Having fewer ports makes laptops and tablets lighter and extra inexpensive — however that additionally cuts down in your connectivity choices. In case you’ve acquired a MacBook Air, a slim Chromebook or a pill you’d wish to get extra utility out of, a USB-C hub can assist. Utilizing only a single port in your gadget, these multiport adapters will allow you to hook up screens, faucet into Ethernet cables, join mice and keyboards, and switch information to drives and reminiscence playing cards. Most additionally offer you a approach to energy your gadget via the hub to maximise port availability. We examined over a dozen fashions to provide you with picks for each funds. Listed below are one of the best USB-C hubs, in keeping with our assessments.
Desk of contents
Greatest USB-C hubs for 2026
Photograph by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
Complete downstream ports: 8 | Cable size: 10” | Energy supply: 100W in, 90W to host | USB-C: 1 x USB 3.0, 1 x 3.1 | USB-A: 2 x 5Gbps, 1 x 10Gbps| Monitor: HDMI 2.0 | SD Card: microSD and normal SD | Different ports: Ethernet
The “109” in UGreen’s Revodok Professional 109 USB-C hub doubtless stands for the nine-in-one declare in its advertising and marketing supplies, however since a kind of ports is energy solely, the variety of downstream connectors makes it extra of an eight-in-one. Nevertheless it’s a great-performing hub nonetheless. It has all of the hookups that is likely to be lacking from a contemporary laptop computer, together with SD slots, USB-A ports, an Ethernet connection and a 4K HDMI hookup.
The 4K decision and 60Hz refresh price appeared nice on my take a look at monitor and the information switch charges have been forward of different hubs in its value vary. The pace take a look at on an Ethernet cable was on par with that of a dearer USB-C dock, and I appreciated the design of the microSD slot. Most readers have you ever insert the cardboard all the best way in, counting on a spring mechanism to push it again out while you’re finished. Right here, the tip stands out simply sufficient you could merely pull the cardboard out. These spring-loaded ejectors by no means work on the primary attempt for me, so it is a extra elegant resolution.
There’s only one usable downstream USB-C port; the opposite is barely able to delivering energy to your gadget. I want there was simply one extra USB-C so it might deal with each, say, a USB-C keyboard and webcam. However the three USB-A ports, with one supporting as much as 10Gbps charges, largely make up for that oversight. Total, the hub performs nicely and provides a well-rounded collection of connectors. In case you’d favor a DisplayPort connection and do not want the information card slots, take a look at UGreen’s 8-in-1 Revodok hub.
It was actually a tricky name between this and the Anker 555 8-in-1 for the highest suggestion. They’ve a fairly comparable port array and the Anker USB-C hub is $15 cheaper. However the UGreen hub has a extra premium construct and a twine that is about two inches longer, plus there’s one further USB-A port that would definitely turn out to be useful.
- Good array of ports
- HDMI 2.0 helps 4K displays at 60Hz
- Beneficiant 10-inch cable
- Three USB-A ports
- Only one downstream USB-C port
Photograph by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
Complete downstream ports: 4 | Cable size: 10” | Energy supply: 100W in, 85W to host | USB-C: 1 x USB 10Gbps, 1 x energy supply solely | USB-A: 1 x 10Gbps, 1 x 480Mbps | Monitor: HDMI 2.0 | SD Card: No | Different ports: No
This was my first expertise with a Wavlink product, as I used to be beforehand solely accustomed to them as a Wi-Fi router and extender model. My preliminary impression of the Wavlink USB-C 4K@60Hz was disappointment at its generic identify, however the performance-to-price ratio is so spectacular, it will get a go for the dearth of branding pizazz.
It’s slimmer than most hubs at about an inch-and-a-half vast, but the cable itself is a pair inches longer than the norm. The unit and the cables simply tuck behind a laptop computer, notably because the ports run alongside only one edge, with the HDMI connection on the finish.
