 30 days after the license expires. Subscription licensing keeps traffic flowing but locks management.

→ Shop Cisco Meraki MS150 switches

7. Cisco Catalyst 9500: Best Core and Aggregation Switch

Best for: Campus cores, distribution layers and collapsed-core designs that need high-speed fiber in a fixed 1RU switch.

Spec	Catalyst 9500 / 9500X
Ports	16–60 fiber ports, 1G to 100G; 400G on 9500X models
PoE	None
Uplinks	Up to 100G on 9500; up to 400G on 9500X
Stacking	StackWise Virtual joins 2 switches into one logical switch
Routing	Full Layer 3, MPLS and BGP EVPN; advanced protocols need Network Advantage
Management	IOS XE, Catalyst Center; Meraki dashboard on non-X models
License & warranty	Mandatory 3-, 5- or 7-year subscription; enhanced limited lifetime warranty

Why we picked it: The 9500 is Cisco's lead fixed core and aggregation platform. The 9500X models add 400G ports, up to 12 Tbps of switching capacity and up to 2 million routes. StackWise Virtual pairs two switches into one resilient core without a chassis.

Top models to buy:

• C9500-24Y4C: 24 × 1/10/25G and 4 × 40/100G. For mid-size distribution.
• C9500-48Y4C: 48 × 1/10/25G and 4 × 40/100G. For dense 25G aggregation.
• C9500-32C: 32 × 40/100G. A 100G campus core.
• C9500X-28C8D: 28 × 40/100G and 8 × 400G. A 400G-ready core.

Watch out for: The 9500X lacks some 9500 features, including Meraki cloud management and VPLS. Check Cisco's feature matrix before choosing an X model.

→ Shop Cisco Catalyst 9500 switches

8. Cisco C9610 Smart Switch: Best Modular Campus Core Switch

Best for: Large campuses, hospitals and universities replacing Catalyst 6500, 6800 or 9600 core switches.

Spec	Cisco C9610
Ports	Up to 448 × 10/25/50G, 256 × 40/100G or 16 × 400G per chassis
PoE	None
Uplinks	40G to 400G on combo line cards
Stacking	Not stackable; 1+1 redundant supervisors with SSO, NSF and ISSU
Routing	Full Layer 3; up to 2 million IPv4 routes (Supervisor 3XL)
Management	IOS XE, Catalyst Center or Meraki dashboard (hybrid mode)
License & warranty	Cisco Switching Advantage only, mandatory 3-year subscription; limited lifetime warranty with next-business-day replacement

Why we picked it: The C9610 is Cisco's newest modular campus core, built on Cisco Silicon One. It delivers up to 51.2 Tbps across 8 line-card slots, with 6.4 Tbps per slot. An adapter lets it reuse existing Catalyst 9600 line cards, which protects earlier hardware investments.

Top models to buy:

• C9610R: 10-slot chassis with 8 line-card slots and 2 supervisor slots.
• C9610-SUP-3: Supervisor for distribution and collapsed-core designs, with up to 1 million routes.
• C9610-SUP-3XL: Supervisor for large cores and internet edge, with up to 2 million routes and 8GB of deep buffer memory.
• C9610-LC-40YL4CD: 40 × 10/25/50G, 2 × 40/100/200G and 2 × 400G.
• C9610-LC-32CD: 30 × 40/100G and 2 × 400G.

Watch out for: It's an 18RU chassis that needs at least four power supplies. Some features, such as StackWise Virtual and SD-Access, weren't available at launch, so confirm your IOS XE release supports what you need.

→ Request a Cisco C9610 configuration quote

9. Cisco Nexus 9300: Best Data Center Switch

Best for: Data centers, server farms and AI clusters that need low-latency leaf and spine switching.

Spec	Nexus 9300
Ports	From 48 × 1–25G (leaf) to 64 × 800G (spine)
PoE	None
Uplinks	6 × 40/100G on leaf models; up to 800G on spine models
Stacking	Not stackable; vPC pairs two switches for redundancy
Routing	Full Layer 3 and VXLAN BGP EVPN; Layer 3 routing needs a DCN license
Management	NX-OS or ACI mode; Nexus Dashboard
License & warranty	DCN Essentials, Advantage or Premier subscription; 1-year limited hardware warranty

Why we picked it: The Nexus 9300 is Cisco's fixed data center switch family, now sold as the Cisco N9300 Series. It runs NX-OS for standalone VXLAN fabrics or ACI for policy-driven automation. Ports scale from 1G to 800G, so one family covers server access through AI spines.

