What is the difference between a USB C hub and a docking station?

A USB C hub is compact, portable, and bus powered it draws power from your laptop and usually offers 4 8 ports. A docking station is larger, has its own power supply, and typically provides 10+ ports including multiple video outputs and higher wattage charging. Hubs are best for travel and light desk use. Docking stations are designed for permanent desk setups where you want a single cable connection to monitors, peripherals, and power.