The cable can also be braided, making it really feel extra premium than its $30 price ticket would recommend — which is the overall theme right here. The HDMI 2.0 port can deal with a 4K exterior monitor at 60Hz, which ought to be a lot zippy sufficient for a mean workday, and I discovered the decision and lack of lag to be simply as marketed.
One of many two USB-A ports helps speedy 10Gbps transfers and the only USB-C jack is able to the identical price. The webcam carried out nicely, even with a USB-A streaming mild at full brightness (one thing different hubs had hassle with), and I discovered information switch speeds to exterior drives to be on par with and even quicker than dearer hubs.
In fact, having only one downstream USB-C connection places a restrict in your setup: You possibly can have, for instance, a USB-C webcam or a USB-C keyboard plugged in, not each. However should you want one thing with good monitor output, a few high-quality USB ports and a compact design, it is a good decide.
I additionally suggest Plugable’s equally cleverly named USB-C 4-in-1 hub. It’s a greenback cheaper than the Wavlink possibility with an identical array of ports that each one carried out nicely in my assessments. Finally, its shorter tethered cable and single USB-C port that both delivers energy or runs a peripheral led me to favor Wavlink’s mannequin. However should you don’t have to cost your gadget via the port, you get an excellent hub for the cash with Plugable’s gadget.
- Slim and compact
- Beneficiant 10-inch cable
- Nice value
- Only one downstream USB-C port
Photograph by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
Complete downstream ports: 5 | Cable size: 20” | Energy supply: 100W in, 80W to host | USB-C: 4 x USB 3.1 Gen 2, 1 x 4K @60Hz video solely | USB-A: 0 | Monitor: USB-C | SD Card: No | Different ports: No
One problem with most USB-C hubs is an ironic lack of accessible downstream USB-C ports. Many prime out at two, and a kind of usually delivers energy solely and may’t run peripherals. Throughout three keyboard guides, our suggestions overwhelmingly require USB-C connectivity, all however one among our really helpful webcams use USB-C and plenty of exterior storage drives depend on that port as nicely. Which means if you need a hub that connects your keys, digital camera and a drive on the similar time, you need to hunt for one thing appropriate.
The EZQuest Slim Gen 2 hub offers you not only one or two usable Sort-C ports, however 5 of them. It’s additionally one of many few hubs that has a removable cable (and the provided one is a beneficiant 20 inches lengthy). One port is for video output with a claimed 4K output at 60Hz — simply be aware that this connector doesn’t help audio or drive different peripherals. The remaining 4 ports adhere to the USB 3.1 Gen 2 normal, delivering as much as 10Gbps. As with all hub, the extra gadgets you’ve gotten plugged in, the decrease the speeds every port will be capable of ship, in order that max 10-gigabit price is for one port at a time.
The connections have been a lot for my setup, dealing with a keyboard, mouse, webcam and streaming mild all on the similar time. (Since I haven’t got a USB-C monitor, I plugged the HDMI cable immediately into my laptop computer). Even totally loaded, the unit stayed comparatively cool. Whereas the included cable is lengthy, the hub itself is tremendous compact and in regards to the measurement of a Skor bar. All of the ports come out of 1 facet, so just like the funds decide above, it’s straightforward to rearrange all of your connections to look neat in your desk.
- Loads of USB-C ports
- Removable and lengthy 20-inch cable
- No USB-A ports
- No HDMI port (helps USB-C video)
Photograph by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
Complete downstream ports: 8 | Cable size: 9” | Energy supply: 100W in, 85W to host | USB-C: 2 x USB 10Gbps, 1 x energy supply and 10 Gbps | USB-A: 2 x 5Gbps | Monitor: 1x HDMI 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.0 | SD Card: No | Different ports: Ethernet
At $140, the worth of Belkin’s Join Common hub is edging into docking-station territory. Nevertheless it doesn’t require a devoted energy provide and it has a compact construct, so it’s nonetheless decidedly a hub. That value bump does get you a couple of options that the majority hubs don’t have, specifically the choice of three USB-C ports (one port can be utilized for both energy supply or accent help) and twin prolonged shows with an Apple MacBook (after you obtain the SiliconMotion driver).
