The best MacBook Pro docks are becoming more capable than ever. Thunderbolt 5 isn't just appearing in flagship desktop docks but also more affordable options. Budget USB-C hubs are getting smarter about squeezing lots of functionality into a tiny footprint. And a new breed of hybrid product is blurring the line between "dock" and "external drive" altogether.
Our number one pick remains the Anker Prime Thunderbolt 5, but we've refreshed the rest of this list to better reflect what's actually worth buying right now, from a superb budget hub to a device that's part dock, part portable SSD.
We've tested each entry based on connectivity, performance, design and cost, so whether you need a proper Thunderbolt 5 hub or something cheap and cheerful, we've got you covered. Want to round out your MacBook Pro toolkit? See our picks of the best monitors for MacBook Pro.
The best dock for MacBook Pro overall
30-second review: While optimised for Thunderbolt 5, the Anker Prime TB5 dock is also compatible with Thunderbolt 4 devices, offering flexibility for users not yet on the latest tech. It handles external drives, displays, and additional USB devices with remarkable ease, and the front-facing USB-C ports offer 45W shared charging. This is perfect for topping up mobile devices, while the SD card readers provide a convenient 104MBps transfer speed.
Price: This definitely isn't a budget option, at $399.99 / £399.99. However, we sometimes see it fall to £349.99 during peak sales, and for professionals requiring cutting-edge connectivity – the investment feels justified. The dock effectively transforms a MacBook Pro into a full-fledged desktop replacement, with future-proof Thunderbolt 5 technology that'll serve you for years to come.
Ports: The Anker Prime TB5 dock offers a comprehensive 14-port solution. The standout feature is its Thunderbolt 5 upstream port, which delivers a blazing 80 Gbps transfer speed and 140W of power delivery. You get two downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports, multiple USB options, Ethernet, and versatile video outputs, including HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.1.
Build: The dock boasts a chunky, solid metal construction that screams premium quality. Its vertical design minimises desk footprint while providing excellent cooling through strategically placed vents. One minor niggle is the port placement – the SD card slots are awkwardly positioned on the side, and one downstream Thunderbolt port is inconveniently placed near the Ethernet socket. These are small compromises in an otherwise stellar design.
Performance: Performance testing revealed minimal speed overhead: external SSDs maintained near-direct connection speeds, with read speeds around 6639 MB/s and write speeds of 4665 MB/s. Performance is particularly impressive when connecting multiple peripherals.
Review: Anker Prime Thunderbolt 5 Dock review
"This is a dock for the laptop power user who has the latest kit and wants to use it at the best of its capability."
The best budget dock for MacBook Pro
30-second review: If you don't need Thunderbolt 5 speeds and don't have a desk full of monitors, some of the expensive docks on this list will seem like overall. So if you're looking for something more basic and affordable, the Plugable 7-in-1 covers the fundamentals admirably. You're getting HDMI, USB-A, SD/microSD and pass-through charging, in a compact aluminium hub. It's a driver-free, plug-and-play solution built around a captive USB-C cable, so there's nothing extra to carry or lose.
Price: The Plugable USB-C 7-in-1 Hub is available for $34.95 / £34.99 on Amazon at time of writing, making it terrific value.
Design: At just 105g and measuring 16 x 3.5 x 1.5cm, this hub is built around a solid aluminium shell that helps with heat dissipation under sustained use. The built-in cable is short at 17cm, which keeps things tidy on a desk but may feel limiting if your MacBook sits on a raised stand.
Performance: The HDMI output supports up to 4K at 60Hz on revised units (older stock is capped at 30Hz, worth checking before you buy), and the three USB-A ports run at a shared 5Gbps, which is fine for most peripherals and external drives as long as you're not subjecting it to heavy simultaneous load. The SD and microSD readers both support UHS-I speeds up to 104MB/s, making it useful for photographers. Note, though, that this is a single-display hub, so if multi-monitor support is a priority, you'll want to look elsewhere on this list.
