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The Best Tech and Apps for Your Home Office

By Ben Keough
Updated
Our pick for best 4k monitor if the Dell P2721Q is unavailable, the HP Z27k G3.
Photo: Andrew Cunningham

Working from home is all about flexibility—in scheduling, sure, but also in how you set up your work space. Whereas an IT department might assign your equipment in the office, at home you probably get to choose many of the apps and peripherals you use to get work done.

If that sounds like your situation, you’re in luck. We’ve spent hundreds of hours finding the best gear across a wide range of categories, and we’ve collected our picks here to save you time and stress.

A few of our favorite mechanical keyboards, next to some extra keycaps, keycap pullers and some USB dongles.
Photo: Connie Park

Mechanical keyboards

Our pick

This keyboard provides the best typing experience and the most features—customizable backlighting, swappable switches, key remapping, and an optional analog knob for volume control—for a reasonable price.

The Keychron V3 stands out for its quality and value, with a sturdy case, durable PBT keycaps, and well-lubed stabilizers.

It’s a tenkeyless (TKL) board, so it lacks a number pad; that’s the layout that best balances productivity and ergonomics. It also boasts features typically reserved for pricier models, including RGB backlighting, hot-swappable switches, and full programmability through VIA software. It comes with Windows and Mac keycaps, and swapping between the two layouts is simple.

However, like most mechanical keyboards it lacks wireless connectivity, so you have to plug it into your computer with the included USB-C cable. (It also comes with a USB-A–to–USB-C adapter.)

If you prefer a different layout, Keychron also offers the V5 (1800) and V6 (full-size), among several other models. All provide the same great typing experience, features, and value.

For more, read our guide to the best mechanical keyboards.

 

Bluetooth keyboard

Our pick

This Bluetooth keyboard is comfortable to type on, compact, and blessed with long battery life. Plus, it can pair with and switch between up to three devices.

Buying Options

We’ve recommended the Logitech K380 for more than six years because it’s comfortable, compact, and inexpensive.

It lets you switch between up to three paired devices, and its battery has lasted more than two years for multiple Wirecutter staffers. It’s also available in a Mac-specific version. And it’s sturdy enough to use on your lap and small and light enough to slip in a bag and take with you.

You may need a minute to get used to the K380’s round keys; its arrow keys are small, too, and it lacks backlighting. But despite those flaws, the K380 is the best Bluetooth keyboard you can buy.

For more, read our guide to the best Bluetooth and wireless keyboards.

 

Ergonomic keyboard

Our pick

This mechanical keyboard is comfortable to type on and meets all of our ergonomic criteria: It’s fully split, lacking a number pad, and programmable, and it has a flat slope and can tent.

Buying Options

The Kinesis Freestyle Edge RGB offers a fully split design, responsive mechanical keys, a zero-degree slope, a low profile, full programmability, and the optional ability to tent the keyboard—all crucial criteria in our search for the best ergonomic keyboard.

You can position the halves of the keyboard as necessary in order to reduce shoulder strain and neck tension. And with the recommended Lift Kit accessory, you can tent the halves, raising the inner edge of each half to keep your wrists at a neutral angle.

Although getting used to typing on a fully split keyboard takes time—at least a few days, if not weeks—the Freestyle Edge RGB was the easiest model for us to get comfortable with thanks to its standard, familiar key layout.

For more, read our guide to the best ergonomic keyboards.

 

Wired mouse

Our pick

This gaming mouse suits most hand sizes and grip types, has plenty of buttons, and offers customizable underglow lighting. But Razer’s software doesn’t work on macOS.

Of all the wired mice we’ve tested in the past few years, the Razer Basilisk V3 is the most comfortable option for the widest range of hand sizes and grip preferences.

The Basilisk V3 offers well-placed, responsive buttons that are easy to press on purpose and hard to click by accident, as well as the ability to toggle between ratcheted and smooth scrolling.

