Best Thunderbolt docks 2025: Extend your laptop’s capabilities

A great docking station for laptops is now a must-have accessory, providing high-speed I/O access for mice, keyboards, external drives, and more. The industry is transitioning away from Thunderbolt 3 and embracing Thunderbolt 4. Thunderbolt 5 (on the PC) is here, but not quite ready for prime time.

You can call it a laptop dock, a laptop docking station, a USB 4 dock, or a Thunderbolt dock; they’re basically the same thing, and this buying guide covers them. Both Thunderbolt docks and the best USB-C hubs and dongles provide legacy ports (USB-A, microSD, and others), and connect PC peripherals like mice, printers, external hard drives, and more. A Thunderbolt dock has traditionally been the faster, more powerful option, however, supplying enough bandwidth via the Thunderbolt port to drive a pair of 4K displays and charge your phone.

My recommendations for the best laptop docking stations begin with my top picks, followed by budget and premium options. I also include my favorite DisplayLink USB-C docks — a simpler, cheaper docking station that you should consider. If you need more help, I’ve included a FAQ designed to answer your questions, as well as information on up-and-coming technologies such as Thunderbolt 5 and the slightly odd Thunderbolt Share. At CES 2025, I asked why Thunderbolt 5 was basically a no-show. The answer surprised me!

Why you should trust me: PCWorld has been testing PC hardware since the 1980s, and I’ve been a technology journalist for 30 years. I first began testing Thunderbolt docks in early 2021, and have reviewed over 40 Thunderbolt docks to date. My reviews of Thunderbolt docks, DisplayLink docks, and USB-C hardware are extensive, and I frequently review additional docks or hubs as contenders for recommendation. I also use input from reviews on PCWorld’s sister sites Macworld and TechAdvisor to help inform my recommendations.






Kensington Thunderbolt 4 Dual 4K Dock (SD5780T) – Best overall Thunderbolt dock














Pros

Solid performance

No thermal issues

Pretty solid mix of ports, including downstream Thunderbolt 4

Price cuts have helped make it more affordable


Cons

Rear USB-A ports deliver less power than expected

One display port, requiring an additional dongle for two displays

No dedicated phone charging port, but Thunderbolt can do it


















Why I like the Kensington SD5780T

One of my testing credos is “affordable flexibility,” and I favor a dock that will fit into your existing setup. But I also don’t want you to pay through the nose for it. There are other docks that allow you to get by without using a display adapter, but they generally charge for it — sometimes even $100 more. The SD5780T has one dedicated display port, and you’ll have to buy a $15 USB-C adapter cable to support a second. That’s cheaper than the alternative.

The Kensington SD578OT is a solid Thunderbolt 4 dock in all respects. For those who wish to use a single 4K monitor, chances are that you’ll already own an HDMI cable. In my tests, the dock was stable (and not all are!) with a nice port selection. The dock will charge your smartphone, albeit with a USB-A port. The bottom line: This is currently the best combination of value and features in a Thunderbolt dock that I’ve tested.

Who should buy the Kensington SD5780T

The SD5780T is an ideal “starter” dock, for someone who has a laptop and a single external display and might want to add more in the future. Adding a second display will require the purchase of a USB-C (Thunderbolt) to HDMI cable, which will cost an additional $15 or so. The inclusion of the SD card slot should appeal to photographers who record photo or video on those cards.

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Kensington Thunderbolt 4 Dual 4K Dock (SD5780T) review






Wavlink Thunderbolt 4 Triple Display Docking Station – Best overall Thunderbolt dock, runner-up














Pros

An efficient use of ports

Affordable

30W charging port in front

Triple display capable

















Why I like the Wavlink Thunderbolt 4 Triple Display Docking Station

I’m relying on our sister site, Macworld, and their review of the Wavlink Thunderbolt 4 Triple Display, which isn’t something I normally do. (I do have this dock in hand, however, and it’s next in line for review!) But I’m impressed by the extremely affordable price of this dock and its very focused mix of ports. This dock doesn’t compromise, with two HDMI ports that do not require an adapter.

Focus is really the key here. With two display ports, a dedicated 30W charging port, and a mix of other I/O (including SD and microSD), this dock offers what you’ll need and not much more. That helps hold down the cost. I do want to run my own tests for stability and performance, but this is a dock you should be looking at when considering your next purchase.

Who should buy the Wavlink Thunderbolt 4 Triple Display Docking Station

Our best picks are designed for everyone, but this dock offers the most value of our top two recommendations. You won’t even need a display cable.

