Best USB Hub 2026 — Top 5 Tested & Ranked
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Last updated: May 14, 2026 • 10 hubs tested
- Anker 555 USB-C Hub (7-in-1) — Best overall (4.7/5)
- CalDigit TS3 Plus — Best Thunderbolt dock (4.6/5)
- UGREEN 9-in-1 USB-C Hub — Best value multi-port (4.4/5)
A USB-C hub transforms a single laptop port into a full desk setup. The key variables are power delivery (does it charge your laptop?), data speeds (USB 3.2 vs Thunderbolt), display output (4K@60Hz or 4K@30Hz?), and build quality. These five cover compact travel hubs to full desktop docking stations.
Quick Overview
| Model | Best for | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Anker 555 USB-C Hub (7-in-1) | Best overall Best Pick | ★★★★½ 4.7 |
| CalDigit TS3 Plus | Best Thunderbolt dock Runner-up | ★★★★½ 4.6 |
| UGREEN 9-in-1 USB-C Hub | Best value multi-port | ★★★★½ 4.4 |
| Plugable USB-C Triple Display Dock | Best for multi-monitor | ★★★★½ 4.4 |
| Anker 341 USB-C Hub (7-in-1) | Best budget compact Best Budget | ★★★★☆ 4.1 |
1. Anker 555 USB-C Hub (7-in-1) — Best Overall
The Anker 555 delivers 4K@60Hz HDMI, 100W USB-C power delivery pass-through, three USB-A 3.0 ports (5Gbps), and SD/microSD card readers in a portable aluminium hub. The 100W PD pass-through charges MacBooks and laptops at full speed while the hub operates — a critical requirement that cheaper hubs fail. Anker's 18-month warranty and responsive customer support make it a reliable purchase. At ~£40, it is the best balance of features, build quality, and price in the category.
- 100W USB-C PD pass-through — full laptop charging while in use
- 4K@60Hz HDMI — full resolution external display
- 3x USB-A 3.0 at 5Gbps — fast data transfer on all ports
- SD + microSD card reader — photographers and content creators
- Single HDMI output only — cannot drive two external monitors
- No Ethernet port — requires separate adapter for wired network
The Anker 555 consistently tops hub rankings for its combination of 100W PD and 4K@60Hz at a compact price. It is the hub most MacBook and Windows laptop users should buy as their first hub.
2. CalDigit TS3 Plus — Best Thunderbolt Dock
The CalDigit TS3 Plus is the most comprehensive Thunderbolt 3 dock — 15 ports in a horizontal aluminium enclosure designed to sit behind a monitor. Gigabit Ethernet, 87W laptop charging, DisplayPort + HDMI for dual external monitors, 5x USB-A, 2x USB-C, SD card reader, and optical audio output. Thunderbolt 3 bandwidth (40Gbps) means no bottleneck even with all ports active simultaneously — standard USB-C hubs share a fraction of that bandwidth. The definitive desk dock for MacBook Pro users.
- 15 ports — DisplayPort + HDMI + Ethernet + 5x USB-A + optical
- Thunderbolt 3 40Gbps — no port congestion with all ports active
- 87W laptop charging — sufficient for MacBook Pro and most laptops
- Gigabit Ethernet — reliable wired networking
- Very expensive (~£200+)
- Requires Thunderbolt 3/4 laptop — USB-C only laptops get USB 3.2 speeds
3. UGREEN 9-in-1 USB-C Hub — Best Value Multi-Port
The UGREEN 9-in-1 USB-C Hub adds Gigabit Ethernet and a VGA output alongside 4K@30Hz HDMI, 100W PD, 3x USB-A, and SD/microSD in one unit — ports that the Anker 555 omits. At ~£40–50 it matches the Anker's price while adding Ethernet and VGA for legacy display compatibility. The 4K output is limited to 30Hz (not 60Hz like the Anker), which is a meaningful difference for anyone using it as a primary monitor connection. Best for users who need Ethernet built in.
- Gigabit Ethernet built in — no separate adapter needed
- 9 ports including VGA for legacy projectors/monitors
- 100W USB-C PD pass-through
- Competitive price (~£40–50)
- HDMI limited to 4K@30Hz — not 60Hz like Anker 555
- Larger form factor — less portable than single-cable hubs
4. Plugable USB-C Triple Display Dock — Best for Multi-Monitor
The Plugable USB-C Triple Display Dock is the solution when a laptop needs to drive three external monitors simultaneously. It uses DisplayLink technology to overcome Intel Thunderbolt display limits — supporting up to 3x 4K@60Hz displays from a single USB-C connection on any laptop. Gigabit Ethernet, 96W laptop charging, 4x USB-A, 2x USB-C, and audio in/out complete the feature set. DisplayLink requires driver installation but enables monitor configurations that standard USB-C docks cannot support.
