Finest USB-C hubs and dongles 2025: Finances, premium, docks, and extra

The most effective USB-C hubs increase your laptop computer’s capabilities, including legacy port connections the place none existed earlier than. That is essential to help wired connections to mice, keyboard, printers, and different peripherals.

You’ll need to pay shut consideration to cost and ports. I’ve organized my picks with these issues in thoughts. You’ll discover conventional, ultraportable USB-C hubs on prime, adopted by extra sturdy USB-C docking stations under. A superb USB-C hub is light-weight and versatile sufficient to be taken on the street, whereas a USB-C docking station stays at residence.

I’ll additionally introduce you to DisplayLink docks, an improved model that provides hardware-based compression to maneuver extra information over the USB-C port. Extra superior options lie inside the perfect Thunderbolt docks, which I’ve listed in a separate article. It could actually all be somewhat complicated, so I’ve included an expanded FAQ and a shopping for information under my suggestions that will help you make sense of all of it.

Why you must belief me: I’ve written about know-how for 30 years, and have compiled this roundup of the perfect USB-C hubs and dongles since 2022, after I began reviewing dozens of those merchandise. I perceive precisely how advanced the straightforward USB-C port will be and what know-how works finest with it.

Anker 555 8-in-1 USB-C Hub – Finest general USB-C hub

Execs

• Good worth for the cash
• Wonderful construct high quality
• Provides 85W of energy
• Good mixture of legacy and newer ports

Finest Costs At the moment:

₹10,499

Why I just like the Anker 555 8-in-1 USB-C Hub

Can a USB-C hub really feel elegant? This one does. Anker’s 8-in-1 USB-C hub feels surprisingly weighty (4.5 ounces), with a premium metallic (aluminum and polycarbonate) sheen that retains the hub cool. Total, Anker’s hub is nicely designed, with satisfactory spacing between the 2 5Gbps USB-A ports. There’s additionally a 5Gbps USB-C connection for information, plus a second USB-C port for energy enter at as much as 85W rated. (The charger permits as much as 100W in, however provides 85W.) There’s each an SD card slot and a microSD card slot, too.

I had beforehand really helpful Anker’s 7-in-1 Hub as a substitute. Each hubs are comparable, however this improve provides two issues: an Ethernet port, and an HDMI port able to 60Hz. The sooner choose output simply 30Hz, and that functionality was getting a bit outdated.

The hub presents an 18-month guarantee, and it even ships with a carrying pouch.  I believe this hub consists of the correct mix of ports for the correct worth.

Who should purchase the Anker 555 8-in-1 USB-C Hub

That is our greatest choose, so I’d suggest it to simply about anybody. Most customers will be capable to make the most of the USB-A ports for legacy mice and keyboards, the HDMI port, a USB-C port, and Ethernet. These are the ports I’d anticipate on a tool like this. In the event you’re searching for extra show ports or extra USB-C connections, nonetheless, you’ll want to purchase a extra premium machine.

Hiearcool USB-C Hub – Finest price range USB-C hub

Execs

• Simply the fundamentals
• Strong worth
• 100W pass-through charging

Why I just like the Hiearcool USB-C Hub

Let’s face it: In the event you’ve ever browsed Amazon’s stock of USB-C hubs, it’s simple to be overwhelmed. I can inform you that I consider worth closely on a few of these picks, and it is a USB-C hub that I’ve personally used. It really works, it presents a myriad of ports, and it does so at a really, superb worth. (This hub dates again to after I first began this web page, and didn’t concern particular person critiques of each product.) It even ships in a number of colours, which is helpful when peering into the depths of a journey bag or briefcase.

This hub features a pair of USB-A ports, microSD and SD card slots, and an HDMI port, and that’s all. It accepts as much as a rated 100W of USB-C enter charging, too.

Who should purchase the Hiearcool USB-C Hub

It is a hub for fundamental growth, particularly for those who personal an older laptop computer. It has one HDMI port that’s solely able to 4K decision at a fatiguing 30Hz. Nevertheless, it should work simply advantageous for an single exterior 1080 show or perhaps a 1440p monitor, for those who personal one. The 2 USB-A ports are designed for a mouse and keyboard, or a printer. In the event you want one thing low cost and succesful, this hub will work simply advantageous.

