SFP vs SFP+ vs QSFP Transceivers, Explained
SFP modules carry 1 Gbps, SFP+ 10 Gbps and SFP28 25 Gbps in the same small cage, while the wider QSFP family bundles four lanes for 40, 100 Gbps and more.
By Andrian ChengContributing writer.
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The short answer
A transceiver is a small plug-in module that turns a switch, router or network card port into a fiber or copper link. The name tells you the size of the cage it fits and its speed:
- SFP: 1 Gbps.
- SFP+: 10 Gbps, same size as SFP.
- SFP28: 25 Gbps, same size again.
- QSFP family: a wider cage with four lanes, for 40 Gbps (QSFP+), 100 Gbps (QSFP28) and up.
Match the module to the port type and speed on both ends, and to the cable or fiber between them.
Of the 1,004 network transceivers listed on Wiki Shopping on October 27, 2026, 268 are listed at 10 Gbps, 173 at 100 Gbps and 145 at 1 Gbps.
SFP vs SFP+ vs SFP28 vs QSFP compared
| Form factor | Speed | Lanes | Accepts older modules |
|---|---|---|---|
| SFP | 1 Gbps | 1 | 100 Mbps SFP |
| SFP+ | 10 Gbps | 1 | SFP |
| SFP28 | 25 Gbps | 1 | SFP, SFP+ |
| QSFP+ | 40 Gbps | 4 | None |
| QSFP28 | 100 Gbps | 4 | QSFP+ |
| QSFP56 | 200 Gbps | 4 | QSFP+, QSFP28 |
| QSFP-DD | 400 Gbps | 8 | QSFP+, QSFP28, QSFP56 |
The SFP line comes from industry agreements published by the SFF committee, starting with SFP in 2001. Backward compatible means the newer cage accepts the older modules listed; check that your device also supports the lower speed.
SFP vs SFP+: what changes
SFP and SFP+ modules have the same dimensions and fit the same cage shape, so you cannot tell them apart by size. The difference is the speed: SFP+ carries ten times as much. SFP+ is the most common port on 10 Gbps equipment, including many 10GbE network cards.
QSFP and breakout cables
A QSFP port bundles four lanes. An adapter lets a single SFP module fit a QSFP port, using one lane. Breakout (fanout) cables split one QSFP28 port into four SFP28 links, for example to connect several servers to one fast switch port. On Wiki Shopping, 173 listings are QSFP28 modules and 36 are QSFP+.
Fiber, copper or direct attach
| Medium | Typical reach | Modules on Wiki Shopping |
|---|---|---|
| Multimode fiber, 850 nm | Up to 550 m at 1 Gbps | 215 |
| Single-mode fiber, 1310 nm | Up to 10 km at 1 Gbps | 322 |
| Direct attach copper (DAC) | Up to 7 m passive, 15 m active (SFP+) | 94 |
| Active optical cable (AOC) | Up to 100 m (SFP+) | 16 |
| RJ45 copper module | Uses Ethernet cable | 98 |
Longer single-mode modules at 1550 nm reach 80 km or more. For short runs inside one rack, a DAC cable is the simplest choice: the modules are fixed to both ends of the cable. Common 1 Gbps fiber modules (SX and LX) use LC connectors; 232 listings on Wiki Shopping state an LC connector.
Some listings name the switch brand a module is made for. On Wiki Shopping, 140 listings are labeled for Cisco. Check your switch maker's compatibility list before buying.
How we count
Counts are the Wiki Shopping filter pages for network transceivers, read from our database on October 27, 2026. A module counts when its store listing states the form factor, speed, medium or connector. Listings that do not state a value are left out, and the counts change as listings are added or removed.
Shop by spec
Network Transceivers
SFP+, 10 Speed, Single-mode fiber, LC
Omada 10G Base-LR SFP+ Module, Single Mode, Universal Compatible(SM5110-LR) | Hot-Pluggable, Up to 10km Distance,- Single-Mode SFP+ Module, Supports full-duplex
- Wavelength: 1310nm. Data Rate: 10Gbps. Port Type: LC Duplex
- Max. Cable Length: 10km using 9/125um Single-Mode Fiber
- Always keep the protective dust plug on the SFP's optical bores until you are ready to make a connection
- Hot-Pluggable with maximum flexibility
SFP+, 10 Speed, Single-mode fiber, 1550 nm
- MSA UNCODED SFP+ TRANSCEIVER: Designed, programmed and tested to work with compatible MSA compliant switches and routers to deliver dependable 10GbE connectivity
- TECHNICAL SPECS: 10GBASE-ZR | 10Gbps | Single Mode (SMF) | LC Connector | 1550nm | Digital Diagnostic Monitoring (DDM) | Distances up to 80km (49.7mi)
- TESTED FOR COMPATIBILITY: Hot-swappable in MSA compliant routers and switches; DDM support reports the transceiver's status to most SNMP network management tools.
- WORKS WITH MSA COMPLIANT SWITCHES: Also works with switch models from Ubiquiti, D-Link, Netgear, Supermicro, TP-Link and more that accept uncoded modules.
SFP, 1 Speed, Single-mode fiber, LC
Omada 1.25GBase-LX SMF, Single-Mode LC, GBIC, SFP Module(SM311LS) | Universal Compatible, Hot-Pluggable, Up to 20km- Single-Mode MiniGBIC module, Supports full-duplex
- Wave Length: 1310nm. Data Rate: 1.25Gbps. Port Type: LC/UPC
- Max. Cable Length: 12.4miles (20km) for 9/125um Single-Mode Fiber
- Always keep the protective dust plug on the SFP’s optical bores until you are ready to make a connection
- Compatible with all SFP ports on TP-Link product including JetStream switches, and media converter MC220L
- Work with MC210CS with single mode fiber connection
SFP+, 10 Speed, Multimode fiber
- SFP+ offers enhanced dependability with maximum productivity
- With 10GBase-X technology, enjoy up to 10Gbps data transfer rate over supported network cable
- Optimize the network's performance with 10 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity
- Optical fiber cable compatible - Spans afar and provides speedy data transmission rates between servers and network components
- Typically used for short distance, multi-mode fiber optic is ideal to carry data and transmit audio/video applications within a building
- SFP+ with data networking application/usage for maximum dependability and convenience