5 Cheaper USB-C Hubs That Can Replace An Expensive Dock

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A docking station, also referred to as a dock, is a helpful gadget that allows you to expand the port selection of your laptop or desktop without dealing with the hassle of connecting and removing multiple different devices. Docks come in different shapes and sizes, with the number of ports and slots differing on a model basis. However, a dock is typically meant to remain on a desk, and often comes with its own power supply, which makes it not-so-portable and cumbersome to carry around with you.

This is where USB-C hubs come into play. They're like docks, but significantly more portable. Depending on the features, some can be powered directly from your laptop; others take some power from your laptop charger and pass on the rest for charging your machine.

More importantly, USB-C hubs are generally more affordable than docking stations, and you can find one from a reputable manufacturer for less than $20. However, pricing varies based on the number of available ports and other features. If you're in the market for a compact and portable gadget to expand your laptop's port selection, including adding support for Ethernet, SD cards, or an external display, we've handpicked some of the most affordable and feature-rich USB-C hubs from reliable brands. We selected these USB-C hubs after considering both buyer feedback and expert reviews when available.

Plugable's 7-in-1 USB-C Hub has much to like, from its near-universal compatibility to a good selection of available ports. It comes with an HDMI port that can handle up to 4K 60 Hz signals, two USB 5 Gbps Type-A ports for peripherals and storage drives, a Gigabit Ethernet port, a microSD card slot, and an SD card slot. You also get a power delivery USB-C port that can take up to 100 watts of power from your wall adapter and pass on up to 87 W for charging your laptop.

In other highlights, the USB-C hub has a metal construction for durability and heat dissipation, a compact design, and a two-year warranty. It'll cost you $40, and has received a solid average buyer rating of 4.6 out of 5 from Amazon shoppers. Buyers appreciate its seamless functionality, Plugable's customer service, and affordable pricing. However, a small selection of shoppers point out troubles with the Ethernet port and the port's light, and getting defective units.

Mac Sources also had good things to say about it, and highlighted its reliability and lack of heating problems. However, they pointed out that there's no LED indicator to let users know it's functioning.

If you want your USB-C hub to have multiple USB ports in addition to everything else, the UGREEN Revodok Pro 108 is a good option. It comes with five USB ports, including two USB-A and three USB-C ports. While one of the USB-C ports is reserved for power, the other two are capable of 10 Gbps speeds, making it suitable for faster data transfers and connecting your storage drives. One of the USB Type-A ports is also rated for 10 Gbps, whereas the other is good for 480 Mbps.

In addition, you get an HDMI port, an SD card slot, and a microSD card slot. The hub has an aluminum alloy shell, features an indicator light, and supports all popular operating systems without any drivers. Keep in mind, it can only deliver a 4K 60 Hz video signal if your display supports DisplayPort (DP) 1.4. DP 1.2-capable displays will only get a 4K 30Hz signal. Moreover, it can take up to 100 W of power from a charger and pass on up to 85 W to your laptop for charging.

The UGREEN Revodok Pro 108 carries a price tag of $31 and has garnered a good average buyer rating of 4.6 out of 5 on Amazon. Buyers like its sleek design, plug-and-play setup, and port selection. However, some point out that it failed for them within months, or they received defective units with non-functional ports.

Anker's A83C2 is the only USB-C hub among our recommendations that actually supports two display outputs; however, while one of the video ports is HDMI, the other is VGA, which you don't see often nowadays. That said, if you encounter VGA ports frequently or occasionally, this hub can come in handy. Remember, the HDMI port can handle 4K 30 Hz signals, whereas the VGA port is limited to 1080p 60 Hz video.

Beyond the dual video ports, the Anker offering has plenty of useful ports, including four USB 5 Gbps ports, three of which are Type-A and one is USB-C. You also get another USB-C port, but that's only meant for power delivery. It can take up to 100 watts from a wall adapter and pass on up to 85 W to your machine. There's also a Gigabit Ethernet port for wired connectivity, an SD card slot, and a microSD card slot.

It'll set you back $36 at list price; however, it's often discounted to $32. The Anker A83C2 is also widely liked by Amazon shoppers, who've given it a good average rating of 4.5 out of 5. They highlight Anker's customer service, the USB-C hub's port selection, and build quality. However, some buyers note that their units failed after just a few uses or within months, and others had issues with the display ports.

Taiwanese computing brand Acer's 8-in-1 USB-C Hub is worth considering if you primarily want access to multiple fast USB ports and up to 90 W power delivery. The Acer hub has five USB ports, two of which are USB-C and rated for 10 Gbps speeds, two are USB Type-A and rated for 5 Gbps speeds, and one is USB-C, but that's limited to power delivery. The power delivery port can take up to 100 W and send up to 90 W for charging the connected device.

It also includes an HDMI port that supports up to 4K 60 Hz video signals, an SD card slot, and a microSD card slot. Like many of our other recommendations, it has a metal chassis for better heat dissipation and is compatible with all popular operating systems.

Acer's offering is reasonably priced at $35, but you can often find it for less. It's also well-rated, and Amazon shoppers have given it a good rating of 4.5 out of 5. Buyers say the hub is convenient, works great, and is lightweight. That said, a small selection of shoppers found their units failing within months, whereas others claim it can get hot.

Plugable's USBC-9IN1E USB-C Hub is another well-liked option that you can consider as a dock replacement. It has nine ports, including two USB Type-A 10 Gbps ports, one USB-C 10 Gbps port, and a USB 2.0 Type-A port. You can also get a USB-C port for power that can accept up to 140 watts of power from a wall adapter, and pass up to 125 W to the connected laptop for charging.

Besides its ability to send power to charge your laptop, one of its USB Type-A ports supports USB Battery Charging 1.2 and can deliver 7.5 watts to charge another connected device. This feature isn't common on budget USB-C hubs, and allows you to charge your phone or a mobile accessory if needed. There's also a Gigabit Ethernet port and an HDMI port capable of supporting 4K 60 Hz video signals.

Plugable USBC-9IN1E has also received good feedback from How-To Geek, Tom's Hardware, and Wired. These publications recommend it, praisinf its port selection and high power delivery, but say the built-in cable is short. The USB-C hub is priced at $50, and has received an average Amazon buyer rating of 4.4 out of 5. Buyers are happy with the hub's performance, durability, and Plugable's customer service. However, a small selection of buyers say that the hub was unable to provide the required power to their laptops. Some units also died within days.

USB-C hubs are pretty handy, as they can help you get more out of your laptop, phone, or tablet. However, different hubs have different features, and the port selection can vary.

While choosing cheap USB-C hubs that can replace a docking station, we focused on options that provide a good port selection, including video ports, multiple USB ports, Ethernet, and SD card slots.

We limited our recommendations to hubs priced at $50 or less. More importantly, we considered buyer feedback from Amazon and expert reviews when available to refine our selection. All our recommendations are rated at least 4.4 out of 5 on Amazon.