Quite a lot of the hubs I examined had twin HDMI ports, however the second exterior show was solely able to mirroring the primary monitor and invariably dropped the decision of each supplemental screens. SiliconMotion’s InstantView software program will get round that by basically “sharing” a view of a tertiary display screen with the second monitor. That second monitor has a most refresh price of 30Hz for 4K resolutions, however the first exterior show retains its 4K@60Hz visuals. I haven’t examined each possibility on the market, however from what I’ve seen, that’s fairly good for a USB-C hub — something extra and also you’re doubtless a docking station.
The Join Common 8-in-1 is on the bigger finish of the spectrum for this class, measuring about the identical as an iPhone however about twice as thick. The multitude of plugs meant I might run a webcam, keyboard, mouse, Litra mild, two displays and join an Ethernet cable. There was nonetheless one USB-C port left over for an exterior drive or energy (although I simply used my MacBook’s MagSafe port). And since they’re all on one facet, the association on a desk appears tidy, avoiding the spidery look of a hub with ports on all sides.
Shunting all of this connectivity does make the unit get fairly sizzling: it appeared to get hotter than all the different items I attempted. Whereas I by no means observed any in poor health results consequently, I solely used it over the course of a pair days and ponder whether there’d be any heat-related points with prolonged use.
- A number of ports
- Good number of ports
- Driver permits for 2 prolonged exterior shows
- Costly
- Will get highly regarded throughout use
Amy Skorheim for Engadget
Complete downstream ports: 6 | Cable size: 6” | Energy supply: 100W in, 80W to host | USB-C: Energy solely | USB-A: 2 x 5Gbps | Monitor: HDMI 2.0 | SD Card: microSD and normal SD | Different ports: Ethernet
Different USB-C hubs could also be cheaper and have extra ports, however virtually none have a design this intelligent. The Satechi OntheGo 7-in-1 hub is a small spherical puck that appears much like the model’s OntheGo telephone and watch charger — each are cute and really moveable. This one has the added comfort of a MagSafe attachment level, so you’ll be able to snap it onto your iPhone when you’re utilizing it to entry a flash drive or microSD card. It even comes with an adhesive ring so you’ll be able to connect the hub elsewhere, just like the again of your laptop.
The hub itself has an HDMI port, an Ethernet connection and slots for micro and SD playing cards. There’s a 100W energy supply port that may go 80W to your laptop computer or pill — however that’s it for USB-C receptacles. Simply two 5Gbps Sort-A ports deal with peripherals and exterior drives. This in all probability isn’t the adapter to get should you’re hoping to make use of a number of equipment or want speedy exterior information exchanges. However should you’re out there for an unobtrusive and cleverly designed hub, it is a good selection.
- Distinctive magnetic attachment
- No downstream USB-C ports
What to search for in a USB-C hub
Hub vs docking station
The very first thing to determine is whether or not you want a USB-C hub or a USB-C docking station. There’s no set normal for what differentiates the 2, however docking stations are likely to have extra ports, supply a separate DC energy adapter and price extra, with some reaching upwards of $400. Now we have a separate information to the greatest docking stations to take a look at should you’re searching for one thing greater than what we’re discussing right here. USB-C hubs, in distinction, have between 4 and 10 ports, can help pass-through charging and sometimes value between $30 and $150.
Hubs, generally additionally referred to as dongles and even multiport adapters, make extra sense for smaller setups with only a few peripherals, corresponding to a monitor, a wired keyboard and mouse, and the occasional exterior drive. They’re additionally extra moveable, since they’re small and require no devoted energy. That could possibly be helpful should you change work areas however wish to carry your equipment with you, or if you wish to change your laptop computer with a extra highly effective pill. A docking station or Thunderbolt dock makes extra sense for somebody who wants a strong setup for his or her laptop computer, together with a number of exterior displays, webcams, stream decks, microphones and so forth.
