Best USB-C hubs and adapters for Mac 2025

Macworld

USB-C is the latest standard of USB that allows data transfer speeds of up to 10Gbps, can fast-charge devices, and conveniently fits in a port either way up—which means that you can wave bye-bye to the age-old USB guessing game of “Which way does it go in?”.

While some of the newer hubs reviewed here do boast 10Gbps legacy USB-A ports, USB-A is mostly seen in devices at 5Gbps, offers slower charging speeds, and is annoyingly fussy at which way up it is when you try to connect it to a port.

USB-C is no one-trick pony, either—handling data transfer, video output and power input. 

You’ll find faster variants of USB-C (called Thunderbolt 3, 4 or 5) on the MacBook Pro (post-2016 models), MacBook Air (post-2018), the iMac (after 2017) and Mac mini (2018 and later).

Thunderbolt Macs can connect to USB-C hubs and docks, but will lose some of their extra bandwidth—Thunderbolt’s 40Gbps significantly outpaces USB-C’s 5-10Gbps. USB4, like Thunderbolt, boasts 40Gbps bandwidth, although note that there is also a 20Gbps version to look out for.

From an Apple user perspective, Thunderbolt 3 and 4 are very similar. Both have 40Gbps bandwidth but TB4 has a few extra benefits; find out more in our Thunderbolt 4 vs Thunderbolt 3 comparison.

If you need super-fast data transfer, read our roundup of the best Thunderbolt 4 hubs. We have included a couple in this roundup as they increasingly offer better value as prices come down.

Few people have a full range of USB-C or Thunderbolt gear, so you’ll likely need a USB-C hub to add different ports—such as old-school USB-A—to your Mac.

In general, an “adapter” works with a single port (such as USB-A or Ethernet) while a “hub” gives you multiple ports. If you require even more, then look for a “dock” or “docking station”. If you’re after a full desktop setup for your MacBook, look out for our recommendations for the best USB-C and Thunderbolt docking stations for MacBooks.

Here we have tested and reviewed the premium USB-C hubs and adapters. There are many much cheaper versions out there, but we recommend these for quality and robustness.

Which extra ports do you need

Many MacBook users connect their laptop to one or more external displays for greater screen space. You can connect to monitors via a USB-C (via adapters to non-USB-C monitors) or better a dedicated video port, such as HDMI or DisplayPort. Check the hub specs to see which displays they support: some are limited to HD displays, others support 4K (also known as UHD) displays. The refresh rate is also important. 4K at 30Hz is fine for most productivity and browsing tasks, but watching video or playing games demands higher refresh rates of at least 60Hz.

You may need some old non-reversible USB-A ports, and most adapters and hubs have at least one for your non-USB-C memory sticks and drives. Look for at least USB 3.0, which has a speedy bandwidth of 5Gbps compared to the lamentably sluggish USB 2.0’s 480Mbps.

To fast-charge an iPhone, you need a minimum of 18W and it has to be USB-C, so look for extra USB-C slots with charging power, which are more capable than USB-A.

Other ports to look for in a hub include Ethernet for faster wired Internet access (without the flakiness of Wi-Fi). You can choose from standard Gigabit Ethernet (1000Mbps) or 2.5Gb Ethernet (2500Mbps), although the faster Ethernet requires the whole network to support that speed.

An SD or microSD card reader is perfect for adding inexpensive portable storage to your system. Card readers come at different speeds: UHS-I at 104MBps, and UHS-II at 312MBps; although some are slower at 60MBps.

Look for hubs that offer passthrough charging, so you can charge your laptop even though you are using up one of the laptop’s USB-C ports for the hub itself. Most don’t ship with a charger, so you’ll need to add your own, and remember that it needs to be a 100W charger to give 85W and above charging if offered by the hub. Lower wattage chargers are fine but will limit the hub’s charging potential. Couple your hub with one of the best Mac USB-C chargers.

Check the Power Delivery (PD) charging power each hub or adapter offers connected laptops or iPads. 12in MacBook and MacBook Air charge at 30W; the 13in and 14in MacBook Pro at 67W, the 15in MacBook Pro at 87W; and the 16in MacBook Pro at 96W. You can certainly use a charger at lower power, but remember that it will power up slower than when using a higher-wattage charger, and if too low your laptop might run out of juice altogether when maxed out on power-hungry apps and devices.

You can also buy USB-C adapters for the many older display standards out there, such as VGA and DVI. We’ve picked the best for you below.

