So you’re looking to solidify your home recording studio with the best audio interface? To us, this is one of the most important parts of making music and we consider it to be the star on top of the Christmas tree. Without an audio interface, you simply can’t record optimally. Your gear is essentially missing half of its power and capabilities without one of these in your studio. The best audio interfaces help us with sound quality, phantom power and amplification, more overall control of our gear, organization of all of our inputsoutputs into one device, and lastly make the pesky concept of latency disappear. Today we highlight our top 10 audio interface picks available in the market and give you some info to help ease your shopping adventures.
Find the best PC/Mac USB and Thunderbolt audio interfaces for producers, guitarists, singer-songwriters and more Shares Whether you want to call it an audio interface or a soundcard, if you make music on a Mac, PC, iPad or even iPhone, it makes sense to get the best box of I/O tricks that you possibly can. Satechi Type-C USB Passthrough Hub. The Satechi Type-C USB Passthrough Hub turns a USB-C port into two USB 3.0 ports, one SD card slot and one miniSD card slot. The Anker 4-Port USB hub is one of the best rated in the USB hub game, so it's no surprise that it's an ideal partner to consider for your Mac. Sleek, modern, and minimalist with an Apple-style aluminum finish, the Anker USB hub matches perfectly with your Mac. The Plugable USB-C Triple Display Dock (UD-ULTCD) is the best pick for early adopters who need a dock. It works with the newest standards, like USB Type-C for charging and external displays. If you are not familiar with Mac OS X, then you can think about this laptop as best Windows laptop for music production and editing. Its powerful latest 7 th generation Intel Core i7 processor with speed of 2.8 GHz can do all music/audio mixing easily with its 16GB RAM. Best active USB hub with no latency? Discussion in 'MASCHINE Area' started by alecman, Dec 11, 2015.
What is an audio interface?
An audio interface is a device which connects your various audio equipment to your computer (microphones, MIDI keyboards, studio monitor speakers, etc). Some have even called them “external sound cards” since the components built into computers can’t make the cut (for good reason — they’re typically too expensive or aren’t big enough). In terms of capabilities (and it really depends on which model you go with), they can provide phantom power to amplify your microphones, hook up any instrument or controller you’ve got via MIDI inout, and use XLR ports for microphones. Audio interfaces convert the analog information into digital signals for your production computer or music laptop to recognize and lay down into your songs.
Ultimately, it helps get you that studio-quality sound that helps separate you from the newbies. Relying on consumer-grade sound cards in your PC or Mac isn’t ideal as it often gives us interference and delays in sounds — and to their credit, merely can’t fit powerful interfaces inside their computers. Audio interfaces are the standard sound card for any type of studio. Once I hooked up my audio interface to my setup, the headache immediately went away because I was not only more organized (rid a lot of cable clutter) but was able to record in a quicker, versatile and realistic manner. When producing music, my workload decreased, my songs sounded better and my overall creativity shot through the roof since my process was more efficient. Lastly and most importantly, the quality of my recording tracks increased dramatically – microphones were more clear, guitars crisp, and the overall sound I heard was better for mixing and mastering later on in my DAW.
How to choose your audio interface
When it comes to the best audio interface, it really depends on a few factors. We’d love to give you a straight answer, but it is too dependent on a lot of elements you must take into consideration when shopping for the device. It depends on what you need.
- What is your budget? Most of these are relatively affordable, but you can always go higher for some powerful features. We’ve seen audio interfaces go within price ranges from $30 to $2,000. We tried to grab a few from each price-point to give you options in your search.
- What type of connectivity? You can either go the more popular USB route, FireWire or even advanced Thunderbolt. The more advanced you go away from USB, typically the more money you’ll have to drop; however, it may be worth the investment if you have the cash.
- How many inputs and outputs will you need? This is something to really take into consideration not only for now but the future as well. A lot of musicians who record multiple instruments at once such as with a band need numerous inputs and outputs to handle all of the equipment. Of course in my position, i’m a one-man band, so i’m fine with fewer ins since I record everything separately. Do you need a few microphone inputs? Additional USB ports? MIDI connectivity? Try to look at the gear around you and plan what you envision hooking up to your audio interface. If you do plan on buying more gear in the future, buy an interface you can foresee needing a few extra connections for your future studio.
- Is there a software bundle you need? Some of these come with virtual instruments, effects, and even digital audio workstations. Is that important to you?
For some more info, check out the choosing your audio interface article by Sound On Sound magazine.
Our picks for top 10 best audio interfaces
The following is our list of top 10 best audio interfaces for both Mac and PC. Do some sifting through as we provide the retail price for your budget, the compatibility in terms of connectivity, how many inputs and outputs, as well as overall features for comparing. We tried to cover all ranges, all connectivity as well as I/O options. Let us know which one you ended up going with/already have!