Monoprice 13-in-1 Twin-HDMI + DP MST Dock – Finest premium USB-C hub

Execs

• A number of show prospects
• Tons of ports

Cons

• Complicated documentation
• Gradual SD card slot
• Quite a few high-speed ports can get clogged by the primary 10Gbps USB-C connection

Why I just like the Monoprice 13-in-1 Twin-HDMI + DP MST Dock

Monoprice calls this a dock, however it sits throughout the conventional hub type issue — and it’s priced like a hub, too. This 13-in-1 USB-C hub does all of it, together with connecting to 2 4K shows (one at 60Hz, one at 30Hz). It does so by utilizing help for built-in compression methods inside fashionable laptops to squeeze more practical throughput over the 10Gbps USB-C port. There are completely gobs of ports, together with 5 USB-A ports (two at 480Mbps for mice and keyboards), the 2 HDMI 1.2 connections, and even a DisplayPort port.

There’s even an influence enter jack, so you need to use your laptop computer’s charger and feed as much as a examined 87W into the laptop computer. There aren’t any USB-C ports, however the assumption is that you need to use your laptop computer for that.

Who should purchase the Monoprice 13-in-1 Twin-HDMI + DP MST Dock

In the event you personal a contemporary laptop computer and wish entry to a ton of legacy ports for an inexpensive worth, this Monoprice hub/dock needs to be your selection. You have to personal a contemporary laptop computer, although; a Microsoft Floor E book 2 with an Eighth-gen Core chip inside didn’t produce any output over its USB-C port; a number of latest Samsung and Floor laptops with Twelfth-gen and Thirteenth-gen Core chips inside labored nicely, although.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t level out this hub is priced like a dock! If it’s an excessive amount of, think about one among our cheaper options.

Learn our full

Monoprice 13-in-1 Twin-HDMI + DP MST Dock overview

Cyber Acoustics DS-1000 Docking Station – Finest full-size USB-C docking station

Execs

• It really works…with the correct {hardware}
• Nice compact design
• Strong worth for the value

Cons

• You’ll want a latest laptop computer for compatibility, and it’s not a given

Finest Costs At the moment:

$189.99

Why I just like the Cyber Acoustics DS-1000 Docking Station

A docking station sometimes presents extra ports and a devoted energy provide. What I like about this Cyber Acoustics dock is that it may drive two 4K shows if it’s essential to, at 60Hz decision. It can also fast-charge a smartphone with its built-in USB-C dock, which a bus-powered USB hub like those above can’t do. It additionally places out about 90W to your laptop computer, which is sufficient to energy most laptops. You’ll discover it has each the USB-C port in addition to 5 USB-A ports, a lot for growth, plus the HDMI connections and even Ethernet.

The catch is that this actually solely works nicely on Twelfth-gen Core laptops and above. It makes use of a little bit of black magic referred to as HBR3 with DSC to push compressed information via the 10Gbps USB-C connection, and in my expertise something Eleventh-gen and older dangers it not working in any respect. I actually like this dock, however my ranking is weighted by the necessity for contemporary {hardware}.

Who should purchase the Cyber Acoustics DS-1000 Docking Station

In the event you purchase this docking station, you’ll need to go away it in your desk, with a monitor or two and a number of other peripherals connected. USB-C dongles are transportable by nature, and you need to use one among our earlier recommendations for engaged on the street. This dock can also be fitted to somebody who plans to work with two shows, quite than only one. Is it higher than a Thunderbolt dock? Probably not, however if in case you have a laptop computer with out Thunderbolt, this will approximate the capabilities of these gadgets.

Simply to reiterate, nonetheless: You’ll want a contemporary laptop computer, with a Twelfth-gen Core chip and above, for this dock to work its magic. If in case you have an older laptop computer, this isn’t the machine for you.

Learn our full

Cyber Acoustics DS-1000 Important Laptop computer Docking Station overview

Dockcase Good USB-C Hub 10-in-1 Explorer Version – Finest full-size USB-C docking station runner-up

Execs

• Detailed, informative LCD show
• Wonderful info and controls
• Prime-notch efficiency
• Odd however aggressive pricing scheme

Cons

• No guide?!
• Some instability
• Extra charging energy wanted
• Calls for an up-to-date laptop computer for finest outcomes

Finest Costs At the moment:

₹14,895

Why I just like the Dockcase Good USB-C Hub 10-in-1 Explorer Version

A part of me loves the sheer nerdiness of the Dockcase 10-in-1 Dock, if solely as a result of I’ve by no means seen something prefer it when it comes to the knowledge it presents.

Not solely is the metallic hub bigger than most, with a number of exterior connectors that designate a premium hub, however there’s an precise show: A small LCD display screen offers an in depth take a look at what gadgets are related to every port and what their capabilities are. Put one other means, the Dockcase Good USB-C Hub 10-in-1 feels extra like an OBD2 diagnostic machine to your automotive, or a USB multimeter.

