Sometimes it seems like every peripheral device imaginable is available to be plugged into a USB port. Over and above the classics, like USB drives, cell phone chargers, keyboards and mice, there are USB powered coffee warmers, desk lamps, and cubicle toys of all sorts. With all of these needing to be plugged into its own USB port on your computer, it’s easy to run out of space in a hurry.

The answer to a port shortage, fortunately, is pretty straight forward. A USB hub will solve your problems. It will greatly expand the number of USB ports on your computer and leave room for all of your critical devices. A USB hub is a pretty simple device. It splits one USB port into many. They come in all shapes, sizes, and styles so finding the hub you need can seem like a challenge. Beyond just the number of extra ports you need, there are some considerations to keep in mind for any user wanting a little more space to plug in more devices.

Powered vs Unpowered USB Hub

The main consideration when selecting a USB hub is picking between a powered or unpowered one. Powered hubs plug into the wall independently of your computer and can handle devices that do more than transfer data. A powered hub is handy when you need more space to charge a cell phone or run lights. Typically, you should select a powered USB hub if what you’re plugging in is counting on receiving its electricity over USB.

Unpowered USB hubs are generally more affordable than the powered sort, but in the end there’s still a price to be paid. If the devices you’re plugging into your unpowered hub are all fighting for electricity then your cell phone may charge very slowly, if it charges at all. Aside from that one obvious drawback, unpowered hubs do have their uses. If you need to stow your hub in a cabinet with poor ventilation, an unpowered hub will hold up a lot better. This is due to the fact that it’s not drawing any electricity from the wall, it’s also not generating much heat. Unpowered devices are also a lot more likely to be passively cooled, meaning if you have a dusty desk there’s no fan to suck up all of that dirt and blow it across the circuitry.

It’s important to keep in mind that a USB hub, while giving more ports, does split up the bandwidth during simultaneous data transfers. Which means if you have a USB hard drive plugged in and is being used alongside another large data transfer to a cellphone or memory stick, they will both only run at around half-speed. This is because all of that data still has to get through a single USB cable. USB hubs tend to work better for keyboards and mice, toys, and charging phones than they do for transferring data. Whenever possible, plug the hard drive into a USB port directly on your computer.

USB Hub Alternatives

The most obvious thing to ask yourself is if there is any devices that you don’t need plugged in. If you are able to find a device or two that you don’t need, you can unplug these to free up a few spots.

Finally, if it’s just one more additional port you need, maybe a USB hub is overkill. Many modern USB keyboards will contain a mini USB hub with one or two ports. Additionally, there are cords available which simply turn a single port into two. So, if you are only 1 port short, you could go this route. However, if you need a handful of extra ports for your peripherals, a USB hub is the best way to go.