Each docks and hubs make it straightforward to seize your laptop computer off your desk for a gathering or different temporary relocation and while you get again, you solely have to plug in a single cable to get all of your equipment reconnected. In fact, should you simply have to plug in a single peripheral, chances are you’ll not want a hub or a dock, a easy USB-C adapter, like HDMI to USB-C or USB-A to USB-C, might do the trick.
Ports
For a USB-C hub to work, it wants to connect with a port in your laptop computer or pill that helps video, information and energy — all of which is roofed by something listed as USB 3.0 or higher, together with USB4 and Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4. The port, in fact, must be Sort-C as nicely. The ocean of laptops out there’s huge, so it’s arduous to make generalizations, however fashionable laptops, together with Home windows and Apple fashions, ought to have a minimum of one USB-C port that can suffice, and certainly, each one among our prime picks for the greatest laptops do — together with our prime decide, the M4 MacBook Air.
Subsequent, it’s a matter of discovering an excellent USB-C hub that has the suitable connections to your wants. Most hubs supply some combo of HDMI, USB, SD card reader, Ethernet and three.5 mm ports. When you have a 4K monitor and would really like a minimum of a 60Hz refresh price, you’ll want a hub with an HDMI 2.0 port — HDMI 1.4 solely goes as much as 30Hz. HDMI 2.1 will deal with 4K at as much as 120Hz, however hubs which have adopted that normal aren’t as widespread simply but. Needless to say a low refresh price may cause your display screen to really feel laggy, making your mouse seem glitchy and your webcam actions to look delayed.
Further USB ports on these equipment are often USB Sort-A or USB Sort-C. They’ll help information with completely different switch charges, sometimes 5Gbps or 10Gbps. Some ports solely deal with passthrough energy and no information, and a few can do information, energy and video, so it’s greatest to test the spec listing to be sure to’re getting the help you want. Needless to say a hub might invoice itself as a 7-in-1, however a kind of ports will not be usable for something apart from charging.
Normal SD and microSD playing cards are helpful for transferring information from cameras and the like or for offloading information out of your arduous drive, and plenty of hubs have these slots. Ethernet ports might ship quicker web speeds than your Wi-Fi and a hub with a 3.5mm jack can carry again the wired headphone connection that some laptops have ditched.
Energy supply
Practically all the USB-C hubs I examined help passthrough charging. Which means in case your laptop computer or pill solely costs through USB, you don’t need to take up one other port in your laptop computer to maintain every thing topped up. Not like a docking station, powering a hub is non-compulsory. The one exception is if you wish to shut the lid in your laptop computer when you work on an exterior monitor. Most computer systems will go into sleep mode if the lid is closed with out energy, so both the laptop computer or the hub will should be plugged into the wall to forestall that from taking place.
Lots of the newer hubs embody a 100W USB-C energy supply (PD) port, with a wholesome 80 to 85 watts going to your Mac, PC, iPad or Android pill (the hubs take slightly of the juice for themselves, therefore the 15-watt or so distinction). In my assessments, a powered USB hub ran hotter than when it wasn’t passing the cost via, so I favor to energy the pc immediately utilizing its personal charger. However for tablets or different units with no further ports, that PD possibility is necessary.
Some PD ports are additionally information ports — which is each good and dangerous. On one hand, it feels wasteful to make use of a wonderfully good information port only for boring previous electrical energy. However however, USB-C connections that solely carry a cost are much less versatile, and it makes it look like it has extra accent hookups than it really does.
Design
There’s surprisingly little design variation amongst hubs. Most appear like a flat slab, slightly smaller than a smartphone, and have an hooked up Sort-C host cable. The hues vary from a silvery black to a silvery grey. Some are thinner than others, some have all ports on one edge and a few have ports on each side. All of that is simply to say that aesthetics in all probability gained’t make or break your shopping for choice.
One variation that would tip the scales is the size of the cable. An extended one offers you extra freedom as you organize the hub in your desk, probably even letting you disguise it behind your laptop computer. Or chances are you’ll favor a shorter one to maintain the hub neatly set beside your laptop computer.
