5 Budget-Friendly USB-C Chargers That Work Just As Well As Apple’s 20W USB-C Power Adapter

Apple sells its 20W USB-C power adapter for $19, and while it has the versatility to handle charging tablets in addition to smartphones, it may not be the best option available when not bundled for free with the purchase of an Apple device. But it’s fast, reliable, and has Apple brand support, so it’s worth considering it the standard when looking for an alternative USB-C charger.

There are a number of growing brands in the third-party USB charger market, many of them making affordable chargers. The Apple 20W power adapter isn’t particularly expensive, but there’s money to be saved by avoiding the Apple name. Starting with a budget of $19, we’ve scoured the market and selected what we consider to be USB-C chargers that compare favorably to Apple’s offering in one way or another.

Anker is well known for its charging accessories, as it makes some of the best portable chargers on the market. This excellence extends to its USB-C chargers. The Anker 20W USB-C charger is the one I use at home and it’s available in a two-pack for $19 on Amazon. It is specially designed for use with different iPhone models and offers USB-C and USB-A connectivity. I can attest that the two ports are useful when I want to charge devices that still use USB-A, but it also allows me to connect two devices to one power outlet at once.

Of course, if you use the Anker 20 Watt USB-C Charger with multiple devices at once, each will charge more slowly. But you don’t have to worry about security concerns, as Anker has integrated temperature controls and surge protection, among other security features. The Anker 20-watt USB-C charger two-pack costs the same as a single 20-watt Apple charger and includes two USB-C cables, so you won’t have to spend more on these. In addition to my own quality experience with the charger, Amazon users gave it an overall rating of 4.6 out of 5, with 96% of reviewers giving it a favorable review.

Another charging option from Anker is its Nano Pro 20W USB-C Charger. This one doesn’t include a second charger or cables, but it offers quite a bit for its $12 price. Its fast charging capabilities can take an iPhone from 0% battery life to 50% in just 25 minutes, but one of this charger’s biggest advantages over Apple’s 20W USB-C power adapter is its size. The Anker Nano Pro is 45% smaller and resembles the USB power adapter that used to be included in the box when purchasing an iPhone. Unlike Apple’s offerings, this block also comes in a variety of colors.

Amazon customers praise this USB-C charger, with 99% of reviewers giving it a favorable rating. Among the 1% who had a bad experience, poor quality control and product failure within just a few weeks were reported. But these appear to be outlier situations, and if such a problem arises, buyers should always have a return window. Similar to Anker’s 20-watt USB-C charger mentioned earlier, the Nano Pro comes with a temperature sensor and power adjustment chip to prevent power surges, temperature spikes and to protect connected devices.

Belkin is another brand that makes quality computer and mobile accessories, and it is one of the USB charger brands that can compete with Anker in several ways. Additionally, the Belkin 20W USB-C Charger is another one I have hands-on experience with. Its compactness has been its biggest selling point for me, as I try to keep a USB-C charger on hand at all times. I own several of these little chargers, I keep one in each of my backpacks, one in my glove compartment and one in my bike bag. They have proven to be valuable stowaways on many day trips and multi-day trips.

This charger doesn’t have a built-in temperature sensor, but it is certified with USB-C PD 3.1 power delivery, which means it’s capable of high-power charging while reducing heat generation. Its other safety features include overvoltage and surge protection. The fast charging capabilities of the Belkin 20-watt USB-C charger can take an iPhone from 0% battery life to 50% battery life in just 27 minutes, with Samsung devices performing similarly. It’s available for just $12, or you can purchase a two-pack for $27. Options are also available for purchase with included USB-C cables. The charger has an overall rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon, with 95% of reviewers giving it a favorable review.

The Ugreen 30W USB-C Charger is one of the most powerful options available for under $19. It’s 30 watts of power, also includes GaN (gallium nitride) technology, which allows for increased performance without the need to increase the size of the charger. It’s more compact than the Apple 20W charger, and the prongs even fold out for maximum portability. It also performs better than some other USB-C chargers because it offers a wide range of compatibility. Its strong power can charge smaller devices like headphones and smartphones, but the Ugreen 30W USB-C charger can also provide enough power to charge tablets and even a MacBook Air.

Amazon customers have left many positive reviews for this charger, as it received an overall rating of 4.8 stars out of 5. Only 3% of reviewers gave it an unfavorable review, although several of them reported a short lifespan with the product. It’s worth considering, although conversely, 97% of customer reviews on Amazon have good things to say about this charger. Ugreen’s Thermal Guard technology keeps it from overheating even when charging larger devices, and its versatility makes it worth it for those who want a single charger for several different devices. The Ugreen 30W USB-C Charger is priced at $17 and comes in a number of different color options.

The Spigen ArcStation Pro 20-watt model is a truly inexpensive USB-C charger option. It’s regularly priced near $26, but it’s a favorite for discounts on Amazon, with the retailer regularly dropping its price below $8. This is another option that includes GaN technology, allowing Spigen to create a powerful yet compact product. It is compatible with all iPhone ranges and includes Android phones among the devices it will work with. Spigen has integrated power quality technology into this charger, which ensures stable maximum current to charge devices more efficiently than other chargers while simultaneously reducing damage to connected devices.

While Spigen may be a lesser-known brand compared to some of the others we’ve discussed here, the ArcStation Pro USB-C charger pad is incredibly popular among Amazon customers. It received 98% favorable reviews, with 84% of reviewers giving it a 5-star rating. Overall, the ArcStation Pro received a 4.7 out of 5-star rating on Amazon. Some bad reviews report short charger life, so it might not be worth it if you’re only able to find it at its usual price of $26. But the high ratings far outweigh the low ratings, and this is a charger that’s smaller than Apple’s 20-watt power adapter and probably worth the price when you can snag it at a discount.

In order to provide the best possible information, we also wanted to ensure that practical experience plays a role in our selections. Where possible, our own use of these chargers informed their selection. Where we couldn’t apply our own direct experience with a charger, we turned to the large number of customer reviews available on Amazon.

Between direct experience and the collective input of thousands of verified buyers, the USB-C selections we’ve made are each worth considering as an alternative to Apple’s own adapter. This is true for both Apple device users and those who simply have other USB-C devices around the house that need to be recharged from time to time.