As a dock, it’s wonderful. As a instrument, it may use some enchancment: The interface is extraordinarily clunky, and Dockcase actually doesn’t actually have a guide that explains all of it. However this machine can also be sufficiently small that it fulfills the necessities of a docking station with out it being ungainly.

Who should purchase the Dockcase Good USB-C Hub 10-in-1 Explorer Version

Nerds. Yep, this is likely one of the nerdiest merchandise I’ve ever used, and I like and detest the way it simply permits you to type of uncover what it may do. But it surely tells you what your laptop computer is connecting to and the way it’s working! It even reviews glitches! I really like that.

Are you the kind of one who owns an OBD scanner to diagnose any points along with your automotive? If you’re, that is the USB-C hub for you.

Learn our full

Dockcase Good USB-C Hub 10-in-1 Explorer Version overview

IOGEAR Journey Professional USB-C Mini Dock (GUD3C460) – Finest compact/journey USB-C docking station

Execs

• One of many smallest docks available on the market
• Minimizes desk litter

Why I just like the IOGEAR Journey Professional USB-C Mini Dock (GUD3C460)

At 2.8 x 0.31 x 1.22 inches, IOgear’s Journey Professional Mini Dock is an odd duck: a reasonable, comparatively tiny USB-C dock that plugs immediately into your laptop computer, with out a connecting wire. USB-C energy enter at as much as 60Hz, USB-A, HDMI (at as much as 4K60), and a headphone jack: easy and efficient. It’s a minimalist answer in all elements.

Who should purchase the IOGEAR Journey Professional USB-C Mini Dock (GUD3C460)

Possibly you may have neck or again points, or simply need the lightest laptop computer and peripherals potential. You hate litter. This IOGEAR Mini Dock slides proper into an obtainable USB-C port and offers growth capabilities with out a complete lot of fuss. That is actually the smallest USB-C dock I’ve seen, and for some folks that issues.

The one factor I don’t like about it: In the event you personal a laptop computer with a number of ports spaced intently collectively, the Mini Dock could block entry. That will make it a handicap, so make sure and examine before you purchase.

Ugreen 9-in-1 USB-C (Revodok) Docking Station CM615 – Finest full-size USB-C DisplayLink dock

Execs

• Terrific worth and worth
• Wonderful stability
• Nice show port flexibility
• Help for 2 4K60 shows

Cons

• Have to offer your personal energy provide
• Can heat to considerably alarming temperatures
• Obligatory software program driver
• An absence of naming consistency

Finest Costs At the moment:

₹16,999

That is our prime choose for an upgraded DisplayLink dock, which has its personal professionals and cons — barely dearer than a USB-C docking station, however extra options, too.

Why I just like the Ugreen 9-in-1 USB-C (Revodok) Docking Station CM615

Ugreen’s 9-in-1 USB-C docking station is typical of the model: high quality design and manufacture, obtuse naming, and pricing that appears to range from one vendor to the following. However this DisplayLink dock presents a wonderful mixture of port flexibility at a stable worth. There’s one catch: It lacks any energy enter in any respect, and also you’ll want to make use of your laptop computer’s USB-C energy provide (or purchase one) to cost each this dock and the laptop computer itself.

Like most DisplayLink docks, this dock was unusually steady, with no flickering between shows — one of many causes I like DisplayLink docks. The worth nails that candy spot, too. Simply bear in mind to deliver your smartphone charger.

Who should purchase the Ugreen 9-in-1 USB-C (Revodok) Docking Station CM615?

DisplayLink docks match between a USB-C dongle and a Thunderbolt dock, and I all the time consider a DisplayLink purchaser as a small enterprise proprietor or residence employee who is concentrated on productiveness and plenty of high-end shows. DisplayLink docks excel for workplace work, and battle a bit in dealing with excessive body charges for video games.

Learn our full

Ugreen 9-in-1 USB-C (Revodok) Docking Station CM615 overview

Plugable USB-C Triple 4K HDMI Docking Station (UD-6950PDZ) – Finest full-size USB-C DisplayLink dock runner-up

Execs

• Help for 3 4K60 shows
• Six USB-A ports
• 60W of energy

Cons

• Nice, steady picture high quality breaks down barely with video
• No USB-C or fast-charging ports

Finest Costs At the moment:

₹39,495

Why I just like the Plugable USB-C Triple 4K HDMI Docking Station (UD-6950PDZ)

Plugable’s dock means that you may join to 3 4K shows, even for those who don’t completely should. Most docks ask you to decide on between DisplayPort and HDMI, and even use a direct Thunderbolt connection. Plugable presents each.

