Most people should buy the SIIG 90W Smart Charging Station. Why get this one? It can charge ten devices simultaneously, enough for most people and families.

This got our top pick because people have more than one device nowadays. And if you have a family of three or more, you already know how many devices need to be charged at any given time. It has eight slots for a smartphone or tablet, a non-slip deck for a phone or smartwatch, and 10 USB ports.

Best Overall

SIIG Smart 10-Port USB Charging Station

  • Lots of ports

  • Streamlined look

  • Non-slip deck

  • No Qi charging

  • No cables included

  • Narrow slots

Now, there’s no wireless charger in here, which is a real miss, and the slots are a bit narrow, so if you have a fat case around your phone, there’s a chance it won’t fit (and any AirPods case won’t fit, either). That said, our testing found the slots do an excellent job of holding phones, tablets, and small laptops.

Number of Ports: 10 | Power Output: 5V/2.4A | Type of Ports: USB-A

The Satechi Dock5 Charging station is one of our favorites on this list. There aren’t a lot of ports, but the ports it has are powerful. You’ll get 10W of wireless charging on the Qi pad in front. Each USB-A port outputs 12W of power, and the USB-C port’s output is 20W of power delivery. That’s a lot of juice for this tiny station. It also has a small footprint, so it doesn’t take up a lot of room. This charging station does not include cables, which we’d like to see considering how expensive it is.

Best for Mobile Devices

Satechi Dock5 Multi-Device Charging Station

  • Small footprint

  • Smart charging chipset

  • Built in Qi charger

  • No included cables

  • Pricey

Number of Ports: 4 | Power Output: 10W/12W/20W | Type of Ports: USB-A, USB-C, Qi wireless charging

MagSafe chargers snap onto the back of an iPhone and charge the device. It’s small and easily portable.

Best Secure Charger

Apple MagSafe Charger

  • Secure connection

  • Qi charging works on any wireless accessory

  • Support 15W Fast charging

  • Does not come with a charging brick

  • Some cases affect Magsafe

  • Expensive for what it is

The magnets secure the MagSafe charger to the back of the phone, so you can’t accidentally knock it off the stand. Plus, it uses Qi, so you can use it on any phone that accepts wireless charging (though there are no magnets to align the coils on other phones).

That’s all pretty cool, but the MagSafe charger is just a Qi charger with magnets. At about $40, it’s pretty expensive for what it is. But this is a good pickup if you don’t mind paying the “Apple Tax” and need a wireless charger for your iPhone.

Number of Ports: 0 | Power Output: 15W | Type of Ports: Qi

What to Look For in a Charging Station

Some things to look for in a charging station include the number of charging ports available, the types of ports, and the number of slots to hold your devices. All those cables can get messy, so a built-in storage area for cable length is also good. Also, pay attention to the available finishes so that the charging station can match your decor.

If you want to primarily charge phones and another gadget or two with a cable, the SIIG 90W Smart charging station is excellent.

Specialty vs. Generic

If you only expect to charge a few devices at a time—like an iPhone and an Apple Watch—it’s worth checking out options that look great, too. If you want more versatility, opt for a more generic model capable of holding several different-sized devices with many charging ports.

Quick Charge

Look for a charging station that supports Quick Charge if you have an Android phone capable of taking advantage of the extra power. If you have an iPhone that supports fast charging via USB-PD, many great options also support that standard. Before you buy, check to see if a unit’s capabilities fit your needs.

Wireless Charging

Even if none of your devices support wireless charging, investing in a charging station that does could pay off. If this seems like an exciting feature, choose a model with a variety of traditional charging ports and a wireless charging pad.

About Our Experts

Jeremy Laukkonen has been writing for Lifewire since 2019. He has a background in trade publications and auto mechanics, and he’s reviewed a wide range of devices for Lifewire, including phones, laptops, speakers, TVs, and more. He liked the SIIG charging dock for its numerous ports and power distribution, but he did wish it offered wireless charging.

  • What cables can you use with a wireless charger?
  • While USB-A (the rectangle) is the most common, more charging stations are adopting the faster and more versatile USB-C connector (the flattened oval).
  • Is wireless charging harmful?
  • You do have to wonder how all that power gets sent to your phone without a cable, but rest assured that wireless charging is completely harmless to humans and other electronic devices. Yes, wireless charging uses electromagnetic radiation, but the fact of the matter is virtually all modern electronics, even sensitive ones like pacemakers are shielded against the relatively low levels of electromagnetic radiation that wireless chargers give off.
  • How quickly can your device charge with a charging station?
  • This depends on the type of connection you use as well as the device you’re charging, a phone typically won’t take as long to top off as a tablet (smaller battery, faster charge). And micro-USB won’t charge a device as fast as USB-C or Lightning connections.

While USB-A (the rectangle) is the most common, more charging stations are adopting the faster and more versatile USB-C connector (the flattened oval). 

You do have to wonder how all that power gets sent to your phone without a cable, but rest assured that wireless charging is completely harmless to humans and other electronic devices. Yes, wireless charging uses electromagnetic radiation, but the fact of the matter is virtually all modern electronics, even sensitive ones like pacemakers are shielded against the relatively low levels of electromagnetic radiation that wireless chargers give off.

This depends on the type of connection you use as well as the device you’re charging, a phone typically won’t take as long to top off as a tablet (smaller battery, faster charge). And micro-USB won’t charge a device as fast as USB-C or Lightning connections.

A former editor of Lifewire product round-ups, Emmeline Kaser, has years of experience researching and writing about the best consumer products. She specializes in consumer tech, including charging stations like the ones featured on this list.

Andrew Hayward is a Chicago-based writer covering technology and video games since 2006. His areas of expertise include smartphones, and he reviewed the Apple MagSafe Charger on this list.