Guide
Catalyst 9200 or 9300?
Both are business switches with Cisco IOS XE and the same licensing model, but they differ in uplink speed, stacking and PoE budget. Here are the differences that actually affect the choice – and what they cost with us.
Side by side
Comparison
| Feature | Catalyst 9200L 24-port PoE+, 4× 1G (Network Essentials) C9200L-24P-4G-E | Catalyst 9200 24-port PoE+ (Network Essentials) C9200-24P-E | Catalyst 9300L 24-port PoE+, 4× 1G (Network Essentials) C9300L-24P-4G-E | Catalyst 9300 24-port PoE+ (Network Essentials) C9300-24P-E |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ports | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
| PoE budget (W) | 370 | 370 | 505 | 445 |
| Uplink | 4× SFP | Network module selected separately (C9200-NM-…) | 4× SFP | Network module selected separately (C9300-NM-…) |
| Management | CLI, Catalyst Center | CLI, Catalyst Center | CLI, Catalyst Center | CLI, Catalyst Center |
| Licence | Subscription (Catalyst Essentials/Advantage, 3/5/7 years) required at purchase – choose it under Accessories and support (or let us add the right licence in the quote) | Subscription (Catalyst Essentials/Advantage) required at purchase. Uplink module ordered separately. | Subscription (Catalyst Essentials/Advantage, 3/5/7 years) required at purchase – choose it when adding to the quote basket | Subscription (Catalyst Essentials or Advantage, 3/5/7 years) required at purchase – Network Advantage models (-A) require Catalyst Advantage. Choose it on the product page or in the quote basket |
| Our price |
Our price
€1,654
excl. VAT · hardware
|
Our price
€2,469
excl. VAT · hardware
|
Our price
€3,537
excl. VAT · hardware
|
Our price
€4,154
excl. VAT · hardware
|
| Add |
All prices are maximum prices – the quote is never higher, and often lower for larger volumes. Prices are excl. VAT, shipping extra. How the maximum price works
Short answer
Choose the 9200 series for regular office networks where the switch mainly connects computers, phones and access points. Choose the 9300 series when you need faster stacking, a higher PoE budget, modular uplinks up to 40G (100G on the 9300X) or features such as SD-Access. Both require a Catalyst subscription; the 9200L is cheapest because its uplinks are fixed.
How do the uplinks differ?
The 9200L has fixed uplinks set by the part number: -4G gives four 1G ports and -4X four 10G. The 9200 without L, the C9300 and the C9300X instead have a module slot (C9300L and C9300LM have fixed uplinks), where the uplink module is ordered separately. That costs a little more but lets the switch keep up as the network grows from 1G to 10G or 25G.
- 9200L: fixed uplinks, lowest price, nothing extra to order
- 9200: modular uplink (C9200-NM-…), 1G or 10G – 25G and 40G only on the 24PXG/48PXG
- 9300: modular uplink (C9300-NM-…), up to 100G on the 9300X
Read more: Uplink modules – which one? · How to read the part number
How much PoE do you need?
The PoE budget decides how many access points, cameras and phones can be powered over the network cable. The figures in the table above apply with one power supply. With two power supplies the budget increases, which is worth considering at 15–20 access points or if you plan for Wi-Fi 7.
Read more: PoE – is there enough power?
Is a licence needed on both?
Cisco requires a subscription (Catalyst Essentials or Advantage) when buying both the 9200 and the 9300. It is not included in the hardware price and is chosen on the product page for 3, 5 or 7 years. Essentials is enough for most office networks; Advantage is mainly needed for segmentation with SD-Access and more advanced analytics.
Read more: Essentials or Advantage? · What does a Cisco licence cost?
Conclusion
How we would choose
Our recommendation, based on what most offices actually need:
Catalyst 9200L 24-port PoE+, 4× 1G (Network Essentials)
Office networks up to a couple of floors, 1G to the server and no plans for SD-Access.
Catalyst 9300L 24-port PoE+, 4× 1G (Network Essentials)
You want fast stacking and a longer lifespan, but fixed 1G uplinks are enough.
Catalyst 9300 24-port PoE+ (Network Advantage)
The network will grow: modular uplink to 10G or 25G, high PoE budget and SD-Access in the future.
Frequently asked questions
Questions we often get
Can I stack a 9200 with a 9300?
No. The C9300 and C9300X can stack together, the C9300L only with C9300L/C9300LM, and the C9200 only with C9200 (C9200L with C9200L). All switches in a stack must have the same licence level, and the stacking cables (max 3 m) are ordered separately.
Do I need to buy the uplink module at the same time?
Yes, for the 9200 without L and for the 9300. We add the right module in the quote if you are unsure which one fits.
What happens when the licence expires?
The switch keeps working, but the features included in the subscription stop applying. Hardware support (Smart Net) is a separate contract. We remind you well before renewal.