This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you purchase through them — at no extra cost to you.
If you work from a laptop, you’ve probably wondered whether a docking station is actually worth it — or just another piece of gear you don’t really need.
The honest answer: it depends on how you’re currently working. For some setups it’s a genuine game changer. For others it’s unnecessary.
This guide will help you figure out which category you fall into — and what to look for if you do decide to get one.
What a Docking Station Actually Does
A docking station connects to your laptop through a single cable — usually USB-C or Thunderbolt — and gives you access to multiple ports at once. Instead of plugging in your monitor, keyboard, mouse, ethernet cable, and charging cable separately every time you sit down, you plug in one cable and everything connects instantly.
That’s the core value proposition: one cable in, full desktop setup active.
Beyond convenience, a good docking station can also let you run multiple external monitors from a laptop that wouldn’t normally support them — which is where the more advanced models earn their price.
Once your docking station is in place your laptop no longer needs to sit flat on the desk. See the laptop stand guide to find out which type of stand works best for your specific setup.
Tired of buying the cheap version, hating it, and replacing it six months later? The free Buy It Once Guide shows you the 9 home office products worth spending more on up front — so you get it right the first time.
Signs You Probably Need One
You’re plugging and unplugging multiple cables every day. If your morning routine involves connecting your monitor, keyboard, mouse, webcam, and charger individually every time you open your laptop, a docking station eliminates all of that. One cable. Done.
You want to run two or more external monitors. Most laptops natively support only one external display. A docking station with DisplayLink technology can extend this to two or three monitors regardless of what your laptop supports natively. This is one of the most common reasons people buy one — and one of the most misunderstood.
Your laptop is running out of ports. Modern laptops — especially thin ones — often have two USB-C ports and nothing else. A docking station gives you back the full range of ports you actually need: USB-A, HDMI, DisplayPort, ethernet, SD card, audio jack, and more.
You move your laptop between your desk and other locations regularly. If you take your laptop to meetings, work from different rooms, or travel and come back to your desk setup, a docking station makes that transition seamless. One cable connects you back to your full setup every time.
✅ Already know you need one? → Jump to recommendations
Signs You Probably Don’t Need One
Your laptop stays on your desk and never moves. If your laptop is essentially a desktop replacement that you never unplug, a docking station adds convenience but you’re not losing much without one.
You only use one external monitor. Most laptops can drive a single external display through a direct HDMI or USB-C connection without any additional hardware. If one monitor is all you need, a simple cable or basic USB-C hub may be enough.
Running dual monitors? See the complete dual monitor setup guide — including why a docking station is the piece most people miss.
You have a desktop computer. Docking stations are designed for laptops. If your main machine is a desktop, you already have the ports you need built in.
Not sure what you need to connect a second monitor to your laptop in the first place? The second monitor connection guide covers ports, adapters, and docking stations before you buy anything.
USB Hub vs Docking Station: What’s the Difference?
This is where a lot of people get confused — and end up buying the wrong thing.
A USB hub expands your port count. It adds more USB-A or USB-C ports so you can connect more devices. It’s simple, inexpensive, and works well for basic needs. Most don’t pass through enough power to charge your laptop, and most can’t drive multiple external monitors.
A docking station does everything a hub does plus more. It typically includes video output for external monitors, ethernet for wired internet, USB-C power delivery to charge your laptop, and a wider range of ports. It’s designed to be the central hub of your entire desk setup.
If you just need a few extra USB-A ports, a hub is fine. If you want a proper one-cable desk setup with an external monitor and wired internet, you need a docking station.
The DisplayLink Question
If you want to run two or three external monitors from a laptop — especially a MacBook or a laptop with limited native display output — you need to pay attention to whether a docking station uses DisplayLink technology.
DisplayLink is a software-based display driver that allows a docking station to send video to multiple monitors regardless of what your laptop’s hardware natively supports. Without it, a docking station can only drive as many monitors as your laptop’s GPU already allows.