This dock works best on a desktop, as part of a permanent docking station. It doesn’t seem to include a vertical mounting stand to save space, but it’s pretty compact, anyway.







Anker 568 USB-C Docking Station – Best budget Thunderbolt dock














Pros

Two ports for fast-charging smartphones

Solid value

Eighteen-month warranty


Cons

Occasional instability


















Why I like the Anker 568 USB-C Docking Station

Anker’s 568 is a USB 4 docking station, the more open industry-standard version of a Thunderbolt dock. It will work fine with your laptop, regardless — I’ve tested it. This category used to belong to the Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Core, a tremendous travel dock, but it’s being phased out.

This dock sometimes wanders out of the budget category, for some reason. But it generally hovers around the $150 price range. It offers premium-like capabilities, however, with multiple display ports. Everything is well labeled. Anker also has a solid reputation, and there’s a great 18-month warranty if you need more reassurance.

This dock was generally stable, although I noticed an occasional flicker. Fortunately, Anker is one of the few dock makers to ship its docks with a firmware utility that can download updates and squash bugs. I do like that.

Who should buy the Anker 568 USB-C Docking Station

This docking station will do well for most setups, especially if you like to plug in your smartphone to charge while working.

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Anker 568 USB-C Docking Station review






Ugreen Revodok Pro 13-in-1 Triple Display Docking Station – Best budget Thunderbolt dock, runner-up














Pros

Excellent performance

Great value for the money

Optimized build

Completely stable


Cons

Short, built-in cord

You’ll need your own power supply/charger

Requires a relatively modern laptop


















Why I like the Ugreen Revodok Pro 13-in-1 Triple Display Docking Station

The only reason that this isn’t my pick for the best budget Thunderbolt docking station is because it appears to use a generic form of compression known as HBR3 (High Bit Rate 3) with DSC (Display Stream Compression), which is built into the DisplayPort spec. That’s a particular technology that is more common within recent Intel Core (and Core Ultra) laptops, but isn’t guaranteed to appear on yours. (If you own a laptop with a Thunderbolt port, though, this should work just fine.) You’ll also have to supply your own USB-C power cable.

Otherwise, this docking station has so much to offer. The price is outstanding, of course, but Ugreen’s dock is also so flexible yet so stable. Everything’s well labeled, and the dock offers DisplayPort as well as HDMI options. And it’s really quite portable, too. Just remember that charger.

Who should buy the Ugreen Revodok Pro 13-in-1 Triple Display Docking Station

I’d really recommend this dock for those who own laptops with 13th-gen Core hardware or above. HBR3/DSC technology really doesn’t work on older systems like 11th-gen Core hardware and older PCs. If you own an AMD Ryzen laptop, too, it may be a little iffy.

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Ugreen Revodok Pro 13-in-1 Triple Display Docking Station review






Kensington Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 Quad Video Docking Station (SD5800T) – Best premium Thunderbolt dock














Pros

Rugged, well-engineered

Can sit vertically on its stand to save space

Yes, it works: Four 4K displays are possible


Cons

Mislabeled USB-A charging port doesn’t deliver

Average storage performance

















Why I like the Kensington Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 Quad Video Docking Station (SD5800T)

If you have the means, I highly recommend picking up Kensington’s SD5800T. You may not need four displays, but many shoppers often feel like they want to buy a docking station and not have to worry about picking up a display adapter or cable. This dock does that.

One of the only reasons that I don’t recommend this dock as the overall favorite is the price tag. Aside from that, this was one of my favorites. About the only weakness is a lack of adequate smartphone charging from the USB-C port — a trait shared by its competitors, too, for some reason.

Why should buy the Kensington Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 Quad Video Docking Station (SD5800T)

Not everyone needs four displays, or has the laptop hardware to power them. This is for the “battlestation” enthusiast or someone who needs to be surrounded by information. But you might be a person who simply doesn’t want to have to deal with additional display adapters, either.

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Kensington Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 Quad Video Docking Station (SD5800T) review






Plugable 5-in-1 Thunderbolt Hub (USB4-HUB3A) – Best Thunderbolt 4 hub














Pros

Incredibly compact

USB-C to HDMI adapter included

15W/60W of charging power to phones/PCs


Cons

Limited ports

Best for Thunderbolt-attached displays
















Best Prices Today:








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$189



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$189 at Newegg






Why I like the Plugable 5-in-1 Thunderbolt Hub (USB4-HUB3A)

How does a Thunderbolt hub differ from a Thunderbolt dock? In this case, there’s less of an emphasis on legacy ports, and more of a focus on a direct connection to a display. The Mac world tends to emphasize Thunderbolt-connected displays far more than the Windows world does, so this might be a niche product for most of you. But this thing is tiny (4.75 x 2.88 x 0.5 inches) even if, unfortunately, the associated power brick isn’t.