Top models to buy:

• N9K-C93180YC-FX3: 48 × 1/10/25G and 6 × 40/100G. The standard server leaf.
• N9K-C93108TC-FX3: 48 × 100M/1G/10GBASE-T and 6 × 40/100G. For copper-cabled servers.
• N9K-C9332D-GX2B: 32 × 400G in 1RU. A compact 400G spine.
• N9364E-SG2: 64 × 800G with 51.2 Tbps. Built for AI and high-scale spines.

Watch out for: The hardware warranty lasts only one year, not a lifetime, so budget for a support contract from day one.

→ Shop Cisco Nexus 9300 switches

10. Cisco Catalyst 9200CX: Best Compact Fanless Switch

Best for: Classrooms, conference rooms, retail counters and hotels where a full-size switch won't fit and fan noise isn't acceptable.

Spec	Catalyst 9200CX
Ports	8 or 12 × 1G; 4 × 10G multigigabit ports on 8UXG models
PoE	Up to 30W PoE+, or 60W UPOE on 8UXG models; 240W per switch
Uplinks	Up to 2 × 10G SFP+ plus 2 × 1G copper
Stacking	Not supported
Routing	Layer 3 with OSPF, EIGRP, IS-IS and basic BGP
Management	IOS XE CLI, Web UI or Catalyst Center
License & warranty	Mandatory 3-, 5- or 7-year subscription; enhanced limited lifetime warranty

Why we picked it: The 9200CX puts Catalyst 9000 features, including IOS XE, 256-bit MACsec encryption and Layer 3 routing, into a fanless 10.6-inch-wide chassis. Some models draw power from an upstream PoE switch, so they can go where there's no outlet.

Top models to buy:

• C9200CX-12P-2X2G: 12 × 1G PoE+ with 2 × 10G SFP+ and 2 × 1G uplinks.
• C9200CX-8P-2X2G: 8 × 1G PoE+ with the same uplinks.
• C9200CX-8UXG-2X: 4 × 10G multigigabit and 4 × 1G ports with 60W UPOE. Built for multigigabit access points.
• C9200CX-12T-2X2G: 12 × 1G data ports. It can run on power from an upstream PoE switch.

Watch out for: The 240W PoE budget powers only eight devices at the full 30W, even on 12-port models.

→ Shop Cisco Catalyst 9200CX switches

Discontinued Cisco Switches to Avoid in 2026 (and Their Replacements)

Discontinued Model	Last Order Date	Current Replacement
Cisco Business CBS250	Oct 29, 2024 (most models)	Catalyst 1200
Cisco Business CBS350	Oct 29, 2024 (most models)	Catalyst 1300
Catalyst 1000	Apr 30, 2025	Catalyst 1300
Catalyst 2960-X / 2960-XR	Oct 31, 2022	Catalyst 9200L
Catalyst 3650	Oct 31, 2021	Catalyst 9300 / 9300L
Catalyst 3850	Oct 30, 2020 (final models Sep 5, 2023)	Catalyst 9300 or C9350
Catalyst 6807-XL / 6880-X / 6840-X	Oct 30, 2020 – Apr 30, 2022 (by model)	Catalyst 9500 (fixed) or C9610 (modular)
Meraki MS120 / MS125	Mar 28, 2025 (most models)	Meraki MS130
Meraki MS210 / MS225	Apr 30, 2026	Meraki MS150
Meraki MS250 / MS350 / MS355	May 30 – Aug 8, 2025 (by model)	Catalyst 9300-M
Meraki MS390	Mar 28, 2025 (most models)	Catalyst 9300-M
Meraki MS450	Oct 29, 2026	Catalyst 9500 (C9500-32QC)

Best Cisco Switch by Use Case

Best Cisco PoE Switch

The Cisco C9350-48HX is the best Cisco PoE switch. It delivers 90W UPOE+ to all 48 ports at once, with up to 4,320W of total PoE across three power supplies. Its 10G multigigabit ports and up to 400G of uplinks can power Wi-Fi 7 access points, PTZ cameras and LED lighting from a single switch.

Best Cisco 48-Port Switch

The Cisco C9200L-48P-4X is the best 48-port Cisco switch for most offices. It pairs 48 PoE+ ports with four 10G uplinks and IOS XE Layer 3 routing. PoE starts at 740W and rises to 1,440W with a second power supply, and up to eight switches stack into one.

Best Cisco 24-Port Switch

The Cisco C1300-24FP-4X is the best 24-port Cisco switch for small and midsize offices. It combines 24 PoE+ ports, four 10G uplinks and Layer 3 routing with no license fees. Up to eight units stack under one IP address, so a growing office can add ports without adding management work.

Best Cisco 10G Switch

The Cisco C1300-12XT-2X is the best Cisco 10G switch for small networks. It offers 12 × 10G copper ports, 2 × 10G SFP+ ports and 280 Gbps of non-blocking capacity. That suits NAS storage, servers and small server rooms. It needs no license and stacks with other 10G Catalyst 1300 models.