This matters because many docking stations marketed as “triple monitor” won’t actually work with triple monitors on a MacBook or certain Windows laptops unless they use DisplayLink. Always check before buying.
🖥️ Need DisplayLink for dual or triple monitors? → See the TobenONE on Amazon
Which Docking Station to Get
The right docking station depends on how many monitors you want to run and how much connectivity you need.
For most home office setups running one or two external monitors with a full range of ports, the Anker Nano 13-in-1 Docking Station covers everything at a reasonable price. It gives you HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-A, USB-C, ethernet, SD card, and audio — all through a single USB-C connection.
If you want to run three external 4K monitors — particularly useful for power users and those who work across multiple applications simultaneously — the TobenONE DisplayLink Triple 4K Docking Station is built for that. It uses DisplayLink technology, which means it works with MacBooks and Windows laptops that can’t natively drive three displays.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Anker Nano 13-in-1 | TobenONE DisplayLink |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149.99 | $219.99 |
| Monitors supported | 1 | 3 (Triple 4K) |
| DisplayLink | No | Yes |
| HDMI ports | 2 | 3 |
| DisplayPort | 1 | 3 |
| USB-A ports | 4 | 4 |
| USB-C ports | 2 | 2 |
| Ethernet | Yes | Yes |
| SD card | Yes | Yes |
| Laptop charging | 85W | 100W |
| Best for | Single monitor laptop setups | Dual or triple monitor setups — MacBook or limited GPU laptops |
Ready to buy? Both docks ship with all cables included.
Both are covered in more detail on the Tech Upgrades page.
Installation — What to Expect
Both docks install in under 15 minutes with no specialist tools. The process is the same for both — connect the dock to power, connect your peripherals to the dock, then connect the dock to your laptop via the single USB-C cable. Windows detects everything automatically in most cases.
The one exception is the TobenONE. Because it uses DisplayLink technology to drive additional displays beyond what your laptop’s GPU supports natively, it requires a driver installation. Download the DisplayLink driver from displaylink.com before you plug the dock in — this avoids the common mistake of connecting everything first and wondering why the monitors aren’t working. Once the driver is installed and your laptop has restarted, connect the dock and all three displays should be detected immediately.
Where people get stuck:
Monitors not detected — on the TobenONE this is almost always the DisplayLink driver not being installed first. On the Anker Nano it’s usually a cable issue — make sure you’re using the included USB-C cable rather than a third party one, as not all USB-C cables carry the full signal required for video output.
Laptop not charging through the dock — confirm your laptop supports USB-C Power Delivery. Most modern laptops do but some older models don’t accept charging through USB-C. Check your laptop’s spec sheet if you’re unsure.
One monitor working, one not — this usually means your laptop’s GPU only supports one external display natively. On the Anker Nano this is a hardware limitation that can’t be worked around. If you need two external monitors, the TobenONE’s DisplayLink technology bypasses this limitation entirely.
USB devices not recognised — disconnect and reconnect the USB-C cable between the dock and your laptop. If the problem persists try a different USB-C port on your laptop if one is available.
Once your dock is in place and you’re running two monitors, the next upgrade worth making is how you mount them. A monitor arm eliminates the factory stands, positions both screens at the right height, and reclaims the desk space underneath. For the full breakdown — see the home office monitor arm guide.
Most people plug their webcam straight into their docking station — if you’re still using a laptop camera, it’s worth the upgrade. See my home office webcam guide for what I’d recommend.
The Bottom Line
If you use a laptop as your main work computer and you’re dealing with a cable mess every morning, a limited number of ports, or wanting to add a second monitor — a docking station is one of the most practical upgrades you can make to your home office setup.
It’s not glamorous gear. You won’t notice it once it’s set up. That’s exactly the point.
If you’re still figuring out the right order to upgrade your setup, the G’s Home Office Picks page walks through every component worth buying — including both docking station options — with the reasoning behind each one.
Tired of buying the cheap version, hating it, and replacing it six months later? The free Buy It Once Guide shows you the 9 home office products worth spending more on up front — so you get it right the first time.