A PC without Bluetooth connection is not a problem anymore. There is no need to spend a fortune on a new laptop as you can just choose one of the best Bluetooth adapters and save your hard-earned money.
If Bluetooth receiver is a panacea for audio systems then Bluetooth adapter is the best choice for any laptop or desktop computer without Bluetooth connection. It’s a tiny thing, which sometimes may look like a USB Wi-Fi adapter, and which enables various connections. Nowadays Bluetooth adapter is a kind of a must for the owners of multiple wireless devices.
How to Choose The Best Bluetooth Adapter
When selecting Bluetooth adapter remember to check all crucial features any good product must have. Here’s the list of characteristics you should consider before choosing the best of the lot.
Compatibility
Obviously, the best Bluetooth adapter should support your PC and all devices you are going to connect it with. Almost all Bluetooth dongles are compatible with Windows OS but Linux or Mac OS can become a stumbling block. The best thing is to buy a highly compatible adapter which will serve you even if you decide to purchase a new PC with the other operating system.
Some operating systems support Plug-n-Play option (e.g. Windows 8/10). It means that you don’t need drivers to install a Bluetooth adapter. If such an option is not available then you can get drivers on the official website or on the CD attached to the product.
Bluetooth Technology
Another important thing to take into account is a Bluetooth version. Don’t buy Bluetooth adapter with Bluetooth version lower than 4.0 as its quality will definitely disappoint you. Bluetooth v4.0 and higher provides more range, so you can connect devices which are farther away from each other.
In addition to this, such version consumes less energy and that’s the crucial point for laptops. Note that if your dongle has Bluetooth v4.0, it is also backward compatible. It means that you can connect it to any other device with older Bluetooth versions.
Class 1 or 2
Choosing your best Bluetooth adapter, don’t forget to pay attention at its class. Class 1 adapters are suitable for industrial devices which need Bluetooth connectivity at long distances. As to class 2 adapters, they would be the best choice for consumer devices that aren’t aimed at long distances.
Transmission Distance
As you can already guess this feature depends on the pre-cited characteristics. Bluetooth adapters of class 1 can have a transmission distance of up to 330 feet. Class 2 dongles usually offer an operation range of only 33-60 feet. Still, always consider the quality of the connection. Sometimes devices with the same range may have different performance.
8 Best Bluetooth Adapters To Buy in 2020
Avantree USB Bluetooth 4.0 Adapter
Reasonably Priced USB Bluetooth Adapter For Windows
Having a Bluetooth adapter like this one can be a lifesaver if you need a cheap device for versatile connections. It supports such OS as Windows 10/8//7/Vista and even XP but isn’t compatible with Mac, Linux, TV or Car stereo systems.
If you have Windows 10 all you need to do to install this adapter and start enjoying its work is to plug it into a USB port. Windows Vista/XP/7 doesn’t provide auto-installation, so you will need to install a driver from the CD or download its free version from Avantree support site.
Avantree DG4OS is an excellent choice for wireless data transfer, VOIP calls or PC gaming. You can connect this adapter with Bluetooth tablets, printers, headphones or any other BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) devices.
- automatic installation on Windows 10
- Bluetooth 4.0 connection
- no Linux, Mac, TV or Car stereo support
- no aptX support
ASUS USB Adapter
The Best Bluetooth adapter for Windows 10
ASUS USB Adapter is designed with USB 2.0 interface and Bluetooth Low Energy Technology. It supports Bluetooth 2.0/2.1/3.0/4.0. As well as Avantree USB Bluetooth 4.0 this adapter is compatible with Windows OS (XP/7/8/10).
Besides, this network adapter has 3 Mbps data transfer rate and is quite easy to install. The only thing here to remember is that its operation range, which reaches up to 33 feet, can be reduced if your laptop or PC USB port is surrounded by metal construction.
- compatible with Windows/Xbox One S/latest smartphones
- good driver support
- automatic installation on Windows 10/8
- Bluetooth 4.0 connection
- limited operation range
- no Linux, Mac, TV or Car stereo support
Zexmte Bluetooth USB Adapter
Reliable Cheap Bluetooth Adapter
For a reasonable price you get a compact Bluetooth USB adapter designed for Windows OS. It has 3 Mbps transfer rate and up to 33 feet of operation range. Zexmte Bluetooth USB Adapter also provides Plug-n-Play option for Windows 8/10.
Zexmte Bluetooth USB Adapter supports BLE Technology and is compatible with Bluetooth V4/0/3.0/2.1/2.0/1.1. Thanks to its tiny size this Bluetooth dongle doesn’t block any surrounding USB ports when plugged into a computer, so you can leave it in. By the way, if you set up playback devices and disable Bluetooth hands-free audio you will get a better sound.
- compact design
- low price
- great customer service and tech support
- fits tightly in USB ports
- easy setup
- limited operation range
- no Linux, Mac, TV or Car stereo support
Plugable USB Bluetooth Adapter
The Best Bluetooth Adapter for Linux
Unlike all pre-cited Bluetooth adapters, this product supports not only Windows but also Linux OS. As to the latter, it requires additional software and setup and doesn’t support all Bluetooth profiles. Besides, this dongle is compatible with Raspberry Pi.