Its optical switches avoid the double-clicking issues that can affect mechanical switches. We also love its customizable RGB lights, especially the fancy-looking RGB underglow.

If you want a wired mouse with software that works on macOS (and looks a bit less “gamery”), check out the Logitech G502 X. It’s similar in size and shape to the Basilisk V3, but it lacks RGB lighting and has even more buttons.

For more, read our guide to the best gaming mice.

 

Wireless mouse

Our pick

This inexpensive mouse is comfortable enough for different hand sizes, and its connection options and programmable buttons make it the best choice for most people.

The Logitech M720 Triathlon can pair with, and quickly switch between, three devices via Bluetooth, or you can connect it via the included USB dongle.

It also has six buttons that you can customize, as well as a scroll wheel that toggles between ratcheted and smooth scrolling. And its single AA battery should last for two years, according to Logitech.

But the M720 Triathlon is contoured for right-handed mouse users—so it’s not ideal for lefties—and it doesn’t work on glass or mirrored surfaces.

For more, read our guide to the best wireless mice.

One of the 4K monitors that we tested to find the best, showing a colorful, abstract image on its screen.
Photo: Dave Gershgorn

4K monitor

Our pick

This great-looking 4K monitor doesn’t cost as much as Dell’s professional-grade displays but still offers a USB-C port with 65 W charging and a USB hub.

The affordable Dell S2722QC offers high resolution and accurate color and contrast, plus extra features such as USB-C connectivity and hub capability. That means its USB-C port can both receive the video signal and pass power to your laptop (excluding high-powered machines like the MacBook Pro and Dell XPS 15).

It has an adjustable stand and VESA-compatible mounts, so you can use it in a variety of configurations on your desk. And it’s covered by Dell’s Premium Panel Exchange policy, so if you open the box and find a defect, the company ships a replacement the next business day.

For more, read our guide to the best 4K monitors.

The Nekteck 60W USB-C GaN Charger, a laptop charger that we love for its safety, reliability, and affordability.
Photo: Michael Hession

Laptop charger

Our pick

This compact charger comes with a cable and can charge almost any USB-C–powered laptop 13 inches or smaller at top speed. It works great for lower-powered devices, too.

Buying Options

Whether you need to replace your original laptop charger or just want to have an extra at home or the office, you should get the Nekteck 60W GaN Charger.

It charges almost any USB-C laptop at full speed, it’s smaller than just about any other 60- or 65-watt charger we’ve found, and it comes with a detachable cable, which would usually cost $10 to $20 on its own. This charger is USB-IF certified for performance and safety, as well.

For more, read our guide to the best USB-C laptop chargers.

 

USB phone charger

Our pick

This small and inexpensive charger can fast-charge any phone, including iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, and Google Pixel handsets. But it has only one port.

Buying Options

If you want the smallest power brick available that’ll charge your phone at the fastest speeds, we recommend the single-port Anker PowerPort III Nano.

It’s the same size as Apple’s ubiquitous 5-watt charger, and it supplies up to 20 watts over USB-C. That’s enough power to charge most phones—whether you have an iPhone, a Samsung Galaxy model, a Google Pixel handset, or some other Android phone with fast charging—more than half full in just 30 minutes.

This model also powers Apple’s MagSafe wireless charging system at its maximum 15 watts.

For more, read our guide to the best USB phone chargers.

 

Wireless phone charger

Our pick

This charging stand provides a fast charge to both iPhone and Android smartphones and comes with a wall plug and a long USB cable.

The Belkin Boost Charge Wireless Charging Stand 10W can charge common smartphones from empty to about 40% or 50% in an hour, whereas much of the competition brings a battery closer to 30% or 40%.

Unlike some wireless chargers, this stand comes with a cable and a wall plug, so you don’t need anything else to charge at the highest available speeds—and you can easily replace the detachable Micro-USB cable if necessary.