Many hubs and docks aren’t compatible with Apple’s SuperDrive CD/DVD drive. We’ve found only one USB-C dock that is compatible with the SuperDrive, the Caldigit USB-C Pro Dock.






Plugable 9-in-1 USB-C Hub Multiport Adapter – Best overall USB-C hub














Pros

9 ports inc Ethernet, 60Hz 4K display via HDMI

10Gbps USB-C and USB-A

125W PD

















9 Ports: 2x USB-C, 3x USB-A, HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, SD Card Reader, MicroSD Card Reader, 125W laptop charging

This 9-in-1 hub is bristling with top-end ports and with an unrivalled 125W to laptop passthrough power is a great match for larger laptops.

A seven-inch cable connects the hub to your MacBook at 10Gbps and a possible 125W passthrough charging when the hub is connected to a USB-C charger—the highest passthrough charging we’ve seen in a USB-C hub. Total power output from the hub to laptop and devices is 140W.

There’s one dedicated 10Gbps USB-C data port, HDMI 2.0 port with 4K 60Hz support, and both SD and MicroSD card readers at fast UHS-II media-transfer speeds. If you need to attach legacy devices there are two USB-A ports, also at 10Gbps. One of these can drive 7.5W of power to the connected device. There’s also a much slower 480Mbps USB 2.0 port that good for a memory stick or mouse/keyboard.

With its extra USB-A port and faster SD card readers, the 9-in-1 Plugable USB-C Hub beats our long-time USB-C hub champ, the Anker 555 8-in-1 USB-C Hub, reviewed below. If you prefer DisplayPort to HDMI the Anker 565 should be considered even with its slower card readers.







Anker 555 8-in-1 USB-C Hub – Great value USB-C hub














Pros

8 ports inc Ethernet, 60Hz 4K display via HDMI

10Gbps USB-C and USB-A

85W PD


Cons

Can get warm during use

UHS-I SD reader

















8 Ports: 2x USB-C, 2x USB-A, HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, SD Card Reader, MicroSD Card Reader, 85W laptop charging

The Anker 555 USB-C 8-in-1 Hub is compact and powerful, offering greater specs than some of the other leading options on this list. It’s one of two similar USB-C hubs from the company, and we start with the best-value option.

The 555 offers two USB-C ports—one that supports 85W USB-C Power Delivery, while another supports data transfers up to 10Gbps. You also get speedy 10Gbps transfer rates through two additional USB-A ports, where many rivals max out at 5Gbps. 

The Anker 555 is special as it offers an HDMI port that supports 4K 60Hz resolutions, where most are limited to 4K 30Hz. For 4K 60Hz resolution, your device must support DP 1.4. This includes MacBook Air (from 2020), MacBook Pro 15in (from 2018), MacBook Pro 16in (from 2019) and iPad Pro (from 2018).

Also included are SD and MicroSD card reader slots. These are rated at UHS-I (104MBps) so not the fastest. If you transfer a lot of data via SD cards, look for a hub with faster UHS-II (312MBps).

The Gigabit Ethernet port is great for those times when Wi-Fi just won’t do.

It’s also incredibly light at just under 4.5oz (130g) and compact so you can take it anywhere. At $49.99 / £79.99 it’s hard to deny this hub’s value for money. In our experience, it does get warm with use but Anker says this is normal.




Anker

The higher-end $65.99 / £89.99 Anker 565 USB-C Hub, shown above, offers eleven ports instead of the 555’s mere eight, and is equally lightweight at 4.8oz (136g). The extra ports are one USB-A and an audio jack, which isn’t a remarkable boost—but it does include a top-end DisplayPort 1.4 video connection in case HDMI is not for you. If the inclusion of a native DisplayPort is important to you, then the 565 is a better solution (read our full Anker 565 11-in-1 USB-C Hub review) than maybe even the Plugable 9-in-1 reviewed above.







Ugreen 4-in-1 USB 3.0 Hub – Best budget hub for multiple USB-A ports














Pros

Inexpensive

Four 5Gbps USB-A ports

10W device charger


Cons

Limited to USB-A ports

No passthrough charge to host









Price When Reviewed:

16,99 €






5 Ports: 1x USB-C, 4x USB-A

If all you need from an adapter is the ability to connect a bunch of older USB-A devices to your MacBook, this simple adapter should do the trick.

The Ugreen USB-C 4-port hub is a slim and inexpensive adapter that allows you to add four full-size USB 3.0 ports that can handle data transfer at up to 5Gbps. It has recently been upgraded to feature a further USB-C port that can supply a 10W charge for connected devices, but not the host computer. While all four ports can be used simultaneously, a maximum of two hard drives can be connected at one time.