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2
Compatible with: Mac, PC, all hardware
- Check prices and reviews of the Scarlett 2i2: US | UK
- USB connectivity
- A/D resolution: 24-bit/96kHz
- Inputs: Two XLR/TRS combo
- Direct monitor control on front panel (switch between headphones and speakers easily)
- Comes with Ableton Live Lite and Scarlett bundle (processors, effects)
This is in our opinion one of the best audio interfaces out there by a mile. This interface by Focusrite is best for home and semi-pro studios (I have two friends who make music full-time that use this). The Scarlet 2i2 gives us a great quality microphone pre-amp, a very rugged build for stability as well as portability, and quite a few selections for ins and outs. The ‘2i2’ name basically means that it has two inputs and two outputs, as well as two pre-amps built-in (their other models you’ll see have similar names which relate to the connectivity options). Highly talked about this is the amp quality, compared to mechanisms found in a lot of condenser and ribbon mics and more expensive interfaces. It’s ultimately just a simple interface for a great cost — one of the most popular choices out there if you read the user reviews.
Another huge plus with this one is that it comes with Ableton Live Lite, a very popular digital audio workstation among music heads. This is especially perfect if you’re looking for some software to start recording with or merely want to make the change over to one of the most popular pieces of software today — Ableton coming along with the package makes this a must. USB powered here, although it doesn’t have any MID ins or outs which bums me out but there are ways around that. The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 is the best audio interface we’ve recommended to our readers numerous times for a reason — just make sure that it will cover your future needs in terms of connectivity if you plan on expanding later.
You can also check out the Focusrite Saffire Pro interface which is a step up (has some MIDI insouts and FireWire connectivity) but costs a bit more. There’s also a ton of other Scarlett models that pertain to ins and outs as stated previously — for only a few more bucks check out their Scarlett Studio Audio Bundle (comes with a mic, headphones, and the interface and it made first in our recording studio bundles guide).
Universal Audio Apollo Twin
Compatible with: Mac only
- Check prices and reviews of the Apollo Twin: US | UK
- 24-bit/192 kHz audio conversion
- Headphone and guitar input on front
- Preamp/monitor switches
- Dedicated master volume knob
- 2 XLR/TSR mic ins
- Realtime UAD Processing
- Comes with plug-in bundle (analog classics)
- Two mic/line pre-amps
- Thunderbolt connection
Up next, we have a mac only interface and this thing is extremely powerful. It’s a 2 x 6 thunderbolt connection and the audio conversion is quite telling at 24-bit/192 kHz for some of the clearest, zero-latency sound possible right now. It’s got real-time UAD processing so the tracking with compressors, EQ’s, and amps for various instruments is the real deal. It’s only compatible with Mac but it’s one of the best out there — Universal Audio brings us quality builds that’ll last you a very long time, so this is an investment.
Here’s a cool video on the Apollo Twin interface. You’ll need a thunderbolt cable for this, but it’s worth it if you’re going the full 9 — you won’t be let down by the Universal Audio Apollo Twin if you have the cash. It’s one of the best, pretty famous and will be for quite some time.
Mackie Onyx Blackjack
Compatible with: Mac and PC
- Check prices and reviews of the Onyx Blackjack: US | UK
- Two Onyx mic pre-amps
- Amps go up to 60 dB
- High-headroom design
- USB powered
- Separate studio monitor/headphone outputs
- Comes with Tracktion 3 production software
Mackie equipment is more tailored to DJ’s, but this audio interface is very solid for the price, giving us two high-quality Onyx mic pre-amps that are very powerful. Gives us some distortion protection due to its high-headroom design. Great zero-latency recording but what stands out to us is the amp gain control: great for electric guitars and dynamic microphones. You can crank each line in (1 and 2) up to 60 dB, turn up the phantom power to max on the monitor or phones, as well as have even more controls on the front.
Standard ins and outs with two XLR and TSR. A step up from a lot of audio interfaces due to its high-quality amps. One of the best audio interfaces in the lower price-point in our opinion. We recommend the Mackie Onyx Blackjack for those who need powerful amplification at an affordable price.
M-Audio M-Track Plus
Compatible with: Mac and PC
- Check prices and reviews of the M-Track Plus: US | UK
- 24-bit / 48 kHz digital audio processor
- Very little latency when monitoring
- Solid aluminum build
- 2 XLR inputs, 2 balanced 1/4″, MIDI in and out
- Selectable phantom power
- Headphone out on front
- Comes with Pro Tools and Ignite by AIR
Here’s another one of the best audio interfaces for the money. This is a very solid model in terms of build and overall supply of necessary ins and outs, as M-Audio gear usually brings to the table. It’s USB powered and offers great phantom power for microphones and guitars, has insert jacks on each channel, and lastly comes with Avid Pro Tools Express and Ignite creation software by AIR. If you’re looking for a good software combo this is great, otherwise it’s still a solid audio interface as it offers us the essentials: 2 XLR, 2 TSR and MIDI ins/outs…what else do you need?