The efficiency of this dock was as much as par, although remember the fact that DisplayLink makes use of compressed information working over a 10Gbps connection. Press it too exhausting, and you will notice some degradation in video and storage efficiency.

Who should purchase the Sonnet Echo 13 Triple 4K Show Dock?

As famous in the perfect choose above, DisplayLink docks work finest for a house workplace, with an emphasis on productiveness. You’ll need to keep away from gaming.

Learn our full

Plugable USB-C Triple 4K HDMI and DisplayPort Show Horizontal Docking Station (UD-6950PDZ) overview

How to decide on a USB-C hub

First, take inventory of your peripherals

Right here’s the place to start out: Check out the peripherals you personal, or plan to purchase. Do you may have an previous exterior exhausting drive that makes use of a standard USB-A cable? Do you manually again up images from an SLR by way of its SD card? Or is your Wi-Fi connection unreliable sufficient that you simply’d favor ethernet? Work out what ports you’ll want. This recommendation can also be for Home windows customers; Macs have their very own limitations on USB-C connections.

Remember that it’s possible you’ll need to use each a mouse and keyboard, and probably join a printer, too. You’ll be able to disconnect a keyboard to print, however it’s type of a ache.

Subsequent, try what ports your laptop computer already has

It’s additionally essential to take inventory of your laptop computer or pill’s ports: Does it have one USB-C port or two? In case your machine solely has one port, is there a separate charging connection? In case your laptop computer or pill has a USB-C port and makes use of it solely for charging, you’ll need to purchase a USB-C hub with a devoted charging enter port. (On this case, it’s additionally potential that solely the charging port on the hub will work, although this isn’t typical.)

Word how a lot enter energy the port permits, and make sure that will probably be adequate to your laptop computer. In any other case, you’ll be pressured to decide on between charging your laptop computer and accessing different gadgets, which makes little sense. Most laptops will pop up a warning a couple of “sluggish charger” in case your laptop computer’s not getting sufficient juice.

Does your monitor have a USB-C port?

Lately, we’ve begun to see extra shows embody a USB-C port in addition to HDMI and DisplayPort inputs. It is a constructive signal (type of) in that your monitor might be able to remove the necessity for a USB-C hub.

Matt Smith/IDG

This has a few wrinkles. First, monitor ports have by no means been essentially the most accessible, and looking for the correct port on the again of a giant, clunky show isn’t enjoyable. You might discover need to put money into an affordable USB-C hub simply to keep away from the effort.

Second, that monitor’s USB-C port may very well be a video enter — so as a substitute of connecting an HDMI cable between your PC and the show, you may merely run a USB-C to USB-C cable and achieve the identical factor. How are you aware to try this? First, try our roundup of the perfect USB-C shows, then learn it fastidiously. We distinguish between the 2 that will help you out.

Assess your laptop computer and peripheral energy wants

Remember that the hub’s energy port is for taking energy in to your laptop computer, and never out to a cellphone. However your hub should still be capable to cost your cellphone, with some caveats. A “bus-powered” USB hub connects to your laptop computer and pulls energy from it, which it has share with a number of gadgets—and it gained’t do it that nicely.

Some docks will embody a USB-C port whose solely function is to simply accept your laptop computer’s USB-C charger. That port will energy your laptop computer in addition to any ports related to it. These gadgets will make extra energy obtainable for quick charging your cellphone. (Your hub in all probability gained’t allow specialised charging just like the Samsung Galaxy S20’s Tremendous Quick Charging, nonetheless, even for those who use the provided Samsung cable. You’ll nonetheless want to attach your cellphone to its charger for that.)

Making sense of the USB-C applied sciences

A USB-C port in your laptop computer can both run at 5Gbps or 10Gbps, with the latter being virtually ubiquitous today. That’s loads of bandwidth for a printer, a mouse, a keyboard, or a tough drive, even unexpectedly. Merchandise like shows, ethernet, and high-speed SSDs gobble up that bandwidth, nonetheless.

We discover that the show applied sciences are likely to have essentially the most affect over what you can purchase. In the event you merely need to hook up with an exterior 1080p show—or two—a USB-C dongle ought to work advantageous, offered that the dongle has the obtainable ports. It’s definitely the most affordable possibility. When you begin attempting to connect with one or two 1440p or 4K shows, nonetheless, it’s possible you’ll discover that you simply’ll need to think about choices just like the USB-C docking stations. You will get round this, partially. As a substitute of plugging your ethernet cable into the USB-C dongle, you need to use a separate Wi-Fi connection, for instance.

