My new laptop only has two USB-C ports. It’s ridiculous. I need to plug in my keyboard, my mouse, my external hard drive, and sometimes even an Ethernet cable when the Wi-Fi is being a jerk. That’s why I went on a quest to find the best cheap usb c hub options out there.
I bought a bunch of them from Amazon and AliExpress, tested them for a few weeks, and now I’m going to tell you which ones are actually worth your money. Spoiler: some of them are straight garbage.
What I Looked For
When I’m looking for a USB-C hub, there are a few things that are important to me. First, it has to be cheap. I’m not trying to spend $100 on a hub. Second, it has to have enough ports for my needs. At a minimum, that means at least two USB-A ports, a USB-C port for charging, and an HDMI port. An Ethernet port is a nice bonus. Third, it has to be reliable. I don’t want a hub that’s going to randomly disconnect or overheat. And lastly, it needs to be relatively compact. I carry my laptop around a lot, so I don’t want a huge, bulky hub.
Here’s a quick rundown of the contenders:
- Anker 555 USB-C Hub (8-in-1): A well-known brand, usually a safe bet.
- UtechSmart 6-in-1 USB-C Hub: Lots of ports for the price, seemed promising.
- Hiearcool USB-C Hub Adapter: I liked the name, figured I’d give it a shot.
- Baseus USB-C Hub Docking Station: Baseus usually makes decent stuff, worth checking out.
- Some Random No-Name Hub From AliExpress: Because why not?
The Contenders Ranked
Here’s how they stacked up in my testing, from best to worst:
1. Anker 555 USB-C Hub (8-in-1)
Okay, yeah, Anker is the obvious choice. But there’s a reason why they’re so popular. The Anker 555 USB-C Hub (8-in-1) just works. It’s reliable, it has a good selection of ports (2 USB-A, 1 USB-C, HDMI, Ethernet, SD card reader, microSD card reader), and it doesn’t get too hot. Plus, it feels pretty sturdy. My cat knocked this off my desk twice and it survived both times. It’s a bit pricier than the other hubs on this list, usually around $35-$40, but it’s worth the extra money if you want something that’s going to last.
I used this hub for everything: charging my laptop, connecting my external hard drive, hooking up a monitor, and transferring files from my camera’s SD card. It handled everything without a hiccup. The data transfer speeds were good, the HDMI output was clear, and the power delivery was consistent.
The downside: The cable is a little short. If your laptop’s USB-C port is on the far side, it might be a tight fit.
2. Baseus USB-C Hub Docking Station
The Baseus USB-C Hub Docking Station is another solid option. It’s similar to the Anker hub in terms of features (2 USB-A, 1 USB-C, HDMI, Ethernet, SD/TF card readers), but it has a slightly different design. It’s more of a rectangular block than a dongle, which some people might prefer. The build quality feels decent, though not quite as premium as the Anker. This one cost me $28.75. I actually like the slightly longer cable, it reaches easier from my tower to my laptop. My keyboard and mouse felt responsive using the USB A ports.
The performance was also good. I didn’t notice any major differences in data transfer speeds or HDMI output compared to the Anker hub. It did get a little warmer during heavy use, but not alarmingly so.
The downside: The SD card reader is a bit slow. It took about 4.8 seconds to transfer a 100MB file, compared to 3.1 seconds with the Anker hub. Also, the finish on the hub scratches kinda easily. It looked a little beat up after only a couple of weeks.
3. UtechSmart 6-in-1 USB-C Hub
The UtechSmart 6-in-1 USB-C Hub looked promising on paper. It has a decent selection of ports (3 USB-A, HDMI, SD/TF card readers) and it’s usually pretty cheap, around $20-$25. But in practice, it was a bit of a disappointment. The build quality feels cheap, the ports are a little wobbly, and it gets HOT. Like, uncomfortably hot. I wouldn’t trust this hub to last very long.
The performance was also inconsistent. Sometimes it worked fine, but other times it would randomly disconnect or have trouble recognizing devices. The HDMI output was occasionally glitchy, with flickering and static. The SD card reader was also slow, even slower than the Baseus hub. I tested this with my USB microphone and it felt like I could hear buzzing in the background. Definitely not good.
The downside: Everything. Just avoid this one.