Unless you’re using and recording multiple instruments at a time, anything else is rather unnecessary. The M-Audio M-Track Plus is a solid audio interface for those looking for only a few ins and outs and some clear audio quality on top of it all. It’s pretty affordable and rivals the Scarlett model we previously recommended in terms of price.
Also check out our review of their M-Audio M-Track QUAD audio interface for a step up if you have a few more bucks to spare.
PreSonus AudioBox
Compatible with: PC and Mac
- Check prices and reviews of the Audiobox: US | UK
- Rugged steel build
- Combo XLR mic/balanced 1/4″ input
- 48 volts of phantom power
- 24-bit resolution and 44.1, 48, 88.2, and 96 kHz sampling rate
- MIDI inout
- USB 2.0 port
- Comes with Studio One software
Another 2 x 2 to check out here, and this one is a more simple and budget-friendly audio interface than many others. PreSonus gear has a very positive reputation around the equipment world and the AudioBox is a favorite interface among many. You get two very high quality pre-amps built-in, a nice small steel build, as well as two MIDI int/outs on the front. The back has your TSR ins, a USB port for power and connectivity as well as a left and right stereo inputs. Lastly, a headphone jack (on the back) although I usually like these on the front, but oh well. As it’s more budget-friendly, it isn’t recommended for those with instruments that need more than around 35 decibel of gain or headphones above 100 in impedance. Keep this in mind as the power is great for a lower price-point audio interface but it isn’t jam-packed either.
This is great for those on a budget and need the standard capabilities of an interface, and even though it doesn’t have any fancy digital conversion (like the Apollo Twin), you’re getting what you pay for. The PreSonus AudioBox is considered to be another one of the best audio interface picks if you wanted a simple solution and also need some software alongside your setup (it comes with their Studio One digital audio workstation which isn’t necessarily a heavy-hitter in the software community, but can get the job done if you need something simple and don’t have a DAW yet).
Check out our reviews on their latest models, the AudioBox iOne and AudioBox iTwo if you’re looking for some different alternatives.
Apogee ONE
Compatible with: Mac only (and iPad)
- Check prices and reviews of the ONE: US | UK
- A/D and D/A conversion: 44.1/48 kHz 24-bit
- Single input channel
- Internal condenser microphone
- XLR microphone pre-amp
- Encoder knob (gain control, output level control)
- Maestro software included
Apogee electronics brings us one of the best audio interfaces for Mac. It’s rather simplistic in terms of connectivity, but the reason it’s at such a high cost is because of the amp. It goes up to 63 dB which is pretty high for its size. Another plus is the 48 volt phantom power but it also has a built-in condenser microphone if you think you’ll be using it for that. You can merely mount it and use it as a mic while having an audio interface at hand at the same time. It doesn’t have any MIDI ins or outs or even XLR ports but it does give us a 1/8″ for headphones. What most people do is use a converter cable which can be plugged in to an external microphone, MIDI keyboard or controller, etc.
Check this one out as it gives us a bit of a different spin to audio interfaces. Don’t let the small size of the Apogee ONE make you assume it isn’t powerful — it’ll up the quality of your music like no other (if you’re on Mac, that is).
Although it’s two times the price, also check out the Apogee Duet audio interface for some power if you’ve got the dough. We review their new Avid Pro Tools Duet by Apogee as well, which is a new interface out that’s been paired up by both companies for a new spin on the interface.
Avid MBox + Pro Tools Express
Best Usb Hubs For Macbook Pro
Compatible with: Mainly built for Mac, but can with Windows 10
- Check prices and reviews of the Mbox: US | UK
- Two XLR mic/line combo inputs
- Two 1/4″ DI inputs
- Stereo S/P/DIF digital in and out
- MIDI in and out (1×1)
- Monitor control
- Dedicated volume knob
- Built-in guitar tuner
- Comes with Pro Tools Express
If you want Pro Tools and one of the biggest industry standards out there, we recommend going with this. Avid‘s bundle is a bit more expensive than the budget-friendly audio interfaces we’ve listed thus far but it’s very worth your money if you’re interested in investing in a DAW software that many call it the best — the golden Pro Tools (Express is not the full version, keep in mind). The Mbox is a very solid interface not just because it is Pro Tools’ sidekick — it comes with 4 x 4 channels of ins and outs (two XLR mic/line combos, two 1/4″ inputs and outputs, as well as a headphone out and MIDI ins/outs).
You have phantom power of the standard 48 volts for your condenser microphone, has a nice soft-clip limiter and if you play the guitar, it’s got a built-in tuner with some on-board effects. A nice package if you’re looking for a big punch. The Avid Mbox is great for semi-pro and even some professional studios.