It looks the part with most modern MacBooks, and is an easy way to connect memory sticks, a printer or other older devices that don’t come with USB-C.







Nonda USB-C to USB-A Adapter – Best simple USB-C to USB-A adapter














Pros

Simple single USB-A adapter

Small


Cons

Just the one port


















1 Port: 1x USB-C to USB-A

There’s a misconception that USB-C is an inconvenience for people with a bunch of devices still reliant on USB-A, hence the existence of little adapters like this one from Nonda. Products like this are there to help us bridge the gap.

This cute little adapter is simply to allow you to plug in one standard USB-A device or cable at a time, great for using a USB stick, for example. Just don’t misplace it, it’s tiny.







Satechi Pro Hub Max Adapter – Best 40Gbps USB4 hub for Mac














Pros

USB4

40Gbps data transfer

7 ports inc 4K 60Hz display HDMI, Ethernet


Cons

No device charging from USB-A and USB-C ports









Price When Reviewed:

€99,99






7 Ports: 2x USB-C, 1x USB-A, HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, SD Card Reader, MicroSD Card Reader

All of the portable USB-C hubs reviewed here are compatible with the Mac’s Thunderbolt 3 and 4 ports, but most feature slower USB-C connections (5Gbps or 10Gbps) compared to Thunderbolt (40Gbps).

The Satechi Pro Hub Max, available in either Silver or Space Gray, features USB4 ports that are both compatible with Thunderbolt and can reach the same 40Gbps maximum throughput.

Connecting directly to two of the MacBook’s Thunderbolt ports, it boasts a bunch of ports that should be enough for most of us. The hub receives 40Gbps from each of the Thunderbolt ports on the Mac (so a total of 80Gbps). 40Gbps is used for the USB4 pass-through port, while the second Thunderbolt port distributes 40Gbps of bandwidth to the rest of the ports on the hub.

The USB4 port supports up to 96W charging—easily fine for a 14-inch MacBook Pro and punchy enough to keep a 16-inch Pro going and charged pretty quickly. This same USB4 port can be used to connect to an external display—up to 6K at 60Hz display output, transferring data at 40Gbps.

It should allow video output and passthrough charging simultaneously. In a test connection from a MacBook to an LG 4K UltraFine Display, the MacBook was able to output video to the monitor, while the monitor was able to provide power to the MacBook, all through the single connection. Owners of the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro and M2 Air can charge via the MagSafe connector at the same time as using the Pro Hub.

The HDMI 2.0 port can also be used to connect a 4K 60Hz display, so you can achieve a dual 4K monitor setup on any Pro or Max M1 or M2 MacBook. Plain M1/M2 MacBook Airs are limited to just one external display.

Also onboard are a 5Gbps USB-A port and a 5Gbps USB-C port—although neither can charge connected devices. There are both SD and MicroSD card readers (UHS-I), a Gigabit Ethernet port, and 3.5mm combo audio jack port.

In the same family, Satechi also offers the Pro Hub Mini (the same as the Max but without the HDMI port) and the Pro Hub Slim (which swaps the Ethernet port for an extra USB-A port, and boasts 10GBps USB-A and USB-C ports compared to the Mac and Mini’s 5Gbps). If you don’t need wired Internet access, the Pro Hub Slim edges out the Pro Hub Max. If you don’t need more than one external screen or you want to save the USB4 for passthrough charging only, consider the Pro Hub Mini or the Plugable 5-in-1 USB-C Hub reviewed below..

Note that all three requires a MacBook with two adjacent Thunderbolt ports on one side.







Plugable 5-in-1 USB-C Hub – Best budget 40Gbps USB-C hub for Mac














Pros

40Gbps data transfer

6K display at 60Hz via USB-C

5 ports inc Ethernet

Affordable


















5 Ports: 1x USB-C, 2x USB-A, HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, Audio jack

While not certified as either USB4 or Thunderbolt 4, this compact and very portable 5-in-1 USB-C hub (AMS-5IN1E) offers 40Gbps data-transfer via its USB-C port, and is designed for the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros introduced after 2021, or MacBook Airs introduced after 2022. A smart cutout keeps access to those MacBooks’ MagSafe charger port.

The inclusion of the 40Gbps USB-C port is useful as the hub uses the two Thunderbolt or USB4 ports in its flush side connection to the MacBook. But, in return, it gives you two 5Gbps USB-A ports (4.5W charging) and Gigabit Ethernet. The audio jack port is also covered but replicated on the hub.