4. Hiearcool USB-C Hub Adapter
I bought the Hiearcool USB-C Hub Adapter purely because I liked the name. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much, and I wasn’t disappointed. It’s a basic hub with 2 USB-A ports, an HDMI port, and a USB-C port for charging. The build quality is okay, but it feels very lightweight and plasticky. I paid $12.99 for it.
The performance was… adequate. The USB-A ports worked, the HDMI output worked, and the charging worked. But everything felt a little sluggish. Data transfer speeds were slow, the HDMI output wasn’t as crisp as the other hubs, and the charging was slow. It’s fine for basic tasks, but I wouldn’t recommend it for anything demanding. This one had a really short cable, like maybe 3 inches. Dumb.
The downside: It’s just kinda meh. There’s nothing particularly wrong with it, but there’s nothing particularly good about it either. It’s the definition of “you get what you pay for.”
5. Some Random No-Name Hub From AliExpress
I bought this hub from AliExpress for $8.50, including shipping. I figured, why not? It looked kinda cool in the pictures, with a bunch of different ports and a fancy braided cable. But as soon as I took it out of the package, I knew I had made a mistake. The build quality was atrocious. The plastic felt brittle, the ports were loose, and the cable was already fraying. I plugged it into my laptop, and sparks literally came out of it. I immediately unplugged it and threw it in the trash. Do not buy random electronics from AliExpress. It’s not worth the risk. At least it wasn’t when I was trying to find the best cheap usb c hub options.
The downside: It’s a fire hazard. Seriously, don’t buy this.
Comparison Table
| Hub | Price | Ports | Build Quality | Performance | Overall Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anker 555 USB-C Hub (8-in-1) | $35-$40 | 2 USB-A, 1 USB-C, HDMI, Ethernet, SD, microSD | Excellent | Excellent | 5/5 |
| Baseus USB-C Hub Docking Station | $28.75 | 2 USB-A, 1 USB-C, HDMI, Ethernet, SD, TF | Good | Good | 4/5 |
| UtechSmart 6-in-1 USB-C Hub | $20-$25 | 3 USB-A, HDMI, SD, TF | Poor | Poor | 1/5 |
| Hiearcool USB-C Hub Adapter | $12.99 | 2 USB-A, HDMI, USB-C (charging) | Okay | Adequate | 2/5 |
| Some Random No-Name Hub From AliExpress | $8.50 | Who knows? | Hazardous | Non-functional | 0/5 |
Is It Worth Getting a More Expensive Hub?
Maybe. If you’re a professional who relies on your USB-C hub for important work, then it might be worth investing in a higher-end model. More expensive hubs often have better build quality, more reliable performance, and more advanced features like Thunderbolt support and higher power delivery. But for most people, a good, cheap USB-C hub like the Anker 555 or the Baseus is perfectly adequate.
How to Choose the Right Hub for You
Think about what you’re going to use the hub for. If you just need to connect a keyboard and mouse, then a basic hub with a couple of USB-A ports will be fine. But if you need to connect multiple devices, transfer large files, or output video to a 4K monitor, then you’ll need a more powerful hub with more ports and higher bandwidth.
Also, consider the size and portability of the hub. If you’re going to be carrying it around with you, then you’ll want something small and lightweight. But if you’re going to be using it at your desk, then you can get away with a larger, more feature-rich hub.
Real Talk About Cheap Tech
Look, I love cheap tech. I’m always on the lookout for a good deal. But sometimes, cheap tech is just cheap. It’s poorly made, it’s unreliable, and it’s ultimately a waste of money. That’s why it’s important to do your research and read reviews before you buy anything. I’ve learned the hard way that it’s often better to spend a little more money on something that’s going to last than to save a few bucks on something that’s going to break in a month. That said, the Anker 555 really does seem to be the best cheap usb c hub you can get right now.
Final Thoughts
So, there you have it. My top 5 cheapest USB-C hubs of 2026. Hopefully, this has been helpful in your search for the perfect hub. Just remember to be careful when buying cheap tech, and always read the reviews. And for the love of god, don’t buy random electronics from AliExpress. Unless you want to set your laptop on fire.
Seriously, just get the Anker one. It’s worth the extra $10. Save yourself the headache of dealing with a junky hub that doesn’t work right.