Lexicon Alpha
Compatible with: Mac and PC
- Check prices and reviews of the Alpha: US | UK
- 44.1kHz to 48kHz sample rates
- Record up to two tracks at once
- Inputs: One (1) XLR, Two (2) TRS, One (1) Hi-Z
- Two TRS & RCA outs
- USB powered
- Headphone output on back
- Low-noise mic pre-amp
- Comes with Cuba LE4 and their Pantheon reverb VST
Sleek and stable. This interface by Lexicon Pro has a lot of positive reviews and for good reason. At a super low retail price, it’s got one XLR mic, two TRS and one Hi-Z input. The only thing we’re missing here is the lack of phantom power as well as MIDI in and out, but if you don’t need these the price of this is a steal, especially for the audio quality for under $100. What’s highlighted with this is the low latency giving you no delays with recording, pretty much the benchmark of an interface so if that wasn’t possible we wouldn’t even list it here. This is basically a solid audio interface for recording instruments that don’t need phantom power as well as hooking up some studio monitors to your rig.
The Lexicon Alpha is perfect if you’re OK with switching cables to different equipment when recording, such as between a guitar and a keyboard. There is also some pretty decent software included as well with Cubase LE 4 and their Lexicon Pantheon VST reverb plug-in.
Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6
Compatible with: Windows and Mac
- Check prices and reviews of Komplete: US | UK
- 24-bit/96 kHz processor
- MIDI in and out
- 2 balanced mic/line/instrument XLR
- 2 balanced line 1/4″ TRS
- 4 balanced analog outputs 1/4″ TRS
- Two mic inputs headphone output
- 48 volts of phantom power
- Direct monitoring with mono input switch
- LED status lights
- USB powered
We’re huge fans of Native Instruments equipment and software, and this is a competitor to the Avid bundle we’ve listed previously. They were a top pick in our best VST plug-in guide for a reason. The Komplete Audio package here is very powerful, not only due to the solid build that will help with longevity but because of the software that it comes with — Cubase LE 6 (a solid DAW), Traktor LE 2 and Komplete Elements, giving you over 1k VST’s and effects. As far as connectivity goes, you’ve got some decent plugs — 2 balanced XLR’s, 2 balanced 1/4″ TRS, four balanced outputs, a MIDI in/out, and it’s USB powered for hassle-free hook ups with a dedicated volume knob up to for convenience.
This is an all around great package to look at if you’ve got the dough, especially if you’re looking to add some instruments and effects to your arsenal as well. The sound quality is very clear and reliable in terms of latency reduction. The Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6 is little cheaper than Avid’s bundle but you get Cubase instead of Pro Tools.
Behringer UCA202
Compatible with: Mac and PC
- Check prices and reviews of the UCA202: US | UK
- High-resolution 48 kHz conversion
- No drivers necessary — USB powered and connectivity
- Stereo headphone output
- Free editing software (nothing crazy) – KRISTAL Audio Engine and Audacity
Behringer audio equipment gives us the definition of a budget audio interface here. This is straight to the point and it’s powered via USB with no external power supply needed, great for portability. The resolution goes up to 48 kHz so in terms of conversion it is solid for the price. There’s just no XLR or TRS inputs here, so connecting a microphone might get tough — standard RCA ins (which can be converted with proper cables) while giving us a headphone jack and volume control. It also comes with a bundle of free software worth checking out.
I’d recommend grabbing this you’re on the go and need a simple digital converter, otherwise continue reading on. The Behringer UCA202 is a great model for those who want only the essentials at a very affordable price. We’d consider it the best cheap and budget-friendly audio interface in the market today.
Loading ...
More gear reviews and guides in the realm...
![Usb port hub mac Usb port hub mac](https://beebom-redkapmedia.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/HooToo-7-Port-USB-3.0-Hub.jpg)
Your guide
- Nick Guy
After 120 hours of doing research, consulting with electrical engineers, and testing hubs, we determined that the Anker 10-Port USB 3.0 Hub is the best USB hub for most people. It’s compact and reliable, and it has well-placed ports aplenty. In our tests, it rose above the competition mainly because of its usability and design: Compared with most of the hubs we tested, it’s smaller and equipped with more ports, and those ports are easy to get to. It also has three high-speed charging ports, something our readers told us they wanted.
Our pick
Anker 10-Port USB 3.0 Hub
Its seven USB 3.0 data ports and three high-speed charging ports face upward, so cables and plugs take up less room on your desk.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $40.
The Anker 10-Port USB 3.0 Hub has seven upward-facing USB 3.0 data ports, with a helpful LED indicator for each; it also has three 2.4-amp power ports for charging power-hungry devices like iPads. As a bonus, it’s aesthetically inoffensive—it doesn’t look like a greatest hit of ugly ’90s technology, unlike some of the other hubs we tested. Much of the competition has side-facing ports that are too close together to allow for simultaneous use, or make USB plugs and devices stick out from the sides, taking up space on your desk.
Advertisement
Also great
Anker AH231
Almost identical to our main pick, but with nine USB 3.0 data ports and one 2.1-amp charging port.
Buying Options
May be out of stock
*At the time of publishing, the price was $50.
If you need more USB 3.0 data ports than our main pick’s seven, you can upgrade to the 10-port Anker AH231. Designed with nine USB 3.0 data ports and a single 2.1-amp charging port, it’s otherwise just a color change away from being identical to our main recommendation. However, the AH231 costs about $10 more than our top pick at this writing, so you should make sure you really need those extra data ports.
