Best USB-C hubs and adapters for Mac 2023

The Anker PowerExpand 8-in-1 USB-C Hub is compact and powerful, offering greater specs than some of the other leading options on this list.

It 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 PowerExpand 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 an SD card reader (that can support a microSD card with an adapter). This is rated at UHS-I (104MBps) so not the fastest but speedier than some other hubs tested here offer.

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

It’s also incredibly light at just under 130g and compact so you can take it anywhere. At $79.99/£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.

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.

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..

All three requires a MacBook with two adjacent Thunderbolt ports on one side.

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 in 2021, or MacBook Airs introduced in 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.

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 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 the lot if you need everything, 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.

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 1x 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.

(The 6-in-1 model currently on sale in the UK offers lesser performance: 5Gbps USB-A instead of 10Gbps, and external display support at 30Hz compared to 60Hz.)

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, Amazon US and Amazon UK.

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.

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.

Sick of hubs that still think USB-A is a thing? If what you want is more USB-C ports, the Satechi 4-Port USB-C Hub has plenty for you. Each port is USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 so 5Gbps, although that should be fast enough for most.

The USB-C ports don’t support passthrough charging or video output, and can handle only two hard drives or SSDs at the same time.

This hub has enough different ports to call itself a docking station. It has two HDMI ports, two USB-C ports (one PD and one 5Gbps), SD/microSD/SD readers (UHS-I), two 5Gbps USB-A ports, a 3.5mm audio combo jack for headphones, and Gigabit Ethernet.

It doesn’t have its own power supply but offers passthrough PD charging at a more than healthy 100W.

That’s a great set of ports, but it’s not it’s biggest plus for users of Apple’s original M1/M2-based MacBooks.

The standard M1 and M2 chips in Apple’s recent MacBooks are powerful but have a major limitation: unlike Intel-based Macs, they don’t support more than one external display. The smarter M1 Pro and M1 Max chips do support multiple displays.

If that is a problem for you there is a hardware solution in the Hyperdrive Dual 4K HDMI 10-in-1 USB-C Hub, which lets M1 Macs connect two external displays. There is some light software installation involved for M1/M2 users, and you need to allow InstantView access to your Privacy settings in System Preferences.

One HDMI port allows for 4K at 60Hz, and the other 4K at 30Hz.

If you want the fastest Internet and network speeds, you need to push past Gigabit Ethernet to Multi-Gig Ethernet, ranging up to 10Gbps. This six-port hub from Satechi boasts a 2.5Gbps (2.5GbE) Ethernet port—2.5x faster than regular Gigabit Ethernet. 2.5GbE development is becoming more commonplace now that WiFi 6 enables wireless connection to over 1GbE LAN, and you can find 2.5G ports on some WiFi 6 routers. Current CAT5e Ethernet cables are compatible so there’s no need for rewiring.

Aside from this super-fast Ethernet this hub boasts 4K at 60Hz HDMI, 10Gbps USB-A and two 10Gbps USB-C ports (one with 100W passthrough charging) and a combo 3.5mm audio jack. Note that neither USB-C port supports video transfer so it’s a one-display hub.

This hub also stands apart from standard USB-C ports by being USB4, which means you get to play with your Mac’s full 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 bandwidth.

Satechi promises that this adapter can handle two 4K displays at 60Hz – most display-friendly USB-C hubs can handle 4K displays only at 30Hz, a lower frame rate that is fine for most tasks but not ideal for high-resolution gaming or broadcasts.

This simple double-HDMI adapter also includes a USB-C PD charging port (at up to 60W) so you can keep your MacBook charged while it’s in use.

It is compatible with MacBook models with two side USB-C ports, and weighs 62g (2.2oz). Note that it doesn’t support two external displays on M1 Macs.

It is available in either Silver or Space Grey. 

Apple got a lot of flack when moving to USB-C because it meant that many of its users had to buy one or more adapters to replicate the ports they were used to, and needed.

It wasn’t so much that we needed adapters, but more to do with the price Apple was charging for its simple USB-C hubs and adapters.

Take, for example Apple’s USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter, which cost a lot for just an HDMI port, one USB-A port and a passthrough-power USB-C port.

Plugable has a much cheaper alternative, at about a third of the price. And it looks pretty identical.

Aside from the price, the one drawback is that the HDMI connection can connect a 4K external display at 30Hz rather than the full 60Hz, which may put off gamers.

But otherwise, this is a great alternative at a fraction of the price, and can charge at 60W.

We tend to think of hubs for laptops, such as Apple’s MacBooks, which lack more than one or two USB-C ports and so require a dock to add further devices.

The Mac Mini, you’d think, has an army of ports in comparison to Apple’s laptops.

The latest models boast two Thunderbolt 3 / USB4 (fast USB-C) ports, two old-school USB-A ports, HDMI 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, and 3.5mm headphone jack.

That sounds like a lot, but Apple accessory specialist Satechi believes the Mini needs maxing.

Satechi’s Type-C Aluminum Stand & Hub for Mac Mini expands these capabilities with six ports: including a USB-C data port, three USB-A ports, micro/SD card readers, and another 3.5mm headphone jack port.

(Note that you can’t charge devices connected to the USB ports, as they are there for syncing and data transfer only.)

The crucial point is that these points are front-facing, and not tucked around the back with the unwieldy and unsightly power supply. It also lifts the Mini off the desk, and its built-in air vents help regulate temperature and encourage airflow.