It will send 15W of power via the Thunderbolt/USB-C connections to charge smartphones, and 60W to the host PC.

If you don’t need a big, bulky dock with multiple connections, Plugable’s 5-in-1 Hub just does the job and without any extra fuss. If your laptop needs more power than the 60W Plugable hub provides, then I would recommend the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Slim Hub Pro instead.

Who should buy the Plugable 5-in-1 Thunderbolt Hub (USB4-HUB3A)

Thunderbolt displays are prevalent in the Mac market, but this hub can be used for an emerging market of Thunderbolt/USB-C monitors. They’ll likely become more prevalent in the future.

But connecting a cable from each port on your laptop to each display is messy. You’d still like just one. The hub works as a “splitter” of sorts for the Thunderbolt connection.

Put another way, if you own a USB-C monitor, those displays tend to also have legacy ports (USB-A, USB-C) inside them, which means that a Thunderbolt dock and its cluster of ports may be redundant. This hub is a way to save a little money for the user who has a specific setup.

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Plugable 5-in-1 Thunderbolt Hub (USB4-HUB3A) review






Razer Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma – Best Thunderbolt 4 hub, runner-up














Pros

Rock-solid stability

The only (?) dock with RGB lighting


Cons

Average to slightly poor performance

Lack of dedicated display ports

A higher price tag than what rivals charge









Price When Reviewed:

€329.99




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Razer




€329.99



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€329.99 at Razer






Why I like the Razer Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma

I was surprised by how much I like this combination dock/hub. It’s a premium offering, with enough ports that I’d tend to consider it a full-fledged dock. But with three upstream Thunderbolt ports, you can characterize it as a hub as well. As one of the more modern docks, with rock-solid stability, it won me over in the end, though its storage performance was middling. And, of course, remember to invest in cables.

The RGB lighting is fun, and optional — it can be turned off. Frankly, our top pick, the Kensington SD5780T, shares a lot of the same functionality as both the OWC and the Razer docks, so price plays a factor here.

Who should buy the Razer Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma

Gamers, obviously. But even a stodgy old reporter like me likes it, because the RGB can either be fixed to a certain color or turned off entirely. And the dock surprised me with its stability and construction. You can certainly buy this dock for its blingy aesthetic, but it works just as well as a more down-to-earth alternative, too. Razer did a very nice job balancing both aspects.

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Razer Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma review






Anker 568 USB-C Docking Station – Best USB 4 docking station














Pros

Two ports for fast-charging smartphones

Solid value

Eighteen-month warranty


Cons

Occasional instability on a second display or connected devices


















Why I like the Anker 568 USB-C Docking Station

Two power ports on the front: They’re a delightful little detail that I wish other vendors would adopt as well. As you may have read elsewhere in this roundup, USB 4 and Thunderbolt 4 are basically identical, so you might be wondering why we’re even separating out this category. Well, if you’re a notebook owner with an AMD Ryzen chip inside, you might be looking for a dedicated dock, and this is a very good one. Quite frankly, this Anker 568 is in the running for the best overall docking station.

This 11-in-1 docking station favors DisplayPort, with two DisplayPort 1.4 ports, and a single HDMI 2.0 video port. The Anker 568’s distinguishing feature, however, is the pair of 10Gbps USB-C ports on the front, each supplying 30W of power as well as a separate 100W connection to the laptop. That’s quite unusual, and the two ports should fast-charge a smartphone and possibly even a tablet.

Who should buy the Anker 568 USB-C Docking Station

If you own a notebook with a Ryzen CPU inside, and you want the confidence that this dock has been tested to ensure USB 4 compatibility, this is the dock for you. You’ll also want to buy it if you charge multiple phones or use high-powered peripherals, such as a high-end SSD.

I really like this dock, and I’d recommend it to about anyone. It does lack microSD and SD card slots, though, which may rule it out for photographers.

