Best USB-C hubs and dongles 2026: Budget, premium, docks, and more

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

I’d recommend this USB-C hub to just about anyone. Most users will be able to take advantage 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 expect on a device like this. If you’re looking for more display ports or more USB-C connections, however, you’ll need to buy a more premium device.

Anker 555 8-in-1 USB-C Hub: Further considerations

Can a USB-C hub 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 keeps the hub cool. Overall, Anker’s hub is well designed, with adequate spacing between the two 5Gbps USB-A ports. There’s also a 5Gbps USB-C connection for data, plus a second USB-C port for power input at up to a rated 85W. (The charger allows up to 100W in, but supplies 85W.) There’s both an SD card slot and a microSD card slot, too.

I had previously recommended Anker’s 7-in-1 Hub instead. Both hubs are similar, but this upgrade adds two things: an Ethernet port, and an HDMI port capable of 60Hz. The earlier pick output just 30Hz, and that capability was getting a bit outdated.

The hub offers an 18-month warranty, and it even ships with a carrying pouch.  I think this hub includes the right mix of ports for the right price.

Who should buy the Hiearcool USB-C Hub?

This is a hub for basic expansion, especially if you own an older laptop. It has one HDMI port that’s only capable of 4K resolution at a fatiguing 30Hz. However, it will work just fine for a single external 1080 display or even a 1440p monitor, if you own one. The two USB-A ports are designed for a mouse and keyboard, or a printer. If you need something cheap and capable, this hub will work just fine.

Hiearcool USB-C Hub: Further considerations

Let’s face it: If you’ve ever browsed Amazon’s inventory of USB-C hubs, it’s easy to be overwhelmed. I can tell you that I factor in price heavily on some of these picks, and this is a USB-C hub that I’ve personally used. It works, it offers a myriad of ports, and it does so at a very, very good price. It even ships in multiple colors, which is handy when peering into the depths of a travel bag or briefcase.

This hub includes a pair of USB-A ports, microSD and SD card slots, and an HDMI port, and that’s all. It accepts up to a rated 100W of USB-C input charging, too.

Who should buy the OWC USB-C Travel Dock?

I’ve reviewed USB-C hubs and dongles that forego the traditional long, rectangular “dongle” form factor into something that’s a bit more stable. Dongles do have a tendency to flop all over your desk, and the OWC Travel Dock feels like a cross between a traditional docking station and a dongle. And it’s cheap, too! Dongles are usually reserved as travel gear, and I think this would work well for an executive or someone who likes a tidier desk.

OWC USB-C Travel Dock: Further considerations

The “hidden” USB-C cable is a nice touch, though extended it’s a bit short. This was also a 5-in-1 hub, so while it provides the essentials (two USB-A ports for mouse and keyboard, Ethernet, and HDMI, plus USB-C charging input) there’s not much else. (Editor’s Note: OWC updated this dock with an additional SD card slot, increasing the price slightly.)

Who should buy the Monoprice 13-in-1 Dual-HDMI + DP MST Dock?

If you own a modern laptop and want access to a ton of legacy ports for a reasonable price, this Monoprice hub/dock should be your choice. You need to own a modern laptop, though; a Microsoft Surface Book 2 with an 8th-gen Core chip inside didn’t produce any output over its USB-C port; several Samsung and Surface laptops with 12th-gen and 13th-gen Core chips from 2022 onward worked well, though. More recent laptops from 2024 on through 2026 should also work fine.

Monoprice 13-in-1 Dual-HDMI + DP MST Dock: Further considerations

If it looks like a hub or dongle, but is priced like a dock, is it a dock? You might not care, but it’s certainly on the pricey side.

This 13-in-1 USB-C hub does it all, including connecting to two 4K displays (one at 60Hz, one at 30Hz). It does so by using support for built-in compression techniques within modern laptops to squeeze more effective throughput over the 10Gbps USB-C port. There are absolutely gobs of ports, including five USB-A ports (two at 480Mbps for mice and keyboards), two HDMI 1.2 connections, and even a DisplayPort port.