The best dock for MacBook Pro for multiple screens
30-second review: The Plugable UD-7400PD is able to boost a MacBook's capacity up to as many as five displays using DisplayLink magic. Does anyone seriously need five displays? I guess we'll find out – but this dock has plenty to recommend it otherwise. It uses USB 3.2 Gen 2 rather than Thunderbolt, meaning you don't get those ultra-fast speeds, but it's more about the multi-display compatibility that it offers.
Price: At $279.95, the Plugable UD-7400PD sits in the mid-range. It's cheaper than a Thunderbolt 5 dock, but it is still fairly pricey for what it is. Whether it's worth its price tag is ultimately going to depend on whether or not you are keen to extend your MacBook's display over multiple monitors.
Ports: It's got two HDMI ports, one of which is the 2.1 type that can handle 8K video at 30 Hz, and it's also got four USB-C ports and a couple of USB-A ones, with options for charging and data transfer. Its ports are sensibly placed and clearly labelled, which is a nice touch when there are this many.
Build: A slim, horizontal rectangle with a brushed metal finish, the Plugable UD-7400PD certainly isn't going to look unpleasant on your desk. The fact that it manages to consolidate power delivery and video data into a single cable helps cut down on unsightly wire clutter. It's quite a bit heavier than some other docks on this list, especially the likes of the travel-friendly UGREEN Revodok featured below.
Performance: Testing of this dock left us impressed. While the lack of those super-fast Thunderbolt speeds may be disappointing to some, the DisplayLink tech that enables the use of so many monitors gives the Plugable UD-7400PD an edge over the competition, as it's offering something that many other docks simply can't.
Read more: Plugable UD-7400PD review
"If you’ve ever raged against the lack of desktop real estate you’re allowed, this is for you."
The best dock for MacBook Pro for travel
30-second review: The UGREEN Revodok offers a compact solution to limited ports, and at just 80g, it's light enough to throw in any laptop bag without a second thought, yet robust enough to handle daily professional use. For those prioritising portability without sacrificing essential connectivity, the investment is well justified. A standout feature is the built-in braided USB-C cable that's physically secured to the hub, eliminating the need for separate cables and reducing the risk of losing connectivity on the road
Price: This represents excellent value for money in the travel hub category. You can bag one for around $20 at Amazon, typically, or for under $15 during seasonal sales periods. In the UK, you'll find it for £15.99, but right now, it's on sale for just £12.28 over at Amazon (at least at the time of writing)
Ports: It has a focused 6-port solution optimised for portability. You get essential connectivity with an HDMI port supporting 4K at 60Hz, two USB-A ports, and three USB-C ports (though only one supports power delivery up to 100W). Whilst it lacks Ethernet, the port selection covers the basics most travelling professionals need.
Build: The hub features a sleek aluminium casing that punches above its weight in terms of premium feel, especially considering the affordable price point. The aluminium construction aids heat dissipation when multiple devices are connected, though it can still get warm under heavy usage. The only minor grumble is the cable's short length, which can be limiting if your laptop is positioned vertically in a stand.
Performance: Testing of this dock revealed solid results across the board. The 4K HDMI output delivers crisp visuals with minimal lag, whilst the USB ports handle data transfers efficiently with 10Gbps speeds available on both USB-A and USB-C data ports. File transfers between external drives proved speedy and reliable. The hub maintains good performance even when connecting multiple peripherals simultaneously, making it a dependable choice for mobile workstations.
Read more: UGREEN Revodok 6-in-1 USB-C Hub review
"If you travel a lot, the lack of weight allows you to throw this hub into a work bag and forget about it."
The best dock and SSD combo for MacBook Pro
30-second review: Our reviewer found the Sharge Disk Pro one of the most likeable accessories they'd tested this year. It's part external SSD, part USB dock, wrapped in a credit-card-sized, transparent case with a magnetic back. An unusual device, to be sure, but potentially a game-changer for hybrid workers and hot-deskers who want portable storage and basic connectivity in one.
Price: The Sharge Disk Pro starts at $289.90 for the 1TB model, rising to $399.90 for 2TB and $689.90 for the 4TB version. That's a lot of money, but you're paying for the SSD-dock hybrid functionality and unique design.
