The Best Travel Adapters

Quick answer: Take a look at our top pick, the Ceptics UP-9KU International Plug Adapter or our runner-up Orei M8 Plus. If you prefer minimalist and light, check out the Kikkerland UL03-A Universal Travel Adapter. Or if you want simple and straightforward, buy OREI 2 in 1 adapters that only work with specific countries and plug types. Our personal favorite however, is the Poweradd International Travel Charger that provides 2 plugs, 2 USB connections and a micro USB cable.

Having to buy a travel adapter while you’re already travelling can be a huge headache. You’ll likely end up purchasing a poor quality one and end up overpaying. Buy a reliable travel adapter ahead of time and save yourself the stress. A good quality one will last you multiple trips around the world and save you money in the long run. We’ve found a number of great travel adapters that you’ll love, so take a look below.

Plug types from around the world

Where exactly are you going? Different countries and regions have their own unique plug type which is why we need a travel adapter in the first place. Nobody wants to arrive in a new place without being able to charge their devices. What would we possibly do without being able to charge our phones and cameras? Don’t panic! Take a look at the plug types in the picture below so you know what plug types you’ll need for the region you’re travelling to.

Best all-in-one travel adapters

The best all-in-one travel adapter is the Ceptics UP-9KU International Plug Adapter. This is one of the most popular adapter we could find. This product will accept 2 or 3 prongs and work in USA, Europe, Asia, China, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. It doesn’t have any extra parts and everything is contained within the one unit. The plug receptacles are tight so they don’t fall out of wall sockets, but loose enough so that you can pull them out without much effort. Ceptics is quite good about their quality control and are quick when responding to warranty issues. Overall its an excellent simple and small adapter that will work in most major countries. Just remember that this is not a converter and it will only work with dual voltage devices (100-240V). If you want to use a hair dryer you will need to bring a converter.

Our runner-up is the Orei M8 Plus which has over 2,000 reviews with an average of 4.5 stars. It takes both 2 or 3 prong grounded and ungrounded plugs from any country while also being able to plug into any country. This means that you can use any plug type and you are able able to plug it into most countries in the world. The face can also switch to give you two 5V 2.1 amp USB ports which are great for charging your electronics. It has a circular face for the European plugs, which is important because some European power plugs are recessed and won’t fit a square adapter. While a bit more expensive, its a high quality and versatile grounded plug adapter.

Great alternatives:

The MOCREO Travel Adapter is another useful travel plug. It will accept type A, B, C, G and I plug types and will work with any wall socket in the world. It also includes dual (2.1 + 2.1 amp) USB ports for additional charging, therefore able to charge 3 devices at once. Charging is also optimized for different types of devices depending on their charging speeds. Overall a well-constructed travel adapter and excellent USB power output.

Good but not great

FosPower International Power Adapter — Has a number of good reviews but the product actually feels quite cheaply made and poor quality control. Although it usually works, there have been reports of it failing or the prongs not properly extending all the way. All-in-one travel chargers like this one often have this issue due to the internal mechanism when changing plug configurations. It would be unfortunate to have this charger only for it to break when you need it most. This plug adapter also has a bright blue light indicating that it is on, which may be an issue for some when charging devices at night.

Kensington International Travel Adapter — While its an easy to use travel adapter, our biggest issue is that it does not accept 3-prong plugs even though it appears to be able to. This is a huge problem for anyone who needs to plug in a device like a laptop. There are also a lot of reports of the fuse in the adapter blowing and the warranty being troublesome to use. Plus it is too top heavy and depending on the outlet it can have issues staying connected to the wall socket.

Maxah MX-UC1 Surge Protector All in One Universal Travel Wall Charger — Too many reports of safety and design problems. The adapter also does not sit flush to the wall in certain configurations and can be top heavy and fall out of the wall socket. There are many other better travel adapters than to use this one and have to worry about it.

Best compact travel adapters

If you’re looking for the lightest worldwide travel adapter, then the Kikkerland UL03-A Universal Travel Adapter is what you’ve been looking for all this time. It only has 2 simple parts that combine for 9 plug combinations that will work in over 150 countries. This adapter is like playing with a toy. It may take a bit of instruction reading to fully understand the plug combinations, but the design of this adapter is amazing in its simplicity and minimalism. It’s made of ABS plastic and has a solid feel while also being very light at 1.6 ounces. The 6A 110-250V rating will work in almost any country you’re in. However it only accepts Type A/B/C 2 prong plugs. If you have trouble figuring out how to get it to work with a Hong Kong plug, check out a user posted video here.

