Best For Travel: USB Charger, slitinto 60W 12A 8- Port USB Charging Station

USB charging stations are designed to sit on a desk or dresser, with a cord running to an outlet for power. Unlike a wall charger that might require you to snake cords behind a dresser, charging stations are more convenient, especially when you have several devices to charge.

When it comes to travel, having multiple ports is most helpful, said our parent readers and we agree: between phones, tablets, watches, headphones and more, there is always the need for more not less, port-wise!

We looked at a dozen different options when it came to charging stations that would be best for travel. After trying out a few ourselves, we decided this model by Slitinto is the best bet for most folks.We liked the total 60 watts of power and auto-detect technology that automatically routes more power to devices as they need it for faster charging.

What We Liked

• Compact size and weight (11.3 ounces) is great for travel.

• Fast charging with one included USB-C port.

• Lighted screen displays active ports.

• Affordable.

• Easy to use.

What Needs Work

• Light may be too bright for bedroom use.

Best Tried & True Brand: USB Wall Charger, Anker 60W 6 Port USB Charging Station

When we asked our parent readers for their favorite USB charging stations, one brand came up over and over: Anker. This well-known brand is tried and true. We’ve used Anker chargers for years here at the home office and have been pleased with their overall quality and durability. 

This 6-port charging station is a good example of why Anker is one of our picks here: note the intelligent charging ports that can adjust the power output as needed for different devices. 

What We Liked

• Excellent quality.

• Small compact size great for travel,.

• Weighs under 10 ounces.

• LED light indicates power.

• Affordable.

What Needs Work

• No USB-C type port for faster charging

Best Space Saver: Charger Block 6 in 1 Upoy, 40W USB C Charger

If space is at a premium, we recommend this tower that stacks six ports into a compact package. Most USB charging stations lie flat on a desk—that’s nice, but sometimes a tower is a better use of space. We tried out several towers before deciding this one by Upoy is the best bet for most folks. Here’s why:

What We Liked

• Affordable.

• Good job at charging with 40 watts of power.

• Includes USB-C port for faster charging.

• Space saving design.

• Light weight.

What Needs Work

• Can tip over if not secured to desk. 

• Less power than others we tried. If you need more juice, consider this next pick which has 60 watts of power.

Best Multiple Ports: SABRENT 60 Watt (12 Amp) 10-Port [UL Certified] Family-Sized Desktop USB Rapid Charger.

If you are wondering why anyone would need a 10 port charger, you clearly haven’t traveled with a family and kids! Between smartphones, watches, tablets, headphones and the like, you can easily fill up all 10 ports without a problem. 

We tried out several brands before deciding on this model Sabrent—good build quality and a decent price.

What We Liked

• 60 watts is enough power to handle multiple devices.

• Easy to use.

• Light weight (8 ounces).

• Unused ports have blue lights, easy to find in dark.

What Needs Work

• Blue lights can be a bit bright when used in a bedroom.

• No fast USB-C port.

About the Authors

Denise & Alan Fields are consumer advocates and best-selling authors. The Fields have authored 12 books with three million copies in print, including the best-selling guide to baby gear, Baby Bargains.

The Fields have been featured and quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.

As consumer products experts, the Fields have been guests on the NBC Today Show, Good Morning America and ABC’s 20/20.

How We Pick Products To Recommend

We often turn to our readers (3 million strong!) to find products to recommend. We ask our parent readers for their favorites and consider their real-world experiences in our recommendations.

When we test a product, we always purchase it with our own monies. We do not take free samples, as we believe that compromises our independence.

We also fact check manufacturer information with our own measurements. If a maker claims a product weighs X pounds, we will weigh it to make sure. If the battery life is supposed to be six hours, we will see how it stands up in the real world.

In some cases, we will do interviews with experts in the field to get additional feedback on products.

To get hands-on time with products, we regularly meet one-on-one with gear companies and even tour manufacturing facilities. (When we do this, we pay our own travel expenses).

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do extensive research, evaluating products with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.

We make our living from affiliate commissions, but we always recommend what we think are the best bets for our readers (not the ones that are the most expensive). We are always looking for products that offer the best bang for the buck.

Our independence is a key reason why we have been doing this so long. As we mentioned above, when we purchase a product for hands-on testing, we do so with our own money.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!