Design: At 90 x 61 x 11mm and around 150g, the Sharge Disk Pro is easily pocketable, and the transparent front panel showing off the internal fan and drive is a real conversation starter, if that's something you're looking for. A magnetic back lets it snap onto laptop lids and other metal surfaces, and it comes with a carry pouch as standard.
Performance: In our CrystalDiskMark testing, the Sandisk-built drive hit over 938 MB/s read and just under 900 MB/s write, more than nippy enough for offloading large photo or video libraries on the move. As a dock, it's more modest: two USB-A ports, a USB-C port with 10Gbps data and 100W power throughput, and a single HDMI output supporting up to 4K at 144Hz. Overall, as an all-in-one for hybrid work, it's very useful, once you find the slightly hidden power switch.
Read more: Sharge Disk Pro review
"The Sharge Disk Pro is a unique-looking product with a unique function too. As an SSD it's got good transfer speeds, and the 4K monitor support is welcome, but being so tiny, it's destined for a portable life rather than becoming a demanding creative's go-to desk hub"
How to choose the best MacBook Pro dock
Finding the best dock for MacBook Pro for you will depend on what you need it for. Look at what connections you want. Firstly, do you want to hook up multiple monitors? And secondly, do you need Thunderbolt 4 or Thunderbolt 5, or will you settle for USB-C?
Functionally, there's not a huge difference between USB-C and Thunderbolt for basic tasks, but Thunderbolt is faster. Every MacBook Pro since the M2 generation has shipped with Thunderbolt 4 ports, and even if you have an earlier model, you might still want a Thunderbolt 4 dock as TB4 is backwards-compatible and futureproofs you. If you're buying an M5 Pro or M5 Max machine, it's worth pairing it with a Thunderbolt 5 dock, like our top pick above, to take advantage of that extra bandwidth. Plugging a TB5 machine into a TB4-only dock, however, will simply cap you at TB4 speeds.
How we test the best MacBook Pro docks
We MacBook Pro docks with both standardised benchmark tests and through real-work use in our reviewers own daily workflows. This allows us to give the most accurate representation of how a product will perform in real-world settings, especially for creatives who rely on multiple monitors and peripherals. In our testing, we'll exhaust every port to see a) how it'll impact a dock's overall performance and b) if you'll have to worry about wires getting tangled.
We also take into consideration the types (and quantity) of ports each dock has. Of course, everyone's needs are different and you'll ideally want to buy what you know you'll use. That's why our list includes a mix of multi-port powerhouses to totally overhaul your workstation as well as compact docks for mild upgrades.
Aesthetics are important, too. You'll likely want something that won't look out of place at your workstation but we also understand that you may need to sacrifice form for function (see: bulky power stations). If you want to save space, seek something you can mount on a wall – or find a dock with a stand to place it upright.
FAQs
Is a dock for MacBook Pro worth buying?
Why you can trust Creative Bloq Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
A MacBook Pro dock is worth it if you need more ports than your machine comes with – given how slim newer laptops can be, you usually won't get much these days. A dock will give your Apple machine much greater capability by adding ports that aren't native to it or increasing the number of ports it already has. A MacBook Pro dock will also streamline your workstation by serving as a hub for your peripherals, monitors, internet connection and even smaller devices like smartphones or tablets since you'll be able to charge them.
Why are docks for MacBook Pros so expensive?
As MacBooks become thinner, there's not a lot of room to accommodate a multitude of ports. Docking stations complement this newer, sleeker tech by offering additional ports – and the more there are, the higher the cost will be. Wattage is another factor; if a dock needs a massive power brick to operate, you're likely going to have to pay a premium for it. However, going the refurb or OEM route can help keep some extra cash in your wallet.
Can you dock a MacBook Pro to a monitor?
Yes, you can connect your MacBook Pro to a single monitor or multiple screens, though this depends on your machine's Thunderbolt configuration. Apple's current MacBook Pro line, including the M5 Pro and M5 Max models, ships with Thunderbolt 5 as standard, supporting more simultaneous high-resolution displays than earlier Thunderbolt 4 machines. Older M1 and M2 models are more limited, typically to one or two external displays depending on chip and model. Apple Support has a full breakdown of monitor docking according to MacBook model and OS version.