The 40Gbps USB-C port can be used to connect a display up to 6K at 60Hz, or offer passthrough charging at up to 100W—15W for phones and other devices.

Its closest rival is the Satechi Pro Hub Mini (reviewed above), which features an extra USB-C port (5Gbps) but is more expensive, so this hub wins our budget 40Gbps hub award.








Twelve South StayGo – Best portable USB-C dock














Pros

Lightweight

8 ports inc Ethernet, 4K display via HDMI

85W passthrough PD


Cons

No spare USB-C ports

4K display at 30Hz

UHS-I card readers









Price When Reviewed:

106,80 €






8 Ports: 1x USB-C, 3x USB-A, HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, SD Card Reader, MicroSD Card Reader

The StayGo is, as its name suggests, one for the home, office and on your travels. It’s lightweight and much more compact than most USB-C docks.

It features a full array of 8 ports, including: USB-C 3.1 for 85W Power Delivery (PD) charging of the laptop; an HDMI port (4K at 30Hz) for attaching to an external display; two 5Gbps USB-A 3.0 ports and another USB-A port with 7.5W for faster charging; Gigabit Ethernet for wired Internet; and SD and Micro SD card readers.

It is showing its age a bit with its focus on USB-A rather than spare USB-C ports. The only USB-C port on offer is for passthrough charging of your laptop.

It comes with a 1m USB-C cable to connect with your laptop, plus a detachable travel cable that hides inside the dock when not in use. While not Thunderbolt 3 or 4 it is compatible with Thunderbolt MacBooks–its data transfer is just limited to 5Gbps rather than TB’s 40Gbps.

It’s pricier than most of the hubs reviewed here, but it’s got everything you need except a spare USB-C port, and we like it a lot. It feels more robust than some of the cheaper hubs, yet weighs just 150g.

It’s available in either Black or White.







Baseus 6-in-1 USB-C Hub – Best value 10Gbps USB-C hub














Pros

6 ports inc Ethernet, 4K 60Hz display via HDMI

100W PD

1x USB-C (10Gbps)

2x USB-A (10Gbps)


Cons

No card reader

UK model is older

















6 Ports: 2x USB-C, 2x USB-A, HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet

We are big fans of the Baseus 6-in-1 USB-C Hub which lacks the card readers found on some hubs but boasts three 10Gbps USB ports (2x USB-A and 2x USB-C) and Gigabit Ethernet, plus an HDMI port that supports an external display at 60Hz. It also features a button that will quickly turn the connected external display off.

Baseus has several other excellent and affordable USB-C hubs, one of which might suit you better, so check out what each offers:

Baseus 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: 100W passthrough charging; 1x HDMI (4K@60Hz); 3x USB A (5Gbps, 7.5W charging), SD and MicroSD card readers via Amazon US and Amazon UK.

Baseus 8-in-1 USB-C Hub: 100W passthrough charging; 1x HDMI (4K@30Hz); Gigabit Ethernet; 3x USB A (5Gbps, 7.5W charging), SD and MicroSD card readers via Baseus.

Baseus 9-in-1 USB-C Hub: 100W passthrough charging; 2x HDMI (one at 4K@120Hz; other HDMI can only mirror the display on Macs at 4K@30Hz); Gigabit Ethernet; 3x USB A (two at 5Gbps and one at 480Mbps), SD and MicroSD card readers via Baseus.

Each hub includes an integrated USB-C cable that can be minimized for travel with its neat cable-tidy port that creates a loop. And there’s an LED that shows you when the the hub is in use.







Twelve South StayGo mini – Best budget portable USB-C dock














Pros

Works with iPad Pro and MacBook

Super portable

85W passthrough PD

4K display via HDMI


Cons

4K display at 30Hz

USB-A port is slow for data transfer









Price When Reviewed:

€64.99




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€91.3



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€91.3 at Cdiscount FR






4 Ports: 1x USB-C, 1x USB-A, HDMI, Audio jack

The StayGo mini is, at its name suggests, a cut-down version of Twelve South’s admirable StayGo portable USB-C hub. It’s primarily designed for the iPad Pro but will also work with a MacBook.

While it lacks its bigger sibling’s Ethernet port and SD/microSD card readers, it still packs a HDMI Port (4K at 30Hz), USB A-port, USB-C Port for passthrough 85W PD charging, and a 3.5 mm audio jack.