The stand comes in black or white and has a simple design that blends into most environments. The Wireless Power Consortium has certified this model as meeting its safety standards, and if anything goes wrong, Belkin’s warranty covers the charger for two years.

For more, read our guide to the best wireless phone chargers.

 

USB-C and Lightning cables

The best charging cable for you depends on what you’re trying to charge, but the two most common standards right now are USB-C and Apple’s Lightning.

For USB-C, we like the Cable Matters USB-C to USB-C Charging Cable. It’s rated for 100 W charging, so it can recharge even power-hungry laptops like the 16-inch MacBook Pro at full speed. It’s USB-IF certified, and it has a one-year warranty backed by a company we trust. This cable’s only downside is that it’s limited to USB 2.0 data-transfer speeds, so it’s not the best choice for moving large files around.

If you need to charge an iPhone, iPad, or older iPad Pro, the best cable is the Anker PowerLine II USB-C to Lightning Cable. It’s MFi-certified to meet Apple’s standards for optimal performance, it’s backed by a lifetime warranty, and it has a thick rubber sheath that makes it exceptionally durable. Though Anker cables are slightly shorter and much thicker than Apple’s own Lightning cables, they are also much cheaper.

For more, read our guide to the best USB-C cables.

 

USB hub

Our pick

This portable hub is one of the few we’ve found that allow smooth-scrolling 4K video, and it has every port you’re likely to need.

Buying Options

$50 $40 from Amazon

You save $10 (20%)

The Anker PowerExpand 8-in-1 USB-C PD 10Gbps Data Hub offers a generous selection of ports, but it stands out for supporting 4K video at 60 Hz over HDMI, which guarantees smooth scrolling on supported displays.

This hub is powerful enough to keep at your desk full-time as a docking station but small enough to slip into a laptop bag and use on the go. And thanks to its 7-inch cable, you should be able to position it wherever you need it on your desk.

For more, read our guide to the best USB hubs.

The Western Digital My Passport SSD (1TB).
Photo: Sarah Kobos

Portable SSD

Our pick

This SSD offers a good mix of reliability, speed, and size, along with a five-year warranty—the longest of any drive we found.

The Western Digital My Passport SSD (1 TB) is reasonably priced and compact enough to tuck in almost any pocket on a laptop bag or briefcase, or even to stash in a shallow drawer.

Its USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port supports transfer speeds up to 10 Gbps and will max out the speed on most laptops’ USB ports, short of the fastest Thunderbolt 3 or 4 ports.

It also comes with software to enable AES 256-bit hardware encryption—a good way to keep your data safe in case you lose the drive. And WD backs it with a lengthy five-year warranty, which is two years more coverage than you would get with most rivals.

For more, read our guide to the best portable SSDs.

 

External hard drive

Our pick

This compact drive offers the best mix of versatility, speed, and affordability.

Buying Options

Of all the portable hard drives we tested, the Toshiba Canvio Flex was the only one that produced consistently fast performance across all tasks.

It’s just as light and small as competing models, so you can take it with you when you aren’t spending time at your desk. And it’s still one of the most affordable drives we’ve considered with this much storage.

It’s ready to use right out of the box with both Windows computers and Macs, and it comes with both USB-C and USB-A cables plus a three-year warranty.

For more, read our guide to the best external hard drives.

 

Cloud backup service

Our pick

Backblaze is economical, fast, reliable, and easy to set up.

If you have important documents and other files you can’t afford to lose, you should back them up. External hard drives are the first step, but they’re susceptible to loss in a flood, fire, or break-in. That’s where cloud backups come in.

Offering unlimited online storage for one computer for $70 a year, Backblaze is the most affordable cloud backup service we tested.

It’s easy to use on both Windows and Mac. With the software installed and the settings at their defaults, uploads start immediately and include the most commonly used folders that need backing up.

Backblaze keeps file versions around for 30 days—less than we’d like—but it offers paid upgrades to adjust that retention period if you want to keep your backups available for longer.

