When going abroad, the right plugs are essential to keep your gadgets charged. These are my favorite travel adapters and chargers that I've tested myself.
By Nexvoro Tech Wire
PUBLISHED FRI, SEP 11, 2026 1:59 PM UTC • 6 MIN READ
Primary Journalistic Dispatch & Direct Reporting
Best Travel Adapter Overall Ceptics GAN 100W Universal Travel Adapter Read more $51 Amazon
Best Compact Travel Adapter Epicka Air Travel Adapter Read more $40 Amazon
Best Budget Travel Adapter Ceptics 6 in 1 Worldwide Travel Adapter Read more $19 Amazon
In-Depth Developments & Factual Context
Best Travel Adapter Set Ceptics Adapter Plug Set for Worldwide International Travel Read more $15 Amazon (Set of 5)
Whether planning a country-hopping odyssey or a quick business trip, your journey will go more smoothly with the best travel adapters that allow you to safely charge all your gadgets wherever you land. After many work trips and family vacations I've tested several - both universal and basic options - and my favorites will work in most parts of the world.
The best adapters make great gifts for travelers and deserve a place in your carry-on, but check out our other travel guides, like the Best Travel Essentials , Best Travel Tech for Families , Best Travel Pillows , and Best USB-C Cables .
Industry Impact & Strategic Analysis
Updated September 2026: I added some Epicka travel adapters, a mention for a Tessan adapter, removed some older, unavailable adapters, and updated prices.
Photograph: Simon Hill Photograph: Simon Hill Save to wishlist Ceptics
There's a ton to like about this 100-watt universal travel adapter from reliable travel brand Ceptics. It covers more than 200 countries and can charge multiple gadgets in a hurry. The classic slider design pushes out EU, UK, and US plugs, and you can rotate the pins for sockets in Australia and China. I love how securely the plugs lock into place; you must press down firmly to slide them back. You have a universal input socket, an additional side socket for US or Japan plugs, and two USB-C ports and two USB-A ports on the bottom. But what makes this travel adapter my favorite is the retractable USB-C cable. It's around 25 inches long, the end sticks to the adapter magnetically, and it saves you from having to pack an extra cord. The cable can deliver up to 100 watts in total. The USB-C ports support up to 15 watts, and the USB-A ports go up to 12 watts.
Forward Outlook & Market Perspective
For all of its strengths, though, it does provide an unfortunate lack of any grounding. Grounding is meant to reduce the risk of an electric shock if there's a fault, such as a loose wire inside a device with a metal case. ( This video explains grounding well. ) Thankfully, there's overload protection with a 10-amp fuse, and it also comes with a spare. But you should not use this adapter with any device with a third metal ground pin on its plug.
I also tested the 140-watt Ceptics 6-in-1 model ($41) , which omits the cable but has three USB-C ports and one USB-A, and the excellent 70-watt model ($40) , which has the retractable cable but fewer ports and loses the extra outlet. Both are great alternatives.
Photograph: Simon Hill Photograph: Simon Hill Photograph: Simon Hill Save to wishlist Epicka
Perhaps the smallest travel adapter that's still practical to use, the Epicka Air measures 3.46 x 1.97 inches and is just 1.19 inches thick, with the prongs folded away. It's easy to pack but still feels reasonably sturdy in use. You get one USB-A and three USB-C ports. The first three ports offer up to 15 watts apiece, and the last USB-C port on the right can go up to 65 watts. But 65 watts is also the maximum output across the four ports, so it gets divided if you plug in multiple devices. But if you use the AC outlet too, and you can charge up to five devices at once.
When I first tested the 40-watt version ($27) , I wasn't sure about this travel adapter, but after using the 65-watt model for a while, I've grown to like it. I still think this style of folding design can be a bit fiddly to use, and the prongs sometimes fold back if you bump them while plugging in. But the placement of the EU prongs in the middle helps it stay plugged in more reliably than some larger sliding cube adapters; the US prongs lock into place, and I didn't have any issues with the UK prongs.
This budget Ceptics device proves that you don't need to spend that much money to snag one of the best travel adapters. It covers more than 150 countries, with sliders you push to reveal the three most common international plugs - EU, UK, and US. You can rotate the pins for sockets in Australia or China. The sliders lock into place securely, and there's a button on the side for retracting them. This plug's universal outlet can recharge your power-hungry devices, like laptops and camera batteries. Two USB-C and two USB-A ports on the bottom, plus a USB-C port on the side, can handle phones , tablets , smartwatches , and Kindles . Each USB-C port can deliver up to 15 watts, and each USB-A port up to 12 watts. While it's not as fast as some of my picks above, you won't care if you tend to charge your gadgets overnight.
Reporting synthesized and verified under Nexvoro.tech editorial guidelines. Full primary records referenced via Wired.
Reporting synthesized under Nexvoro.tech Editorial Standards • Referenced via Wired
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