Mar 4, 2026 3:09 PM
The Best USB Hubs for Connecting All Your Gadgets
Ditch the dongles. These multiport USB hubs will maximize your connectivity options.
Featured in this article
Best Overall
Plugable USB-C 9-in-1 Hub (USBC-9IN1E)
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Best Budget USB-C Hub
Hiearcool USB C Hub, USB-C Multi-Port Adapter
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If You’re All-In on USB-C
Satechi USB-C Multiport 8K
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Add Some Storage
Satechi USB-C Hybrid Multiport Adapter
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Your laptop never has enough ports, especially if it’s the MacBook Air I'm using to write this article. You can carry around a bag of assorted dongles to plug in everything, or you can nab one of these USB hubs. Hubs expand the number and kind of ports available from one device, so you can cut down on the clutter. After testing dozens over the years, these are the best USB hubs I've found for different needs.
Hunting for more home-office gizmos and gadgets? Check out our other guides, including the Best Docking Stations, Ultimate Work-From-Home Gear, Best Office Chairs, Best Standing Desks, and Best USB Flash Drives.
Updated February 2026: We pared down the list and added the HyperDrive Next Mobile Dock and Kensington Triple Video Dock to the honorable mentions.
Do You Need a USB Hub or a Docking Station?
The line between USB hubs and docking stations can be fuzzy. But to put it simply, docking stations are larger accessories meant for connecting multiple displays to your device at your desk. USB hubs, on the other hand, are more portable and primarily meant for connecting accessories on the go.
USB hubs are small, portable devices you can plug directly into a port on your laptop to get extra USB ports, SD card readers, headphone jacks, and other connections that your computer may not have. The inclusion of USB-C with Power Delivery even means that you use them at your with your laptop charging. However, if you plan on regularly connecting your laptop to a full-blown workstation—with a keyboard, mouse, multiple monitors, the whole shebang—then you might want to consider a docking station instead.
Laptop docking stations are larger, more expensive, and are designed to spend most of their time on your desk. They typically have a power supply to charge other devices and offer multiple monitor outputs, plus Ethernet connections. If you frequently use your laptop at a desk and need to connect multiple high-resolution monitors or high-powered accessories, you'll want a docking station.
Things to Know About USB Hubs Before Buying
USB hubs should be simple devices, but apparently it's not possible to make One Port to Rule Them All without things getting a little messy. We have a full explainer here, but if you just want to get the basics before you buy your hub, here are a few things to keep in mind.
Ports speeds matter; version numbers don't. It's tempting to look at a USB 3.2 label and assume it's faster than USB 3.0, but unfortunately, that's not the case. In fact, many manufacturers have started defaulting to writing the speed of individual ports directly onto the device itself, rather than relying on version numbers on spec sheets.
Use Thunderbolt for your most data-hungry devices. Thunderbolt is a beefed-up version of USB, developed by Intel and Apple, that uses the same USB-C port you're familiar with. These can carry huge amounts of data (up to 40 Gbps for Thunderbolt 3 and 4), which makes them ideal for things like SSDs, 4K and 8K displays, or monitors with ultrahigh frame rates for gaming. We're now up to Thunderbolt 5, which is slowly making its way into some laptops. (Make sure your laptop port supports Thunderbolt.)
Don't forget the power. Most USB hubs will draw electricity directly from your laptop to power any devices connected to it, but they obviously need to take up a port to do so. However, some hubs support USB Power Delivery (or USB-PD, sometimes marketed as “passthrough charging”) which allows you to plug a charger into one of the ports on the hub so you can keep charging your laptop while you plug in all your extra gadgets.
What Is Going on With USB Generations?
It would be nice if you could plug a USB 3.2 device into a USB 3.2 port using a USB 3.2 cable and trust that it all works. Unfortunately, it's way more complicated than that.
When USB 3.0 came out in 2008 it had a max speed of around 5 Gbps. However, when USB 3.1 came out in 2013 with a max speed of 10 Gbps, the 5-Gbps version was renamed to USB 3.1 Gen 1, while the new, faster spec was USB 3.1 Gen 2. Confused yet? Well, it gets worse. When USB 3.2 came out in 2019, the 5-Gbps USB was rebranded again to “USB 3.2 Gen 1,” the 10-Gbps version became “USB 3.2 Gen 2,” and the new 20-Gbps spec became—you guessed it—USB 3.2 Gen 2x2. … Wait, what? The “2x2” refers to running two 10 Gbps lanes of data simultaneously and … you don't need to know all of this. Many hub manufacturers have given up on names, labels, and symbols. They've just started printing the maximum speed next to ports directly.