It supports external drives and has a good combination of online support tools. But its implementation of private encryption keys sacrifices some security for usability, and its restoration process is way too slow.

For more, read our guide to the best online backup services.

 

Network-attached storage

Our pick

Easy to set up and manage, this two-bay NAS features hardware encryption, media streaming, remote access, useful apps, and solid data protection.

Buying Options

In addition to speed, the Synology DiskStation DS220+ offers a variety of backup and syncing options, plus it has mobile apps for media streaming, file management, and more. It also supports a wide range of third-party apps, such as Git Server, Plex, and Resilio Sync.

The DS220+ can act as a home backup device, a media streamer, a mail server, a website-hosting device, a BitTorrent box, or a video-surveillance recorder—nearly anything a Linux computer can do—while consuming about as much electricity as a couple of LED bulbs.

For more, read our guide to the best NAS.

 

USB flash drive

Our pick

This is the fastest drive we tested for transferring data to and from a computer. It’s also reasonably priced for the amount of storage space it offers.

Buying Options

If you find yourself occasionally moving files from one computer to another, you might want to grab a USB flash drive, also known as a thumb drive. They’re small and fast, and they don’t need an internet connection.

The SanDisk Extreme Pro USB 3.1 is the fastest and most reliable flash drive we’ve tested. Even at its slowest, it took about 30 seconds to read a file that took other drives 36 and 37 seconds.

The aluminum case features a retractable head that snaps into place when you’re ready to use the drive. There’s no cap, though, so be mindful about where you store this, or you might end up with a linty USB drive.

For more, read our guide to the best USB flash drives.

The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones, shown against a mustard yellow background.
Photo: Michael Murtaugh

Wireless headphones

Our pick

This feature-packed pair significantly reduces the noise of voices around you and can sound fantastic. But it’s expensive, and it requires significant tweaking to produce great sound.

If you like to move around while working, the wireless Sony WH-1000XM4 is the best pair of headphones. These headphones are comfortable enough to wear all day, and they’re effective at blocking out background noise during calls and Zoom meetings.

They have a lot of app-based bonus features, including a voice-activated awareness mode that detects when you’re speaking, pauses music, and turns on mics so you can hear your conversation partner. You can set up similar rules based on geolocation, as well.

The biggest flaw of these headphones is that they don’t sound great out of the box, but with a bit of EQ tweaking they can become the best-sounding noise-cancelling headphones you can buy.

For more, read our guide to the best Bluetooth wireless headphones.

 

Wired headphones

Our pick

These comfortable, exciting-sounding headphones are difficult to beat, especially at this price. But they don’t have a mic or noise cancellation.

Buying Options

If you prefer a pair of simple, wired headphones for listening to music at your desk, we recommend the Monolith by Monoprice M565C. This pair is perfect for the music connoisseur who wants better performance than standard headphones offer, but not something so expensive or delicate that it can’t withstand daily use.

In our tests, these cans produced an exciting, detailed sound, beating out headphones that cost hundreds more. Their planar-magnetic drivers are housed in isolating closed-back earcups that let you block out distractions and focus on enjoying your playlist.

They have a sturdy, comfortable build, too, but because of their bulk they aren’t the most portable or subtle-looking headphones. The cable is replaceable, and Monoprice’s five-year warranty is just about the longest coverage for any headphones we’ve seen.

For more, read our guide to the best audiophile headphones.

 

Computer speakers

Our pick

These speakers have two sound modes for music listening and audio production. They feature built-in Bluetooth support and signal-sensing inputs to connect a smart speaker.

The Pioneer DJ DM-50D-BT is our favorite pair of computer speakers because it sounds great and should fit well on most desktops, with each speaker measuring about 11 by 7 by 10 inches.

The system has two sound modes designed to cater to audio professionals and casual listeners, and in both modes these speakers sounded clearer than other tested systems in this price range.