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Anker 568 USB-C Docking Station review






Plugable USB4 Dual HDMI Docking Station (UD-4VPD) – Best USB 4 docking station, runner-up














Pros

Great price and value, even at MSRP

4K120 display capabilities open up gaming possibilities

Stable performance

Excellent charging capabilities


Cons

Significant thermal issues

Storage tests across the dock were lower than average


















Why I like the Plugable USB4 Dual HDMI Docking Station (UD-4VPD)

Plugable’s dock claims dual 4K120 capability, which unfortunately I wasn’t able to test at the time of the review. But the dock offered a stable connection to the connected devices, with the ability to charge smartphones as well. Anker’s 568 dock edges it out in price and slightly in display flexibility, but lacks the SD card slot that the Plugable includes.

Who should buy the Plugable USB4 Dual HDMI Docking Station (UD-4VPD)?

This is a general-purpose USB 4 dock, which can be adopted by anyone. But it’s best suited for laptops with a Ryzen chip inside, and for photographers that need the SD card slots that the Anker 568 doesn’t provide.

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Plugable USB4 Dual HDMI Docking Station (UD-4VPD) review











Sonnet Echo 20 Thunderbolt 4 SuperDock – Best Thunderbolt dock for Apple Mac users














Pros

Thunderbolt 4

19 ports

Built-in speedy SSD enclosure

100W PD

2.5 Gigabit Ethernet









Price When Reviewed:

402,40 €




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€375



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MUSIC STORE Professional




€402.40



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€375 at Macway€402.40 at MUSIC STORE Professional






Why Macworld likes the Sonnet Echo 20 Thunderbolt 4 SuperDock

This recommendation comes courtesy of our colleagues at Macworld, who have compiled their own list of best Thunderbolt docking stations for the Apple Mac market. “Boasting an impressive 19 top-rated ports, Thunderbolt 4 certified, and with a bonus internal SSD storage feature, the Sonnet Echo 20 Thunderbolt SuperDock offers remarkable value for money,” Macworld concludes.

I haven’t reviewed this dock myself, but there’s an undeniable surplus of ports, and an SSD enclosure. I suspect that this particular feature may become more common over time. And it’s reasonably priced, too.

Who should buy the Sonnet Echo 20 Thunderbolt 4 SuperDock

Think of this dock as a more full-featured version of our Thunderbolt 4 hub recommendation, above. Though this recommendation is targeted at Mac users, there’s no reason that an owner of a Windows PC couldn’t buy this dock, too. If you’re trying to save space on your desk but also want an external SSD, this hybrid dock could serve both needs.

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Sonnet Echo 20 Thunderbolt 4 SuperDock review






Best DisplayLink USB-C docks

DisplayLink USB-C docks, which I discuss in more detail in a separate article, don’t offer enough bandwidth for high-refresh rate monitors or gaming, but they work admirably well for everyday office work, including watching movies. Anecdotally, they’ve often been more stable than a Thunderbolt dock on older hardware, as sometimes Thunderbolt docks have issues “waking up” when the host laptop wakes up from standby. You can “break” the dock by pushing more and more over the connection, like streaming while copying files.

What I’d like to see in a DisplayLink USB-C docking station is a feature set that approaches a full-fledged Thunderbolt dock, but that is priced below what you’d pay for Thunderbolt performance. The current pick does just that. Some recent reviews do not appear here — for instance, StarTech’s USB-C Triple Monitor Dock fell short.






Ugreen 9-in-1 USB-C (Revodok) Docking Station CM615 – Best USB-C DisplayLink dock














Pros

Terrific price and value

Excellent stability

Great display port flexibility

Support for two 4K60 displays


Cons

Have to provide your own power supply

Can warm to somewhat alarming temperatures

Mandatory software driver

A lack of naming consistency
















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Ugreen




$139.99



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$139.99 at Ugreen






Why I liked the Ugreen 9-in-1 USB-C (Revodok) Docking Station CM615

Like some of our premium Thunderbolt docks, Ugreen provides options to use either HDMI or DisplayPort to connect a display, allowing you to use your existing display cables and save some money.

Like most DisplayLink docks, this dock was unusually stable, with no flickering between displays — one of the reasons I like DisplayLink docks. Some other Thunderbolt docks offer the same flexibility to shift between monitors, but not many. Ugreen’s dock does so affordably.

Who should buy the Ugreen 9-in-1 USB-C (Revodok) Docking Station CM615

If you’re not worried about hunting down the proper software driver (because Ugreen, bless them, does not make it apparent that it needs one) than I would recommend that you buy this dock. It offers many of the features of more expensive Thunderbolt docks at an affordable price.

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Ugreen 9-in-1 USB-C (Revodok) Docking Station CM615 review






Sonnet Echo 13 Triple 4K Display Dock – Best USB-C DisplayLink dock, runner-up