What this means for you is that if you're using older storage devices or accessories, you may want to look up the specific generation of USB if speed matters to you. A device marketed as “USB 3.0” several years ago and a device marketed as “USB 3.2” today could potentially have identical transfer speeds if the manufacturer is less than forthcoming with generation names or transfer speed ratings.
All Those Confusing USB Terms, Explained
There are various generations of USB, with different capabilities and speeds, plus ports that look similar but do other things. There are a few key terms you should know when shopping for a USB hub:
USB 2.X/USB 3.X/USB 4: Every USB device is built to some version of the USB specification, mainly characterized by how much data they can transfer and how much power they can deliver (or at least, those are the main things you need to care about). While most of these devices are inter-operable as long as they use the same port, the entire chain will conform to the slowest part of the chain. Say you plug a USB 3.2 SSD into a USB 3.2 port on your computer, but use a USB 3.0 cable—data will only transfer at USB 3.0 speeds. Make sure every link in your chain is rated for the speed you need.
USB Power Delivery (or USB-PD): If your laptop, tablet, or other device doesn't have enough USB ports, you might be forced to choose between charging or plugging in accessories. USB-PD ports let you bridge this gap by plugging a charger into the hub to supply power to the laptop (and anything else connected to the hub that needs it. You'll see this referred to as “pass-through charging" though it's not an official specification. You'll want to make sure the wattage this USB-C port supports can handle what your laptop needs. A MacBook Pro typically needs 96 watts during intense workloads (though you can still charge them at lower wattage), so you'd need a 100-watt USB-C port on the hub.
USB-C and USB-A: These terms refer to the physical shape of the connectors and ports on devices. USB-C is common and looks like a small, elongated oval. It's also reversible, so you can't plug it in the wrong way. USB-A is the older, rectangular port you've seen for years. There are a lot more types of USB connectors, but these are the two you're most likely to see in most hubs.
What Is Thunderbolt?
Thunderbolt is an Intel-owned standard made in collaboration with Apple that uses the same USB-C connector as typical USB devices. However, there are certain extra requirements that have to be met before a device can earn the Thunderbolt label.
Higher transfer speeds. Thunderbolt ports are designed to transfer massive amounts of data compared to the USB-C ports they often sit beside. Thunderbolt 3 and 4, for example, reach speeds up to 40 Gbps while the new Thunderbolt 5 reaches a ludicrous 80 Gbps (or up to 120 Gbps when used for unidirectional connections like outputs to displays).
Display output support. Thunderbolt ports are designed to make it easier to connect external displays. Most Thunderbolt ports can at least support up to one 4K display, with more modern versions like Thunderbolt 4 supporting multiple 4K displays. Thunderbolt 5 is set to expand this even further with support for multiple 8K displays, or several 4K displays at super high refresh rates.
Compatibility with USB. While Thunderbolt is its own specification, it's still cross-compatible with USB ports. However, any connections will default to the slowest link in the chain. The good news is, as long as your device has a USB-C connection, you can plug it into a Thunderbolt port and it will work fine. Just, maybe a little slower.
Do USB Cables Matter for Speed?
In a word: Absolutely. Getting a hub that's capable of massive data transfer speeds won't matter much if any cables you use aren't capable of those same speeds. This is an easy thing to overlook because most cables don't have labels that tell you what speeds they support. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to ensure you're using the right cable:
Use the cable that came with your device. The simplest way to ensure that a cable is capable of getting the speeds you need is to use the one that comes with any device you have. For example, if you have an external SSD, there's a good chance that the USB cable that came with it will support the fastest speed the SSD can.
Check the box or listing for specs. Some manufacturers will list the version (and generation) of the USB cable on the box or online listing where you got the cable, or the device it came with. Some manufacturers will only list the type of USB connector or only mention the version (like “USB 3.2”) without mentioning the generation (like “Gen 2x2”) making it difficult to deduce the actual speed.
Look for speeds, rather than the USB version. Since USB specs can be confusing, many manufacturers have resorted to listing speeds directly. Many cables, including those in our Best USB-C Cables guide, will list their maximum speeds directly, skipping all the confusing jargon.
Best Overall
Photograph: Luke Larsen
Plugable
USB-C 9-in-1 Hub (USBC-9IN1E)
While you often see 100 watts as the standard amount of power delivery, there are more powerful laptops that need a bit more. Take, say, a gaming laptop or a 16-inch MacBook Pro, for example. If that's you, you need a USB hub with a bit more oomph, which is exactly what the Plugable 9-in-1 Hub is. With 140 watts of power delivery, it had no problem quickly charging up my 16-inch MacBook Pro.