Also great
Anker Ultra Slim 4-Port USB 3.0 Data Hub
The most portable of our recommendations. It can’t handle more than one high-powered drive at a time, but it performs better than any other four-port hub available.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $10.
We’ve yet to find the perfect four-port hub, but the Anker Ultra Slim 4-Port USB 3.0 Data Hub is the best we’ve tested. It’s small, portable, and capable of working with a power adapter add-on that you’ll need to run drives without a built-in power source. It can handle four low-power devices at a time, but we don’t recommend it if you need to connect more than one hard drive.
Everything we recommend
Our pick
Anker 10-Port USB 3.0 Hub
Its seven USB 3.0 data ports and three high-speed charging ports face upward, so cables and plugs take up less room on your desk.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $40.
![Best Usb Hubs For Mac Msuci Production Best Usb Hubs For Mac Msuci Production](https://talkinmusic.com/musicproduction/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/best-usb-audio-interface.jpg)
Also great
Anker AH231
Almost identical to our main pick, but with nine USB 3.0 data ports and one 2.1-amp charging port.
Buying Options
May be out of stock
*At the time of publishing, the price was $50.
Also great
Anker Ultra Slim 4-Port USB 3.0 Data Hub
The most portable of our recommendations. It can’t handle more than one high-powered drive at a time, but it performs better than any other four-port hub available.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $10.
The research
Who this is for
A USB 3.0 hub is for anyone who has a computer with at least one USB 3.0 port and either wants more ports or wants those ports in a more-accessible place. Many laptops have only one or two USB 3.0 ports; many desktop computers have USB ports in difficult-to-reach locations.
This guide currently focuses on traditional, rectangular USB-A connectors. But USB-C ports are becoming more common on computers, phones, and other devices. While the new standard has yet to supplant the legacy USB-A port that all of these hubs use, new USB-A hubs seem to have stopped coming, and older models are getting discontinued without replacements. If you’re looking for accessories for your USB-C device, check out our full guide to USB-C accessories.
If your computer doesn’t have enough USB 3.0 ports, or if you want a more-convenient place to plug in your USB 3.0 hard drive or flash drive, you should consider a USB 3.0 hub. If you have a computer with USB 3.0 ports but a slow USB 2.0 hub, you should consider upgrading, as you’ll see significantly faster transfer speeds across all your devices with a new hub. If you need a dedicated charging port for your smartphone or iPad—and you’d rather not use a dedicated USB wall charger—or if you’re experiencing dropped connections or other undesirable behaviors with connected devices, you should upgrade to one of our picks.
What makes a great USB hub
We surveyed more than 700 readers and added the results of our own research to come up with the criteria for choosing the best USB hubs. A great USB hub must have USB 3.0 ports and should have dedicated power. It needs to be reliable, practically designed, compact, and (for portable hubs) light. LED indicators for each port and a decent warranty are also useful.
USB 3.0 hubs tend to be more expensive than USB 2.0 hubs, and the 3.0 standard has interference issues with 2.4 GHz wireless devices. Still, we chose to focus on USB 3.0 hubs, because the USB 2.0 standard is ancient—it was introduced back in April 2000, while USB 3.0 debuted in November 2008—and many times slower than 3.0. For example, our favorite desktop hard drive transfers files at about 150 megabytes per second on a USB 3.0 connection, but on USB 2.0 it maxes out at just 40 MB/s—if you think you’ll ever want to plug USB 3.0–capable external hard drives or flash drives into a hub for data transfer, you’ll want the extra speed that a USB 3.0 hub provides.
Using a dedicated power cord or adapter is a smart idea if you don’t want to risk accidentally corrupting everything on your hard drive.
Dedicated power is a must-have for most hubs—but not for all of them. (More on the kind that don’t require it in a moment.) To explain why, we first need to talk about how power flows through USB hubs. According to the official USB 3.0 spec, each USB 3.0 port must provide 900 milliamps of current at 5 volts, or 4.5 watts. If you have a four-port USB 3.0 hub powered solely by your computer’s USB 3.0 port (in other words, without a dedicated power cord or adapter), that means you theoretically have four devices running on the amount of power usually provided to one. This arrangement can lead to devices losing power and disconnecting improperly from the computer, which can cause drive corruption and data loss.
However, it’s important to recognize that this theoretical setup has a lot of flexibility. The 900-milliamp-current requirement for USB 3.0 ports is a minimum rather than a fixed level, and manufacturers often provide more power to their hubs’ ports. The power consumption of devices also varies wildly based on the kind of device and what you’re doing with it at a given moment. For example, in its user manual for our top-pick hub, Anker provides the following estimates of power consumption by device: A mouse consumes about 100 milliamps, a keyboard uses a maximum of 500 milliamps, and a portable USB 3.0 hard drive consumes a maximum of 900 milliamps.
