An unmanaged switch is the most basic plug-and-play form of the network switch. There is no configuration or control panel, and you have little control over exactly how the switch functions. But unmanaged switches are typically cheaper than managed ones.
A managed switch includes some form of a control panel, usually a built-in web server that you can access from your computer or mobile device. This can add a wealth of functionality to a network switch.
Managed switches can include control over LAN traffic priorities, security rules, failover configuration, and remote troubleshooting of networks. Managed switches can sometimes work in unison to increase the bandwidth over a network.
If price is the only concern, an unmanaged switch will be the best option. But managed switches can bring a great deal of functionality to the table, and they’re often not much more expensive than unmanaged switches.