You’ll find three types of analog audio inputs (including balanced connectors) on the back, as well as a volume/power knob and a headphone jack, both of which are located on the front of one of the speakers for easy access.

Bluetooth support is built in, and the set offers signal-sensing inputs, which turn the system on automatically when they detect an incoming audio signal, so it will work like a smart speaker if you connect an Amazon Echo Dot.

For more, read our guide to the best computer speakers.

a Logitech webcam on the edge of a monitor
Photo: Michael Murtaugh

Webcam

Our pick

This webcam offers full-HD video with natural colors and clear details at a lower price than most rivals. Plus, it has a lens cover, so you’re never on camera unless you want to be.

The Logitech C920S HD Pro Webcam captures sharp, high-definition (1080p) video with excellent auto white balance and speedy autofocus, so you’ll look your best in the Zoom or Teams calls that fill your calendar.

It’s easy to set up and use, plus the new webcam cover protects your privacy and should help you feel more comfortable having the camera always attached to your computer or monitor.

For more, read our guide to the best webcams.

 

Wireless headset

Our pick

With a long-lasting battery, great mic quality, and large, comfortably padded earcups, this headset is perfect for all-day use.

If you like to move around while on conference calls and in Zoom meetings, the Jabra Evolve2 65 headset is the best way to do it.

This headset connects via Bluetooth to your phone or laptop and offers fantastic range and long battery life (37 hours). It’ll make you sound great, too: In our tests, panelists loved its vocal clarity.

Memory-foam ear cushions create a soft seal around your ears, passively blocking background noise, but the Evolve2 65 doesn’t provide active noise cancellation. (If you need that, check out the Evolve 75.)

For more, read our guide to the best wired and wireless headsets.

 

USB headset

Our pick

This headset offers mic quality similar to that of our wireless pick for less than half the price. But you need to stay tethered to your computer to use it.

Buying Options

Of all the wired headsets we’ve tested, the Jabra Evolve2 30 offers the best mix of great audio quality (both input and output) and lightweight comfort.

Compared with cheaper wired options in our tests, this headset suppressed more background noise while still capturing clear, warm vocals. The controls on the right earcup are smaller than we’d like, but it’s not hard to get used to them.

For more, read our guide to the best wired and wireless headsets.

The HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M283fdw along with some office supplies.
Photo: Marki Williams

Laser printer

Our pick

This printer produces crisp text and vibrant graphics, and it has a low operating cost. But you can use only HP toner with it.

Buying Options

$430 $380 from Staples

Use promo code 80104

The HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M283fdw has an easy-to-use touch interface and a modern mobile app that together make daily use far less frustrating compared with other printers we’ve tried.

It produces sharp text and vibrant color graphics, and it can even print nice photos in a pinch.

It’s also fast, printing about 22 pages per minute, and it can print on envelopes, labels, and other odd-size media thanks to its bypass slot.

Print costs are reasonable, but HP’s firmware will recognize only HP-branded toner, so expect to pay full price when it’s time to top up.

For more, read our guide to the best laser printers.

 

All-in-one printer

Our pick

Easy-to-use software, affordable ink, a long warranty, and plenty of thoughtful touches make this inkjet all-in-one less annoying than the competition. Results look sharp, too.

The HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e is especially easy to set up, and that alone is enough for us to recommend it over other all-in-one printers.

But it also prints beautifully, scans well, has great apps for PCs and mobile devices, and is affordable on a per-page basis. If you print a lot of photos, you can opt for HP’s Instant Ink program (a six-month trial is included with your initial purchase), which lowers the cost of color prints even further.

It looks great in any office thanks to a clean, compact design, and it comes with a two-year warranty—coverage that’s twice as long as what you’d get from most competitors.

For more, read our guide to the best all-in-one printers.

 

Document scanning app

Our pick

Free and refreshingly straightforward, this is the perfect app if all you need is clean PDFs and reliable text recognition.