How we take a look at USB-C hubs
Earlier than we take a look at something, we check out what’s out there and the way they’ve been acquired by customers, forum-goers and different publications. I grew to become accustomed to a couple of respected manufacturers after I was testing docking stations, so I appeared into hubs from these firms as nicely. I targeted on gadgets that may assist with a mean day of productiveness — not high-end setups or demanding gaming conditions. As soon as I settled on a dozen or so that may make good candidates, I had them shipped to my humble workplace within the desert and began testing them out over the course of some weeks.
I used an M1 MacBook Professional operating MacOS Sonoma because the host laptop and plugged in equipment that embody a 4K Dell monitor, a ZSA USB-C ergo keyboard, a Logitech USB-A gaming mouse, an Elgato USB-C 4K webcam, a Logitech streaming mild, a USB-A 3.0 Sandisk thumb drive, a USB-C Samsung T7 Protect exterior drive and a pair of wired headphones I acquired free of charge on an airplane (I ought to in all probability spend money on some wired headphones, however the twine dangling on my chest drives me nutty so all my earbuds are wi-fi). I used high-end HDMI and USB-C cables to make sure that any information or connectivity points weren’t associated to my tools.
Then I put every USB-C hub via a gamut of fundamental assessments. I checked out what could possibly be plugged in directly, the decision on the monitor, information switch speeds, the general construct high quality of the hub and basic usability components, like the position of the ports and the size of the cords. And, lastly, the price-to-value ratio helped decide one of the best ones for a couple of completely different use circumstances.
Different hubs we examined
HyperDrive Subsequent 10 Port USB-C Hub
There’s quite a bit to love about HyperDrive’s Subsequent 10 Port USB-C Hub. The tethered cable is a lavish 13 inches lengthy, the HDMI 2.0 port outputs clear and crisp 4K visuals at 60Hz and the high-speed information transfers are nice. It has the coveted two USB-C information ports plus a PD port, and there’s even a headphone jack. The one factor that holds again a full-throated endorsement is the best way our unit dealt with a streaming mild. Having it on at full brightness made the webcam flicker each time. The problem went away at 75 p.c brightness, however the identical downside didn’t occur on some other hub I examined.
Anker 341 USB-C Hub (7-in-1)
There’s nothing fallacious with the Anker 341 USB-C hub. In truth it’s a present suggestion in our iPad equipment information and it comes at an amazing $35 value. It offers you two USB-A ports in addition to SD slots. However at this level, a 1.4 HDMI connection, which solely helps 4K decision at 30Hz feels slightly retro. There’s additionally only a single USB-C downstream port and the information switch assessments proved to be a contact slower than the opposite hubs. However should you’ve acquired a decrease decision monitor and don’t want a couple of USB-C, you gained’t be disillusioned with it.
Anker 555 8-in-1
It was a tricky name between the UGreen Revodoc Professional 109 and the Anker 555 8-in-1 for our prime suggestion. Each have an identical port array with an HDMI, Ethernet, two USB Sort A, a PD USB-C and a USB-C 3.2 on the 555. And the Anker USB-C hub is $15 cheaper. We went with the UGreen hub for its extra premium construct, further USB-A port and longer twine that offers you two further inches to work with. However if you wish to save a couple of dollars this hub is a worthwhile decide.
Startech 4-Port USB-C Hub (information solely)
I solely grew to become conscious of Startech after I began researching for this information. The standard is first rate and the yellow accents are a welcome little bit of shade within the in any other case very grey world of hubs. The efficiency is strong, with no hiccups that I encountered. The model’s 4-Port USB-C Hub has an extended twine that wraps across the hub itself, which is exclusive. It doesn’t hassle with energy supply, which isn’t a difficulty should you can energy your laptop immediately. However the 4 USB ports (three Sort-A and one Sort-C) max out at 5Gbps and there’s no HDMI connector. It goes for $46, and sadly for it, there are cheaper methods to get a couple of extra USB ports to your setup.
Latest updates
January 2026: Added an honorable point out from Satechi.