Those are very generous estimates, intended to encourage caution so that you don’t accidentally overload your hub. Devices generally draw the most power when you first plug them into the hub and while transferring data, but very few draw the theoretical maximum, especially for extended periods. Still, using a dedicated power cord or adapter is a smart idea if you don’t want to risk accidentally corrupting everything on your hard drive; and for a USB hub with more than four ports, a dedicated power cord or adapter is an absolute must. (It’s not entirely necessary for a travel-friendly four-port USB hub, but an unpowered setup requires caution to avoid having devices trying to draw more power than your laptop’s USB 3.0 port can give. We cover this topic in more detail below.)
Beyond minimum power, we know from our research on USB chargers that people prefer ports that can charge their phones and tablets more quickly; an informal Twitter survey of readers confirmed this. So we looked for hubs with high-speed charging ports, a feature that requires external AC power, and with the exception of portable hubs, we ended up focusing on powered models.
With those power requirements in mind, we eliminated any USB hubs without enough juice to fully power all their ports. For example, our top pick has seven USB 3.0 ports and three 2.4-amp charging ports. According to the USB 3.0 spec, that means this hub could need as much as 47 watts to power all its ports at their theoretical maximums—and because it includes a 12-volt, 5-amp (60-watt) power supply, it gets enough power for all its ports at their theoretical maximums. Many hubs without adequate power aren’t significantly smaller, lighter, or less expensive to make up for that, so we ruled those models out.
A great USB hub also has to be designed with usability in mind. The ports should be spaced far enough apart that you can connect bulky thumb drives and card readers next to one another. In our tests, we found that vertically stacked ports were generally preferable to horizontally aligned ones. A hub should also be small and light, especially if you’ll use it for traveling, and it shouldn’t make the devices you plug in take up too much room on your desk: Hubs with ports on top (as opposed to around the edges) are better because the plugs you connect will stand vertically instead of fanning out around the hub and taking up even more space. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, of course, but it’s also nice if a USB hub doesn’t look like it fell out of the ’90s. And a decent warranty is useful in case you wind up with a faulty hub.
We found that an LED indicator for each port on the hub made troubleshooting much simpler when things didn’t work as intended, because we were able to tell which port was having issues.
In our reader survey, 51 percent of respondents told us they wanted a USB hub with five to seven ports, while 29 percent favored four or fewer ports. The remaining 20 percent said they wanted eight or more ports. Based on that feedback, we looked for picks with four, seven, and 10 ports. Nearly a third of respondents said they were interested in a travel USB hub, and 72 percent of them told us they wanted a travel hub without a dedicated power cord. So for the four-port category, we tried to find a USB hub that could work without a power cord but came with one; that way, the power cord would be available when you needed extra power but wouldn’t be a mandatory nuisance.
How we picked and tested
After working out the finer points of what makes a great USB hub, we combed the websites of prominent USB-hub sellers Anker, HooToo, Plugable, Sabrent, and others, and we looked at some of the top-rated and best-selling hubs on Amazon. For the initial version of this guide, after eliminating hubs that didn’t fit our criteria, we tested three hubs for the seven-port category, four hubs for the upgrade category, and eight hubs for our four-port travel pick. For our 2016 update, we tested two new four-port hubs, two additional seven-port hubs, and two more 10-port hubs. In 2017, we’ve tested only one new model, while eliminating models that have been discontinued as manufacturers turn their attention to USB-C.
We consulted with a few electrical experts and engineers—most notably Richard Baguley (owner/blogger of What Does This Button Do?) and Dan Siefert (founder of One on One Technical Products)—about how USB hubs work, how power flows through them, and what problems they commonly have. Then we worked with our experts to devise a testing plan that would both tax the hubs and use them the way normal people would.
We tested all 21 hubs in a variety of real-life situations, using The Wirecutter’s picks for desktop hard drive, portable hard drive, and flash drive, as well as a USB 3.0 card reader and a handful of 16 GB and 32 GB versions of our recommended USB 3.0 flash drive, to run simultaneous file transfers while charging a phone. We also used each of the finalists for a full day of work, which entailed using our wireless mouse recommendations, charging a phone, and having a number of other USB devices plugged in.
We monitored transfer speeds as well as surface temperatures (using a Fluke IR thermometer) during heavy file transfers. We also checked the power flow of the dedicated charging ports with an iPad Air 2, an iPhone 6s Plus, and a Samsung Galaxy S5 using a USB power meter.
We paid close attention to design choices such as the port spacing and location, the sturdiness of the hub and all its connections, and how noticeable dust and fingerprints were (aesthetic concerns, but concerns nonetheless). We also checked for nonfunctioning ports, connections, LEDs, power buttons, and the like.
The USB hub for most people
Our pick
Anker 10-Port USB 3.0 Hub
Its seven USB 3.0 data ports and three high-speed charging ports face upward, so cables and plugs take up less room on your desk.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $40.