You might not think a desktop Mac needs a hub, but the 24in iMac is quite lacking, having either just two Thunderbolt ports on the entry-level model or two Thunderbolt and two USB-C at the top-end. These ports are also all hidden away at the back, which can mean snaking cables all over your desk.

Five of the ports on this hub that clamps to the underside of the iMac are front-facing ports for easy access to memory cards, USB storage, or storage cards. There are two USB-C ports and one USB-A port (all rated at a speedy 10GBps). The USB-A port can charge a phone at 7.5W.

The UHS-I (104MBps) SD and microSD card readers aren’t the fastest but should suffice. Such memory cards are an affordable way of adding portable storage, and will also delight camera users.

At the rear of the hub is an HDMI port that can support an external 4K display at 60Hz.

Hyper also sells a 5-in-1 iMac USB Hub with two USB-C (5Gbps) and three USB-A (5Gbps and one that charges at 7.5W).

Quite brilliantly, the hubs can color-match with your 24in iMac, with 7 iMac color faceplates included.

If you’re a digital professional or just a photography enthusiast, chances are you might be slightly peeved that the new MacBook Pro you held out for doesn’t have an SD card slot. 

SanDisk is here to save the day. This neat SD card reader is USB-C compatible and will allow Thunderbolt 3 speed transfers of all your high-resolution photos and videos. 

SD cards are also a very inexpensive way to add portable storage to your laptop, from 32GB up to 1TB.

This simple adapter makes a USB-C port into a VGA port for older displays and projectors, and also can handle two external displays.

VGA was once the most popular video connector but is seen less these days, being overtaken by DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort and direct USB-C.

It supports 920×1200@60Hz HD resolutions via VGA, and 4K at 30Hz through its HDMI port. It isn’t compatible with supporting two displays on an M1 MacBook.

If you need to connect to a DVI (Digital Visual Interface) display or projector, this adapter does the trick. 

It can support resolutions up to 1,920-x-1,080 at 60Hz.

Slim and sturdy while still being very portable, the latest version of Plugable 7-in-1 USB-C hub comes with HDMI port that can support an external 4K display at 30Hz.

There are also two 5Gbps USB-A ports, Gigabit Ethernet, UHS-I SD and microSD Card readers, and a USB-C port for PD passthrough charging at up to an impressive 87W—enough for most laptops.

At just 106g, it’s the lightest of the truly multifunctional (display plus Ethernet) hub/docks available.

This is a very well-constructed USB-C hub that adds access to seven ports from one USB-C connection.

It includes two 5Gbps USB-A 3.1 ports, and two USB-C ports—one of which allows for passthrough charging at up to 60W.

There’s no Ethernet port with this adapter, but most of us are fine with Wi-Fi anyway. But if you need a wired Internet connection, look elsewhere.

There’s also an HDMI port for adding an external display (4K at 30Hz), and an SD and Micro SD Card reader slot.

This multimedia adapter uses the dual USB-C ports of a MacBook to connect to a hub of ports, including two USB-A ports, a Gigabit Ethernet port, SD and Micro SD Card reader, a USB-C charging port (60W) and two HDMI ports.

It is compatible with MacBook models with two side USB-C ports on the same side. It does not support MacBook models with a single USB-C port.

One of the HDMI ports can handle 4K at 60Hz port, while the other supports 4K at 30Hz.

It’s available in either Silver or Space Grey, and weighs 102g (3.6oz).

The brushed aluminium Satechi USB-C Multi-Port Hub Adapter offers two 5Gbps USB 3.0 Type-A ports and 4K HDMI. It’s very lightweight at just 51g (1.8oz).

It lacks an SD card slot but does include a USB-C pass-through port (60W) so you don’t sacrifice your laptop’s Type-C port – allowing you to charge your laptop while using the adapter’s other outlets. This is especially handy for owners of the 12in MacBook, which has just one USB-C port.

It doesn’t feature an Ethernet port, so you’ll have to stick to Wi-Fi.

it’s designed to complement Apple’s MacBook range with availability in Silver, Gold, Rose Gold, and Space grey colors.

Apple’s USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter allows you to connect your USB-C enabled MacBook port to an HDMI display, a standard USB device, and a charging cable – all at the same time. The USB port allows you to connect incompatible USB accessories (flash drives, cameras) to your USB-C enabled MacBook.

The adapter supports full 1080p HD video output to your TV (HDMI-enabled, of course) where you can mirror your MacBook’s display or play movies. 

Some older displays and especially projectors still use the VGA standard for connection. Unveil your shiny new 12in MacBook or Touchbar MacBook Pro at your next meeting, then die of frustration when the projector has a VGA connection.

All is not lost, except that meeting then and there, and a pile of cash, as Apple’s USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter doesn’t come cheap.

This adapter is designed to help you smoothly transition to using USB-C. You may well have devices such as hard drives and external displays that use Thunderbolt 2 connections. This little gadget lets you keep using them with your MacBook or new MacBook Pro.

It also allows new Thunderbolt 3 devices to connect to a Mac with Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 ports – but to take advantage of it this way round Apple advises you need to be running macOS Sierra or above.

There’s a misconception that USB-C is an inconvenience, hence the existence of little adapters like this one from Nonda. USB-C isn’t so much an inconvenience as a completely new tech standard, so products like this are just there to help us bridge the gap. Positivity, people.

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