Best Cisco Switch for a Home Lab

The Cisco C9200CX-8P-2X2G is the best Cisco switch for a home lab. It's fanless, powers access points with 240W of PoE+ and adds two 10G SFP+ uplinks. It also runs IOS XE, the same software as enterprise Catalyst switches, so your CCNA and CCNP practice transfers directly. Budget for its required subscription license.

How Much Do Cisco Switches Cost in 2026?

Small-business Catalyst 1200 and 1300 switches cost about $290 to $2,500. Enterprise Catalyst 9000 access switches cost about $1,700 to $11,000. Core and data center switches start around $5,400 and run well past $25,000. Catalyst 9000, Meraki and Nexus switches also require a paid software license.

Series	Price Range (USD, new)	License Cost
Catalyst 1200	$290 – $1,200	None
Catalyst 1300	$340 – $2,500	None
Catalyst 9200 / 9200L	$1,700 – $4,850	$865 – $960 per 3 years (48-port)
Catalyst 9200CX	$1,800 – $2,600	Required subscription (quote)
Catalyst 9300	$1,840 – $9,650	$840 – $1,325 per 3 years (48-port)
Meraki MS150	$2,850 – $3,600 (48-port)	$294 – $672 per 3 years (48-port)
Catalyst 9500	$5,430 – $17,050	Required subscription (quote)
Cisco C9350	$6,200 – $10,950	Required 3-year subscription (quote)
Nexus 9300	$21,450 – $27,920	DCN Essentials, Advantage or Premier (quote)
Cisco C9610	From $26,770 (chassis only)	Required 3-year subscription (quote)

Street prices for new units from US resellers, September 2026. Prices cover hardware only; optics, extra power supplies and support contracts cost extra.

→ Get a volume quote from ORM Systems

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best Cisco switch in 2026?

The Cisco Catalyst 9300 is the best Cisco switch for most businesses in 2026. It combines stacking, up to 90W PoE, multigigabit ports and 100G uplinks, and it can be managed on-premises or from the Meraki cloud. Small businesses should choose the Catalyst 1300, and data centers the Nexus 9300.

What is the best Cisco switch for small business?

The Cisco Catalyst 1300 is the best Cisco switch for small business. It offers PoE+, 10G uplinks, Layer 3 routing and stacking on its 10G-uplink models, with no license fees and a limited lifetime warranty. On a tighter budget, the Catalyst 1200 covers VLANs and PoE+ for less.

Is Cisco Catalyst better than Meraki?

Neither is better overall; each suits a different kind of team. Catalyst switches offer deeper features, full CLI control and on-premises management, which suits teams with network engineers. Meraki switches trade some of that depth for simple cloud management, which suits multi-site businesses with small IT teams. Many Catalyst 9000 switches can also run in the Meraki dashboard.

What is the difference between Catalyst 9200 and 9300?

The Catalyst 9300 is the higher-performance platform. It supports up to 90W UPOE+, 100G uplinks, greater routing scale and up to 1 Tbps of stacking. The Catalyst 9200 tops out at 30W PoE+, 40G uplinks and 160 Gbps of stacking. It costs less, which makes it the better fit for branch offices.

What replaced the Cisco CBS350 and Catalyst 1000?

The Cisco Catalyst 1300 replaced both. Cisco's end-of-life bulletins map each CBS350 and Catalyst 1000 model to a matching Catalyst 1300 part number. For example, the C1000-24P-4G-L maps to the C1300-24P-4G. The CBS250 was replaced by the Catalyst 1200.

Which Cisco switches are end-of-life?

Recently discontinued Cisco switches include the CBS250, CBS350, Catalyst 1000, 2960-X, 3650 and 3850. On the Meraki side, the MS120, MS125, MS210, MS225, MS250, MS350 and MS390 are also discontinued. The Meraki MS450 reaches end-of-sale on October 29, 2026. The discontinued switches table above lists each replacement.

Do Cisco switches have a lifetime warranty?

Most do. Catalyst 1200, 1300 and 9000 switches, C9350 and C9610 smart switches and Meraki MS switches all include a limited lifetime hardware warranty. Catalyst 9000 and Meraki switches add next-business-day replacement. Nexus 9300 data center switches are the exception, with a 1-year limited hardware warranty.

Are Cisco switches worth the price?

For most businesses, yes. Cisco switches come with lifetime warranties, typically about five years of support after a model is discontinued, and a large pool of Cisco-trained engineers. The main extra cost is licensing, because Catalyst 9000, Meraki and Nexus switches need subscriptions. On a tight budget, the license-free Catalyst 1200 and 1300 offer Cisco reliability for less.