There’s even a power input jack, so you can use your laptop’s charger and feed up to a tested 87W into the laptop. There aren’t any USB-C ports, but the assumption is that you can use your laptop for that.

Who should buy the Dockcase Smart USB-C Hub 10-in-1 Explorer Edition?

Nerds. Yep, this is one of the nerdiest products I’ve ever used, and I like and loathe how it just lets you sort of discover what it can do. But it tells you what your laptop is connecting to and how it’s working! It even reports glitches! I love that.

Are you the type of person who owns an OBD scanner to diagnose any issues with your car? If you are, this is the USB-C hub for you.

The Dockcase Smart USB-C Hub 10-in-1 Explorer Edition: Further considerations

Part of me loves the sheer nerdiness of the Dockcase 10-in-1 Dock, if only because I’ve never seen anything like it in terms of the information it offers.

Note that Dockcase offers alternatives: There’s a $69.99 6-in-1 dock, and a newer Dockcase “Visual Smart” 10-in-1 dock that eliminates some of the labeled ports in favor of a jet-black aesthetic. I prefer the nerdier version with lots of ports.

Not only is the metal hub larger than most, with multiple external connectors that designate a premium hub, but there’s an actual display: A small LCD screen provides a detailed look at what devices are connected to each port and what their capabilities are. Put another way, the Dockcase Smart USB-C Hub 10-in-1 feels more like an OBD2 diagnostic device for your car, or a USB multimeter.

As a dock, it’s excellent. As a tool, it can use some improvement: The interface is extremely clunky, and Dockcase really doesn’t even have a manual that explains it all. But this device is also small enough that it fulfills the requirements of a docking station without it being ungainly.

Who should buy the Mokin 160W GaN All in One Docking Station?

For those of you who want to know what’s going on under the hood of your USB-C docking station, this dock is for you. This dock always reports how much power it’s supplying, but when you insert or detach a monitor cable, it will alert you to what’s going on there, too. This might be a little too much information for some users, but if you’re the type of person who has a CPU widget floating on their desktop, this might be the dock for you.

Mokin 160W GaN All in One Docking Station: Further considerations

The split between data-only and charging ports is a little weird, especially if you’re using a mouse, keyboard, and webcam — and that extra USB-A port just isn’t available. (Really, who needs a power-only USB-A port?) But this dock pretty much nails your basic needs, offers a compact form factor, and is priced right, too.

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

DisplayLink docks fit between a USB-C dongle and a Thunderbolt dock, and I always think of a DisplayLink buyer as a small business owner or home worker who is focused on productivity and lots of high-end displays. DisplayLink docks excel for office work, but struggle in handling high frame rates for games.

This is our top pick for an upgraded DisplayLink dock, which has its own pros and cons — slightly more expensive than a USB-C docking station, but more features, too.

Ugreen 9-in-1 USB-C (Revodok) Docking Station CM615: Further considerations

Ugreen’s 9-in-1 USB-C docking station is typical of the brand: quality design and manufacture, obtuse naming, and pricing that seems to vary from one vendor to the next. But this DisplayLink dock offers an excellent mix of port flexibility at a solid price. There is one catch: It lacks any power input at all, and you’ll need to use your laptop’s USB-C power supply (or buy one) to charge both this dock and the laptop itself.

Like most DisplayLink docks, this dock was unusually stable, with no flickering between displays — one of the reasons I like DisplayLink docks. The price nails that sweet spot, too. Just remember to bring your smartphone charger.

Who should buy the Plugable USB-C Triple 4K HDMI Docking Station (UD-6950PDZ)?

As noted in the best pick above, DisplayLink docks work best for a home office, with an emphasis on productivity. You’ll want to avoid gaming.

Plugable USB-C Triple 4K HDMI Docking Station (UD-6950PDZ): Further considerations

Plugable’s dock means that you can connect to three 4K displays, even if you don’t absolutely have to. Most docks ask you to choose between DisplayPort and HDMI, or even use a direct Thunderbolt connection. Plugable offers both.

The performance of this dock was up to par, though keep in mind that DisplayLink uses compressed data running over a 10Gbps connection. Press it too hard, and you will see some degradation in video and storage performance.