If you need to occasionally create clean-looking PDFs of physical documents—and do it for free—there’s no better option for a scanning app than Adobe Scan (Android, iOS).

Adobe Scan’s simple design and limited options may seem like a negative in comparison with more complex apps like Scanbot and CamScanner, but we found that the app’s simplicity made it easier for us to get the results we wanted.

This app produced the cleanest-looking scans in our testing; it also has the ability to fill in scanned forms, and it provides excellent text recognition. And it automatically stores all of your scans in Adobe’s cloud, at no additional cost.

For more, read our guide to the best mobile scanning apps.

 

Online fax service

Our pick

You can send high-quality faxes for free or for a low, flat rate. There’s no monthly subscription required, unless you also want to receive faxes.

Buying Options

If you need to send occasional faxes—to request a copy of your medical records, for instance—use Dropbox Fax.

It starts you with five free outbound pages, and you can earn additional free pages by completing trivial tasks like tweeting about the service. After that, it’s 99¢ to fax your next 10 pages, and then 20¢ per additional page.

In our tests, Dropbox Fax (HelloFax at the time) sent perfectly legible faxes, and it reliably received all the test faxes we sent. Its straightforward interface makes the occasional chore of sending a fax quick and painless, too.

For more, read our guide to the best online fax services.

A large smart phone with a to-do list app open and showing the calendar view.
Photo: Sarah Kobos

To-do list app

Our pick

This app is powerful and flexible enough to adapt to most workflows, and you can use it across devices and operating systems.

Buying Options

TickTick stands out for its simple, structured project organization and seamless calendar integration. And we love that it’s flexible enough to suit many different workflows, rather than forcing you to organize your work a certain way.

Its modern design is easy on the eyes, and its natural-language input support—for example, jotting down “turn in draft to editor at 3 on Monday” magically turns into a task with the correct deadline—lets you easily add something to your list before it slips your mind.

It works across Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, too, so no matter what device you’re using you can add new tasks and check off completed items.

For more, read our guide to the best to-do list apps.

 

Online tax filing

Our pick

This is the most polished tax app around, and most people don’t have to upgrade to the Deluxe version if they take the standard deduction.

TurboTax is the best online tax software because of its thorough and intelligent interview process. TurboTax requires us to state that the Free Edition is “for simple tax returns only” and that “not all taxpayers qualify,” but we think most people should start there and upgrade to Deluxe only if it becomes necessary.

That’s because if you start with Deluxe and enter all of your information only to find that the standard deduction is more valuable than itemizing (as is the case for most filers), you have to either pay the Deluxe fee or clear out all of the information and start over with the Free Edition.

Though we think TurboTax Free Edition is the best pick for most filers, we have picks for all tax situations—including people with student-loan interest deductions—in our guide to the best online tax filing software.

 

Time tracking

Our pick

This app provides good prompts to track time, useful integrations, and easy editing. Its free plan is generous, but upgrading gets you more features.

Buying Options

Toggl is both helpful and unobtrusive for tallying your time and sending invoices, and it should fit into most people’s workflows, whatever apps, computers, or devices they use.

It’s simple to use, and among the apps we’ve tried, it requires the fewest clicks and screens between your remembering to log something and starting a timer (or revising an entry).

Toggl is available on pretty much every platform and provides integrations into myriad other services. You can easily turn off the parts you don’t need, and for many freelancers, its reports—even in the free version of the app—will suffice for creating and sending invoices.

For more, read our guide to the best time-tracking apps for freelancers.

This article was edited by Erica Ogg.

Meet your guide

Ben Keough

Ben Keough is the supervising editor for Wirecutter's working from home, powering, cameras, and hobbies and games coverage. He previously spent more than a decade writing about cameras, printers, and other office equipment for Wirecutter, Reviewed, USA Today, and Digital Camera HQ. After four years testing printers, he definitively confirmed that they all suck, but some suck less than others.

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