The Anker 10-Port USB 3.0 Hub is the best hub for most people because it has a great, usable design that most competitors lack. It sports seven USB 3.0 data ports plus three charging ports, each capable of supplying 2.4 amps, and all 10 ports face upward to reduce desk clutter—you won’t have a bunch of USB plugs sticking out in every direction. This Anker hub is reliable for simultaneous USB 3.0 file transfers and device charging. It’s also sturdy, designed with an LED indicator for each data port, equipped with lengthy AC and USB cords for easy setup, and covered by an 18-month warranty.
This Anker hub’s compact design and convenient port layout are its strongest assets. It measures just 5.7 inches long, 1.7 inches wide, and 0.9 inches tall, and it weighs 3.7 ounces. Its efficiently stacked ports let you connect bulkier USB plugs and devices; in our testing, bulkier items couldn’t fit next to one another on competing hubs with horizontally arranged ports. And because the ports are located on top of this Anker hub—rather than arranged around the sides, as on most of the hubs we tested—plugs and devices stick up instead of fanning out and taking up valuable desk space.
We connected seven of our favorite flash drives to the hub and transferred data to them while also charging an iPad Air 2 on one of the hub’s charging ports. It was just as speedy as the best of the other, worse-designed hubs we tested.
Although Anker advertises the three charging ports as providing 2.1 amps of current each, we measured them at 2.4 amps each. (Anker told us that when all the ports are in use, individual ports 'might not reach the max 2.4A value,' so the company underpromises on performance.) This means that the hub can charge even power-hungry tablets, as well as smartphones and other devices, at fast rates. (There’s no harm in plugging your phone into a 2.4-amp charging port—the phone will draw only as much current as it needs.) This Anker hub also kept all our devices connected and charging—we didn’t experience any unexplained disconnections during any of our tests. (The charging ports work even if the hub is connected only to its AC adapter and not to a computer.)
We originally didn’t think LED indicators were crucial features. Over the course of testing these hubs, however, we learned that a light indicating that the hub is turned on, along with individual port-activity lights, makes troubleshooting much easier by helping you figure out when something in the setup isn’t connected properly. Each of this model’s data ports has an adjacent numbered LED light, and the hub has a red power light at the top. The LEDs are just bright enough to see in a well-lit room but aren’t distracting in the dark if you sleep in the same room as your computer.
This Anker hub is sturdy and doesn’t creak or bend under moderate pressure, and because it comes with a 3-foot USB cord and a 9-foot power cord, you can easily put the hub where you want it. Anker also provides an 18-month warranty, a coverage length that we found to be standard across most of the hubs we tested.
Some hubs, including the HooToo model that used to be our top pick, appear to have problems with particular operating systems. We tested this Anker hub with both a Mac running OS X 10.12 Sierra and a PC running Windows 10, and we had no compatibility issues with either.
Few publications review USB hubs, but currently this Anker hub has a 4.5-star rating (out of five) on Amazon across 1,259 customer reviews.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
The Anker 10-Port USB 3.0 Hub costs $40 at the time of this writing, a possible strike against it considering that only 38 percent of our survey respondents said they were willing to pay over $30 for a USB hub. However, most of the surveyed readers told us they wanted a hub with five to seven ports total, and the majority of the hubs we considered in that category cost between $30 and $38—in other words, a price of $30 or less for a hub with seven data ports isn’t realistic. If you’re looking to spend less, check out our four-port recommendation instead.
Despite being the best-designed hub we tested that has at least seven data ports, this Anker hub still has a couple of annoying quirks. The top plate is made from a glossy-black plastic that shows every fingerprint, smudge, and speck of dust. It’s easy to clean but just as easy to get dirty again the next time you plug in or unplug a device. (At least this model doesn’t have that glossy plastic on all sides like some of the other hubs we tested.) The upward-facing ports are great for making plugs and devices take up less room on your desk, but the port orientation means that the ports are susceptible to dust collecting inside. That said, they’re easy to clean out with a bit of compressed air.
Like most USB hubs, this Anker model comes with a chunky power supply. It’s a necessary evil, and the Anker’s is the same size as, or smaller than, the power bricks for the other seven- and 10-port hubs we tested, so it’s not a dealbreaker. This Anker hub also doesn’t have a power button, but only five of the hubs (and none of the seven-port options) we tested did, and we don’t think most people have a real need to turn off a USB hub (if you need to, you can just unplug the power cord).
A pick for more data ports (nine of them!)
Also great
Anker AH231
Almost identical to our main pick, but with nine USB 3.0 data ports and one 2.1-amp charging port.
Buying Options
May be out of stock
*At the time of publishing, the price was $50.
If you need more than the seven data ports of our main pick (who are you?!), the Anker AH231 is exactly the same size and shape as our main pick but designed with a different mix of connections: nine USB 3.0 data ports and one 2.1-amp charging port. (Unlike the 2.1 A ports on our top pick, which according to our measurements actually put out 2.4 A, this port maxed out at 2.1 A in our tests.) The AH231 also has glossy white plastic around the sides and a different LED color than our pick, but the two models weigh the same and come with the same power brick and cables, and they worked similarly in all of our tests.