- 3x 4K@60Hz external monitors from one USB-C port
- DisplayLink — works with non-Thunderbolt USB-C laptops
- 96W laptop charging + Gigabit Ethernet
- Works with Windows and Mac
- Requires DisplayLink driver installation
- Expensive (~£150+)
5. Anker 341 USB-C Hub (7-in-1) — Best Budget Compact
The Anker 341 USB-C Hub is the compact budget option — 4K@30Hz HDMI, 85W PD pass-through, 2x USB-A 3.0, 1x USB-C 3.0, and SD/microSD at ~£25. The 4K output is limited to 30Hz and the PD pass-through to 85W, but for users who just need a few extra ports and a display output without paying for features they don't use, it delivers reliable Anker build quality at a low price. Pocket-sized for travel.
- Compact pocket size — ideal for travel
- 85W PD pass-through — sufficient for most laptops
- Anker reliability at ~£25 — well-built for the price
- SD + microSD reader included
- HDMI limited to 4K@30Hz
- Only 2x USB-A ports — insufficient for complex desk setups
What to Look for in a USB Hub
USB-C vs Thunderbolt
Standard USB-C hubs share ~10Gbps bandwidth across all ports — adequate for most setups. Thunderbolt 3/4 docks have 40Gbps, enabling simultaneous 4K displays, fast storage, and data transfer without congestion. Only Thunderbolt laptops (most MacBooks, select Windows) get full Thunderbolt speeds.
Power delivery
Hubs with less than 60W PD pass-through cannot fully charge larger laptops (MacBook Pro 14/16, most Windows gaming laptops require 90W+). Look for 85–100W PD if you want to charge at full speed. The hub itself consumes some power — a "100W" hub typically delivers 85–90W to the laptop.
Display output: 30Hz vs 60Hz
4K@30Hz is noticeably less smooth for scrolling and cursor movement — most users notice the difference. Pay the small premium for 4K@60Hz HDMI if using it as a primary monitor connection. 1080p/1440p@60Hz is fine on 30Hz-capable hubs.
Our Verdict
The Anker 555 is the best USB hub for most users — 100W PD, 4K@60Hz, and Anker's reliability at ~£40. For a full desk setup with Thunderbolt, the CalDigit TS3 Plus is unmatched in port count and bandwidth. On a budget, the Anker 341 is the compact travel option that just works.
Frequently Asked Questions
USB-C hub vs Thunderbolt dock — what's the difference?
USB-C hubs (Anker 555, UGREEN Revodok) work with any USB-C device, are smaller and cheaper, but limited to ~10Gbps bandwidth and lower power delivery. Thunderbolt 4 docks (CalDigit TS3 Plus, CalDigit TS4) deliver 40Gbps bandwidth, support dual 4K monitors at 60Hz, and provide 96-100W power for charging laptops. Choose USB-C for occasional needs (laptop to TV); Thunderbolt for desktop replacement use with monitors and high-speed external drives.
Can a USB-C hub power my laptop?
Some can, with limitations. USB-C hubs with 'Power Delivery passthrough' (Anker 555, UGREEN 9-in-1) let your laptop charger plug into the hub, which then charges the laptop while running peripherals. Typical limit is 65W to the laptop (charging + peripherals reduce this). For 96W+ requirements like MacBook Pro M4 16", use a Thunderbolt 4 dock with dedicated 96W charging.
Do I need a hub with ethernet?
Yes if you need reliable connectivity. WiFi is convenient but introduces latency, packet loss, and bandwidth caps. For video calls, large downloads, and gaming, ethernet is meaningfully better. The Anker 555 and UGREEN 9-in-1 include gigabit ethernet, sufficient for full WiFi 6 throughput. If your home internet is faster than 1Gbps, choose a Thunderbolt dock with 2.5GbE.
Why do some hubs cost £200+ when others cost £30?
Three factors: bandwidth (USB-C 10Gbps vs Thunderbolt 4 40Gbps), build quality (CalDigit uses aluminium chassis, premium chipsets, better thermal management), and reliability over years of use. Cheap hubs often experience overheating, intermittent disconnections, and chipset failures within 1-2 years. For daily heavy use, the premium pays for itself in reliability. For occasional use, the cheap hubs work fine.