The StayGo’s singular USB-A port features BC 1.2 for up to 7.5W fast charging, but is USB 2.0 so limited to 480MBps data transfer compared to the StayGo’s three 5Gbps USB-A ports.

It can connect directly to a tablet USB-C port, and also ships with a 0.5 meter USB-C cable if you want to use it with a MacBook. And if your iPad is in a protective case, the cable will mean the hub can still connect to the tablet.

Available in Black only.







Satechi USB-C Multiport Adapter 8K With Ethernet V3 – Best hub for multiple fast ports














Pros

5x USB-C ports: 3 at 10Gbps

85W passthrough PD

60Hz 4K display via HDMI

2.5G Ethernet

UHS-II SD card reader


Cons

No device charging from USB-C ports

No USB-A

8K for Windows only
















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Satechi




$99.99



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$99.99 at Satechi






8 Ports: 5x USB-C, HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, SD Card Reader

This USB-C hub has four USB-C ports but no USB-A. If you no longer have need for old-time USB-A by buying this hub you won’t be wasting money on a port you don’t require. If you have USB-A peripherals, such as an older memory stick, then you should look for a hub with a Type-A USB port.

Three of the USB-C ports offer fast 10Gbps data transfer, and one at 5Gbps. A fifth USB-C port is for attaching a power source, most likely a USB-C wall charger. If the charger is rated at 100W, all that power can be distributed via the hub, including up to 85W PD to the host laptop or tablet.

However, aside from the pass-through PD port, none of the USB ports can output power to connected devices.

The EZQuest USB-C Slim Gen 2 Hub Adapter 6-in-1, reviewed here lower down, has four 10Gbps USB-C ports, each with 7.5W device charging, plus two more for 4K/60Hz monitor support and 80W passthrough charging, but it lacks the Ethernet and card reader.

It’s not just the USB ports that are fast—the Ethernet port can reach 2.5Gb, compared to most hubs’ 1Gb Ethernet, if your network supports such speeds; of course, it is backwards compatible with GigabIt Ethernet networks.

And the SD card reader is also top-notch at 312MBps, compared to some that are UHS-I at 104MBps.

Despite the 8K in its name, the HDMI 2.1 port can support only as high a resolution as an external 4K display at 60Hz refresh rate, as well as display options of 2K/144Hz and 1080p/240Hz. Apple display limitations mean that its potential 8K/30Hz display support is limited to Windows machines.

It’s at the high end for price but you get high-end, premium and future-proof ports for your money.

It is available in Apple MacBook-matching Space Gray, Silver, and Midnight colors.

Read our full

Satechi USB-C Multiport Adapter 8K With Ethernet V3 review






Satechi 4-In-1 USB-C Hub With 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet














Pros

3x USB-C ports (10Gbps)

2.5G Ethernet


Cons

No passthrough charging
















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Satechi




$44.99



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$44.99 at Satechi






There are hubs with more ports but this 4-in-1 USB-C hub offers three fast 10Gbps USB-C ports and very fast 2.5Gb Ethernet.

The Satechi USB-C Multiport Adapter 8K With Ethernet V3, reviewed above, boasts more functionality including 2.5Gb Ethernet but at twice the price. The Satechi 4-port USB-C Hub, reviewed below, offers an extra USB-C port but none at 10Gbps, and no 2.5Gb Ethernet.

This hub could be in your sweet spot if you need a bunch of fast USB ports and speedy Ethernet. There’s no passthrough charging, so you’ll need a spare Thunderbolt port on your MacBook for power.







EZQuest USB-C Slim Gen 2 Hub Adapter 6-in-1 – Best hub for most 10Gbps USB-C ports














Pros

Six USB-C ports

4x 10Gbps

4K at 60Hz

80W passthrough


















This USB-C hub loves USB-C so much that it boasts only that type of port, of which there are six—seven if you count the connector that links to the laptop.

Four of these are rated at 10Gbps for data transfer, which is about as fast as you can get before you have to switch up to 40Gbps Thunderbolt.

Another can link up to an external display up to 4K in resolution and at a gamer-friendly 60Hz refresh rate. You can either connect direct to a USB-C monitor, or use a USB-C to either DisplayPort or HDMI adapter.

The sixth USB-C port can handle 100W of PD 3.0 power input, 80W of which is reserved for the MacBook if it needs that much. Each of the 10Gbps ports can deliver 7.5W, up to a maximum 15W across all four at the same time.

U.K. buyers can buy direct from EZQuest, but have to swallow a $25 shipping fee. Look for free shipping in the U.S. via Amazon.