W5500 vs ENC28J60 vs DM9051: SPI Ethernet Chip Comparison
All three add Ethernet to an MCU over SPI, but their architectures differ: the W5500 has a hardwired TCP/IP stack, the ENC28J60 is a 10 Mbps MAC+PHY needing a software stack, and the DM9051 is a 10/100M SPI MAC+PHY. Key comparison below.
| Our pick W5500 WIZnet | ENC28J60 Microchip | DM9051 DAVICOM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Host interface | SPI | SPI | SPI |
| Speed | 10/100 M | 10 M | 10/100 M |
| TCP/IP stack | Hardwired | Software stack | Software stack |
| HW sockets | 8 | — | — |
| Internal buffer | 32 KB | 8 KB | 16 KB |
| Checksum offload | In hardwired stack | — | Yes |
| Best for | Offload the MCU, fast bring-up | Legacy designs (replace) | ESP32 / lwIP ecosystem |
Which should you choose?
For limited resources or fastest bring-up, choose the W5500 (stack on-chip); if you are on ESP32/lwIP and want 10/100M with flexibility, choose the DM9051; the ENC28J60 is an older 10 Mbps option — replace it with the W5500 or DM9051 when short.
Cross-references
Frequently asked questions
Biggest difference between ENC28J60 and W5500? ▾
The W5500 has a hardwired TCP/IP stack with 8 sockets, so the MCU barely touches the protocol; the ENC28J60 is just a 10 Mbps MAC+PHY — you run the stack on the MCU, which costs resources.