Best single-plug adapters

If you’re travelling to a region and know exactly what plug type you will need, then it might be easier to purchase single plug adapters. These simple adapters are cheap, simple and most importantly reliable. You can easily throw a bunch of these in your suitcase or carry-on and not have to worry if your all-in-one travel adapter will work properly or fit the outlets properly. In our many years of travelling these simple plugs have never failed us and we have always carried extra and occasionally gifted them to those in need. These adapters will accept plugs for almost any country but will in turn only plug into a single plug type.

If you want single adapters for all types of plugs, you could purchase a couple of Ceptics GP-5PK Worldwide Plug Adapter Sets. It comes with 5 separate adapters that will each work with a different type of international plug. Or if you don’t need a worldwide set, purchase a 3 pack for a specific country like the Ceptics Type D India plug adapter. There is also the OREI 2 in 1 adapter which has two input receptacles and is very similar to the Ceptic adapters. Just order the adapter for the country you’re heading to and you’ll have one less thing to worry about!

Best multi-plug adapters

This product is a little different from other travel adapters. The Poweradd International Travel Charger offers two Type A input plugs, one micro USB plug, and two USB ports (max 2.4 amp). That’s right, five charging ports in total within a small and portable package without requiring any extra hardware. It has five international plug adapters for North America, United Kingdom, Europe, Australia/China, Japan and so on. The two female outlets support 3 prong grounded devices, although they only accept Type A/B male plugs. They’re designed for charging laptops and larger electronics while the USB ports are mostly used for charging mobile devices.

Another smart design quirk of this is that the international plug adapters are able to fit recessed wall outlets. This can be an issue particularly in Asian countries where outlets sometimes are not flush with the wall and sit recessed a couple inches. All-in-one travel adapters often won’t fit these recessed outlets and you’ll be left in a panic. This travel adapter was certainly designed by people who have traveled extensively and is one of our favorite adapters. The size is also nice, more compact than you would imagine but with enough room to place a phone on top of the device while it’s plugged into a wall. It is up to you to weigh the benefits of more outlets but taking up more space in your luggage. You’ll also have to remember to keep all the international plugs with you (or at least the ones for the countries you’re travelling to). If you’re a heavy electronic user like us, then carrying a larger but compact power adapter like this is completely worth it to be stress-free. You’ll also be a hero when whoever you’re travelling with doesn’t have enough plugs to charge their own stuff and asks to use yours!

Travel tips

• Most power outlets in hotel or hostel bathrooms are for low power devices. Avoid damaging your devices or adapters by speaking with the staff where you’re staying.
• Hair dryers are high power devices and are often built into the wall for this reason.
• Purchase your travel adapters before leaving for vacation! Once you’re travelling abroad, adapters can be difficult to find or very expensive, since sellers know they can raise the price.
• Some hotels may have travel adapters that you can borrow at the front desk. Often other guests will forget their adapters behind, and the front desk will keep them on hand for others to use.
• The voltage on devices may be indicated by either a V, VAC or VDC. If a device is able use different voltage inputs, it should say something along the lines of 120/240 V.
• The standard frequency for North American devices is 60 Hz, while international devices are usually 50 Hz.

Plug converter vs adapter

When travelling internationally (outside North America), outlets operate at 220-240 volts and 60 Hz. In North America, outlets are 110-120V and 50 Hz. It is important to understand these differences to avoid destroying any electrical devices you bring with you. A plug converter (also known as a transformer) will convert the voltage from a foreign outlet to the voltage of the specific device you are using. A plug adapter will allow the physical plug shape to fit into an international outlet, but it will not convert voltage. Just because your device’s plug may fit (with a travel adapter or not), it does not mean your device can handle the voltage. These days most devices will have dual voltage and accept 110-240V ~ 50/60 Hz, but please check the voltage on your devices and chargers before using them. We would suggest only travelling with devices that accept 110-250V ~ 50/60 Hz so that you don’t need a bulky plug converter and can take a simple plug adapter. If a device does not display a dual voltage rating, then it only has a single voltage and should not be used when travelling.

Plug type / voltage guide