Historically, the one different different was a Thunderbolt dock. Offered your laptop computer had a Thunderbolt port, Thunderbolt’s 40Gbps bandwidth permits for 2 4K shows, working at 60Hz, plus numerous peripherals. (You should use a USB-C dock even if in case you have a Thunderbolt port, by the way in which.) USB4, an analogous know-how, is mainly the identical as Thunderbolt to your functions.

Now, there are additionally two middleman applied sciences to select from: a DisplayLink USB-C dock, and a USB-C dock that takes benefit of one thing referred to as HBR3 and DSC.

DisplayLink, owned by Synaptics, makes use of software program compression between your laptop computer and the dock to approximate a Thunderbolt expertise over a generic USB-C connection. It requires a software program driver, however our expertise is that it’s a wonderful selection for workplace work, however not gaming. Listed below are the perfect DisplayLink docks and why to purchase them.

HBR3 with Show Compression (HBR3 with DSC) is actually an trade customary model of DisplayLink. The issue? The know-how hasn’t been broadly publicized, not to mention supported. Our expertise has been that docks that help HBR3 work nicely with laptops utilizing Twelfth-gen Core processors on up. Laptops with a Tenth-gen Core chip inside them aren’t supported, and Eleventh-gen Core laptops are iffy. In the event you personal a Twelfth-gen Core laptop computer, particularly a member of Intel’s premium Evo model, you stand an excellent likelihood of success. In any other case, don’t hassle. (We haven’t examined with laptops that use an AMD Ryzen chip.)

Lastly, don’t fear about platform branding

As a result of USB-C is frequent amongst Macs, Home windows PCs, and telephones, some hubs align their branding with a selected platform. Go forward and use that USB-C that’s billed as being “for MacBook Professional, Chromebook, and XPS” with any Home windows PC—we did, and it really works simply advantageous. You gained’t want any particular software program or drivers. 

After testing our USB-C hubs, we will affirm that some no-names carry out simply in addition to their extra well-known counterparts, and for much less cash, too. One factor to bear in mind: As a result of worth is so vital to our suggestions, know that a number of the costs could change as producers provide gross sales. Due to this fact some hubs we didn’t suggest based on worth may change into extra purchase-worthy. 

How we take a look at USB-C hubs

We take a look at USB-C hubs/dongles barely in a different way than docking stations. A separate article presents an in depth clarification on how we take a look at USB-C hubs, however right here’s a abstract of the method:

We consider USB-C hubs primarily based upon worth, options, and performance. Value definitely issues, as do any gross sales. Extra advanced hubs normally command more cash, however that’s not all the time the case!

When evaluating a hub or dongle, we first examine how intently the ports are spaced. You’ll want a dongle that enables for each USB keys in addition to extra conventional cords to one thing like a printer. How lengthy is the wire? It sounds somewhat dumb, however we do run into gadgets the place these fundamentals aren’t even thought-about.

We’re looking for essentially the most superior, most versatile USB-C hubs at the perfect worth. In sure situations, we rule out older {hardware} (that which drives a 4K show at 30Hz, quite than 60Hz, for instance). The tempo of change within the USB-C hub market is sluggish, that means that worth is commonly the figuring out issue.

We do run efficiency checks, nonetheless. We examine for stability: Does every thing join, and reliably? We use dwell take a look at {hardware} that you simply’d discover in your house: mice, keyboards, displays, and so forth. We run storage assessments (utilizing PCMark’s storage benchmark) in opposition to a take a look at SSD to find out the efficiency. It’s uncommon {that a} USB-C machine overheats, however we’ll examine that too, although by really feel.

We go into extra element with docking stations. We carry out the above assessments, however sometimes study a USB-C docking station utilizing the identical methodology as a Thunderbolt dock. We join it to a number of 4K shows and be sure that they’ll hit the focused refresh charge. We then carry out a number of storage assessments: connecting an SSD to a USB-A or USB-C port and checking the efficiency utilizing PCMark 10; streaming video to the show; and, whereas working the PCMark take a look at, persevering with to stream video. We additionally copy a take a look at folder of recordsdata from the SSD to the host laptop computer throughout the USB connection.

We’ve given you quite a lot of element on what makes an excellent USB-C hub or dongle and what to think about when shopping for one. Basically, nonetheless, these are pretty cheap, versatile methods to improve your laptop computer, and I’d suggest all the time carrying one in your laptop computer bag!