In addition, the Plugable 9-in-1 hub has just about every port you would need, including 10-Gbps USB-C, and can support a secondary screen, up to 4K resolution at 60 Hz. One of the three USB-A ports can even deliver power, perfect for charging up a phone or other small accessory. The best part is it's all put together in a robust metal chassis with clearly labeled ports. My only complaint is that the large Plugable logo is a bit of an eyesore.
| Ports |
| 1X USB-A (10 Gbps + BC 1.2 charging) |
| 1X USB-A (10 Gbps) |
| 1X USB-A 2.0 (5 Gbps) |
| 1X USB-C (10 Gbps) |
| 1X USB-C PD (100-watt charging) |
| 1X HDMI 2.0 (4K at 60 Hz) |
| 1X Ethernet (Gigabit) |
| 1X SD/TF card reader |
| 1X microSD card reader |
Best Budget USB-C Hub
Photograph: Luke Larsen
Hiearcool
USB C Hub, USB-C Multi-Port Adapter
Most people don't need anything too flashy or powerful when it comes to a USB hub. That's where a budget-level option like the Hiearcool USB-C hub comes into play. I've been traveling with this basic hub for years now, and the aluminum chassis feels both sturdy and slim. If you're used to working on a MacBook Air or other laptop without USB-A or HDMI, having a USB-C hub like this is an absolute must. As for me, I often just need an SD card slot to transfer files off my camera or to connect USB-A accessories. This one gets bonus points for offering a wide variety of colors to choose from. It gets the job done, just know that the HDMI port really can't handle an external 4K monitor, as it'll be stuck at 30 Hz.
| Ports |
| 2X USB-A 3.0 (5 Gbps) |
| 1X microSD card slot |
| 1X full-size SD card slot |
| 1X USB-C PD (100-watt charging) |
| 1X HDMI (up to 4K at 30 Hz or 1080p at 60 Hz) |
If You’re All-In on USB-C
Photograph: Eric Ravenscraft
Satechi
USB-C Multiport 8K
Satechi makes some of the nicest accessories I've held, and this hub is no exception. It's built from the same aluminum as the rest of Satechi's gear with a short, braided cable leading to a USB-C connector. It's designed to feel at home next to a MacBook Pro or Surface Laptop and nails that vibe.
This hub has several USB-C ports and conveniently labels them by their maximum speed. In my testing, I consistently got speeds of 850 to 900 megabytes per second on its fastest USB-C ports, and there's a fourth that can reach over 400 MB/s. Even if you're like me and regularly need to transfer hundreds of gigabytes of 6K footage, it can handle those hefty tasks in minutes. It also has an HDMI port that supports up to 8K video at 30 frames per second (fps), though this is overkill. The real benefit of this capable port is that it's capable of 4K video at up to 120 fps or 1080p at up to a whopping 240 fps. I test gaming laptops, and this is one of the few hubs that can keep up with the frame rate demands for powerful games when I connect them to an external monitor.
The downside is that it lacks a couple of common ports, such as USB-A and micro-SD. It's quite future-facing in that way, and there are enough USB-C accessories and peripherals these days that it might not be an issue, but we have more options below if the older USB-A port is a must-have.—Eric Ravenscraft
| Ports |
| 3X USB-C (10 Gbps) |
| 1X USB-C (5 Gbps) |
| 1X USB-C PD (85-watt charging) |
| 1X HDMI (8K at 30-Hz or 4K at 120 Hz) |
| 1X Ethernet (1 Gigabit) |
| 1X SD card slot |
Add Some Storage
Courtesy of Satechi
Satechi
USB-C Hybrid Multiport Adapter
Satechi makes some of the nicest accessories I've held, and this hub is no exception. It's built from the same aluminum used broadly across the Satechi lineup with a short, braided cable leading to a USB-C connector. It's designed to feel at home next to a MacBook Pro or Surface Laptop and nails that.
This hub has several USB-C ports and conveniently labels them by their maximum speed. In my testing, I consistently got speeds of 850 to 900 megabytes per second on its fastest USB-C ports. Even if you're like me and regularly need to transfer hundreds of gigabytes of 6K footage, it can handle those hefty tasks in minutes. It also has an HDMI port that supports up to 8K video at 30 frames per second (fps), though this is overkill. The real benefit of this capable port is that it's capable of 4K video at up to 120 fps or 1080p at up to a whopping 240 fps. This hub can keep up with the frame-rate demands for powerful gaming laptops when you connect them to an external monitor.