The AH231 typically costs more than our top pick, and it has just two extra data ports—and two fewer charging ports—so make sure you really need that many data ports before springing for the AH231. If you do require that many connections, we couldn’t find another hub with more than seven data ports that came close to the AH231 in design and performance—the other ones we tested all had dealbreaking flaws.
One of our editors has been using the AH231 since September 2014, and it has been working great, providing plenty of power for any USB device hooked up to it and allowing reliable data transfers. The charging port has also worked flawlessly.
The most portable four-port option
Also great
Anker Ultra Slim 4-Port USB 3.0 Data Hub
The most portable of our recommendations. It can’t handle more than one high-powered drive at a time, but it performs better than any other four-port hub available.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $10.
We couldn’t find a four-port hub we were in love with, but if you need something small and portable, the Anker Ultra Slim 4-Port USB 3.0 Data Hub is your best bet. At just 4¼ inches by 1 inch by ¼ inch, it’s the smallest hub we tested. It’s available on its own or with a power adapter, which you’ll need if you plan on plugging in any bus-powered drives (those that draw power via USB instead of an internal source).
We don’t like how this Anker model’s four data ports are arranged in a horizontal line along one edge, closely spaced, such that fat plugs or thumb drives partially block adjacent ports. In addition, our data transfers failed when we attempted to use two portable hard drives at a time, even with the hub’s optional power adapter connected.
We don’t recommend this hub for people who want to use theirs for multiple hard drives or other high-powered devices at the same time. But if you mostly use low-power-draw devices such as flash drives, mice, and keyboards, and you need something portable, it’s a handy alternative to our top pick.
Devices that don’t work with USB hubs
Some devices must be plugged directly into the host computer’s USB port—they don’t work at all when you plug them into a USB hub. For example, the Apple SuperDrive works only when you plug it directly into a USB port on an Apple laptop.
It’s impossible to account for every setup, scenario, and device, so our advice is to do a bit of research before you buy: A quick Google search will usually turn up common issues with the devices you’ll be plugging into your hub. We also recommend testing, right when you get a new hub, compatibility with your existing USB devices so that you can return the hub if it has a problem.
A note on wireless devices and USB 3.0
USB 3.0 ports and devices have been shown to emit radio-frequency (RF) noise that can interfere with devices using the 2.4 GHz wireless band; such devices include wireless mice and keyboards that use an RF dongle for wireless communication.
The RF noise can come from anywhere along the USB 3.0 connection. For example, if you have a USB 3.0 hard drive plugged into a USB 3.0 port, the interference can come from the port on your hub, the USB cord, or even the drive’s USB port. This noise isn’t always an issue, but if your wireless mouse or keyboard constantly drops its connection, or if you lose clicks or keystrokes, you should try connecting the mouse or keyboard to a USB 2.0 port and keeping RF dongles and devices away from active USB 3.0 connections. If your computer doesn’t have any USB 2.0 ports, you can use a USB 2.0 extension cable to move the RF dongle farther from the source of the interference.
The competition
The AmazonBasics four-port model ships with a power adapter, but it provides less power than our requirement.
The Unitek Aluminum 4-Port USB 3.0 Hub with Smart Charging Port is appealing on paper, but in our real-world use it turned out to be rather disappointing. It has only three data ports, with the fourth port reserved for charging. Though the company claims charging at 2 amps, we measured only 1 amp of charging output. The power adapter’s connector also fit far too loosely into the hub, suggesting poor manufacturing and leaving us uncomfortable with how this model might hold up over the long term.
Our previous top pick, HooToo’s HT-UH010, is still solid, but it’s not quite as appealing as the Anker hub that took its spot. Aesthetically, the HT-UH010 is almost identical to the Anker: It has the same body and a similar port array, including the same number of data ports. It also has charging ports, but only two instead of the three of our top pick. HooToo labels these charging ports as 1-amp and 2.1-amp, yet in our testing both supported 2.4-amp charging; on the other hand, when copying data to seven flash drives at once, we saw the transfer rate of some of the drives drop. In our long-term testing, we noticed that a bit of the soft-touch coating started flaking off the bottom surface, but that isn’t a major concern because it doesn’t impact the usability or look of the hub when it’s sitting on a desk. Again, the HT-UH010 is a good hub, but it’s not as good as our top pick.
Satechi’s 10-Port Premium Aluminum USB 3.0 Hub is physically larger than any other hub we tested. Rather than the clean, side-by-side power- and aria-selected='true' tabindex='0'>Sources
- Dan Siefert, founder, One on One Technical Products, interview
- USB 3.0* Radio Frequency Interference on 2.4 GHz Devices, Intel
- USB 3.0 Promoter Group Announces USB Type-C Connector Ready for Production (PDF), USB.org, August 12, 2014
- Richard Baguley, owner, What Does This Button Do?, interview