The downside is that it lacks a couple of common ports, such as USB-A and micro-SD. It's quite future-facing in that way, and there are enough USB-C accessories and peripherals these days that it might not be an issue, but there are other options if you still have a few legacy cords that use USB-A.—Eric Ravenscraft
| Ports |
| 3X USB-C (10 Gbps) |
| 1X USB-C (5 Gbps) |
| 1X USB-C PD (85-watt charging) |
| 1X HDMI (8K at 30-Hz or 4K at 120 Hz) |
| 1X Ethernet (1 Gigabit) |
| 1X SD card slot |
A Unique Look
Photograph: Luke Larsen
Hyper
HyperDrive Flex 8 Port USB-C Hub
The HyperDrive Flex has a standout design. The stark white contrasts with the dark blue in an eye-catching way, marked by the Hyper logo in the corner. It's a thoughtful look that I appreciate, while knowing full well that it's not for everyone. It stands out from the sea of black or silver hubs. The HyperDrive Flex has many more ports than a basic USB hub, including four USB-A ports and two USB-C ports. The addition of the headphone jack is a plus, too. Like the Hiearcool option above, it also delivers up to 100 watts of power through the USB-C port, which is enough to power many laptops. Some of the connections aren't the latest and greatest, such as the HDMI 1.4 port, which can only support 4K at 30 Hz, so you should really consider this to only support 1440p or 1080p for work presentations and the like, and not to watch Hollywood movies.
I do think it's a bit too expensive for what you get, though, as our main Plugable pick gets you more ports for just $5 more, and even includes HDMI 2.0 for 4K support at 60 Hz.
| Ports |
| 1X USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) |
| 1X USB-C PD (100-watt charging) |
| 2X USB-A (10 Gbps) |
| 1X USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) |
| 1X HDMI 1.4 (up to 4K at 30 Hz) |
| 1X microSD card slot |
| 1X SD/TF card reader |
| 1X 3.5-mm audio out |
Other Good USB Hubs to Consider
Ugreen Revodok Pro 211 Docking Station for $64: Most laptop docking stations are bulky gadgets that often require a power source, but this one from Ugreen straddles the line between dock and hub. It has a small, braided cable running to a relatively large aluminum block. It's a bit hefty but still compact, and it packs a lot of extra power. It has three USB ports (one USB-C and two USB-A) that each reached up to 900 MB/s of data-transfer speeds in my testing. That was enough to move large amounts of 4K video footage in minutes. The only problem is that using dual monitors on a Mac is limited to only mirroring.
Photograph: Luke Larsen
Hyper HyperDrive Next Dual 4K Video Dock for $150: This one also straddles the line between dock and USB hub. Many mobile docks lack proper Mac support, only allowing for mirroring instead of full extension. The HyperDrive Next Dual 4K fixes that problem, though, making it a great option for MacBooks (though it won't magically give an old MacBook Air dual-monitor support). Unfortunately, you'll be paying handsomely for that capability, as this one is more expensive than the other options. The other problem is that although this dock has two HDMI ports that can support 4K, though only one will be at 60 Hz and the other will be stuck at 30 Hz. So, if you plan to use it with multiple displays, you'll need to drop the resolution 1440p or 1080p on one of them. I also tested this Targus model, which is made by the same company, which gets you two 4K displays at 60 Hz but not on Mac.
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Kensington Triple Video Mobile Dock.
Photograph: Luke Larsen
Anker USB-C Hub 5-in-1 for $20: This Anker USB hub is the one I carry in my camera bag everywhere. It plugs into the USB-C port on your laptop and provides every connection you'd need to offload photos or videos from camera gear. In our testing, the USB 3.0 ports reached transfer speeds over 400 MB/s, which isn't quite as fast as some USB hubs on this list, but it's solid for a sub-$50 device. Similarly, the SD card reader reached speeds of 80 MB/s for reading and writing, which isn't the fastest SD cards can get, but adequate for moving files back and forth.—Eric Ravenscraft
Kensington Triple Video Mobile Dock for $83: Another mobile dock meant to provide additional external support, this one from Kensington can technically power up to three 1080p displays at 60 Hz using the two HDMI ports and one DisplayPort. It's a lot of ports in a relatively small package, though the basic plastic case isn't exactly inspiring.
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Luke Larsen is a product writer and reviewer at WIRED, covering laptops, PCs, Macs, monitors, and the wider PC peripheral ecosystem. He’s been reporting on tech for over a decade, previously at Digital Trends as the senior editor in computing, where he spent seven years leading the publication’s daily coverage. ... Read More
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