Plugable USB Bluetooth Adapter is suitable for a wide range of devices. As this adapter supports Bluetooth 4.0 it is compatible with Bluetooth Smart (BLE) devices, for example, iBeacons or Fitbit fitness trackers. Still, this option is unavailable in case you have Windows 7 or lower. This Bluetooth adapter is also energy efficient.
- compact design
- supports Windows/Linux OS and Raspberry Pi
- Bluetooth 4.0 connection
- 32 feet of transmission distance
- energy efficient
- no Mac, TV or Car stereo support
- speed could be faster
Kinivo BTD-400 Bluetooth USB Adapter
Very Compatible Bluetooth Adapter
Another highly compatible Bluetooth adapter is Kinivo BTD-400. It supports 32 bit as well as 64 bit Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP, Linux (Ubuntu, Mint, Fedora), Raspberry Pi and even Mac 2011 OS. By the by, there is plug and play option available for Windows 10/8.1/8.
Kinivo BTD-400 can be easily connected almost with all Bluetooth devices such as headphones, headsets, mobile phones, printers, etc. It supports BLE Technology and all Bluetooth connections up to v4.0 Class 2.
- compact design
- supports Windows/Linux/Mac OS/Raspberry Pi
- Bluetooth 4.0 connection
- 32 feet of transmission distance
- no TV or Car stereo support
- long installation
TP-Link UB400
A BT Adapter with a Great Value for the Money
TP-Link UB400 is a Bluetooth 4.0 adapter that offers good compatibility, decent performance and nice working range – all in one.
It is cheap, it offers a backward compatibility with Bluetooth V3.0/2.1/2.0/1.1 and compatibility with numerous Windows versions (10, 8.1, 8, 7, XP). Unfortunately, it doesn’t work with Linux or Mac; however, it can be connected with various devices, including desktops, printers, speakers, headsets, as well as PS4 and Xbox controllers and a lot more.
TP-Link UB400 offers a compact, sleek design, with an excellent transmission distance of up to 33ft and solid data transfer rate of 3Mbps that is mainly achieved thanks to the incorporation of EDR and A2DP technologies. Moreover, this adapter comes with a very good two-year warranty and altogether offers excellent value for its price.
In other words, if you are looking for a highly capable, as well as affordable BT device that has all the assets needed for the best Bluetooth adapter, TP-Link UB400 is the ultimate option and a piece of hardware that will never disappoint you.
- Affordable
- Two-year warranty
- Versatile
- Good range
- It doesn’t work with Linux or Mac
QGOO Bluetooth Adapter
A Cheap and Efficient Bluetooth Device
If you are into cheap, but efficient devices with good overall value, QGOO Bluetooth 4.0 Adapter is made for you. This tiny, ultra-small form factor device offers everything that a regular user might need, and much more.
It offers good Windows compatibility (it works with Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10), it is backwards compatible with Bluetooth V3.0/2.1/2.0/1.1 and it supports numerous device types, such as PCs, projectors, PS4 and Xbox One S controllers and a lot more. Moreover, its working range is up to 10m, while data transfer rate goes up to decent 3Mbps.
Unfortunately, this device doesn’t work with Linux or Mac, Xbox One or Nintendo Switch; nevertheless, it is affordable, practical and altogether delivers a solid efficiency that won’t stun you, but will certainly not disappoint you.
- Decent performance
- Cheap
- Compatibility issues
Techkey USB Mini Bluetooth 5.0
A Tiny, but Powerful Mini Bluetooth Adapter
Techkey USB Mini Bluetooth 5.0 is basically the first-ever Bluetooth 5.0 adapter that is delivering reliable and fast performance, with very little interference.
However, although its data transfer speed of 3Mbps, as well as the range of 10 meters, are very respectable, fact is that they aren’t anything revolutionary and that they are in the range with Bluetooth 4.0 devices. What, on the other hand, does make a difference, compared to the previous Bluetooth generation, are the interference levels that are drastically reduced in the case of BT 5.0 devices, allowing for perfect signal transmission.
Other benefits of Techkey USB Mini Bluetooth 5.0 are low energy consumption and more importantly, the ability to be used simultaneously with up to seven different devices. Moreover, this device is backward compatible – therefore, it can be used with previous BT iterations, but unfortunately, it can be installed only on Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10, while other Operating Systems, such as Mac and Linux, are out of the question.
Overall, Techkey USB Mini Bluetooth 5.0 is a high-quality BT adapter that will satisfy even the most demanding users and it is definitely an excellent choice if you are looking for the best Bluetooth adapter, with uncompromising performance.
- Compact
- It can work along with seven different devices at the same time
- Easy to use
- Fast performance
- It can’t work with Mac and Linux
- Windows 10 demands for driver installation
Summary
Bluetooth adapter is a great solution for old versions of laptops or PCs. It will easily connect your smartphone or headphones to the computer and let you enjoy gaming or movie to the full.
any type-c bluetooth adapters? would prefer not to use a type-c to usb to connect a bluetooth adapter. Need one for my xp-pen tablet
Hi Todd,
Unfortunately we weren’t able to find one =(
Thanks for the recommendation of the two devices for Linux (Plugable and Kinivo). However, both of them are based on a Broadcom chip that requires the manual installation of proprietary firmware to work (hopefully) properly.
For the sake of completeness, you should also list “Penguin USB Bluetooth 4.0 Micro Adapter (TPE-USBBLUV4)”, which does not require any proprietary firmware.
For Mac uers, I can recommend the Avantree DG40S. I use with with my iMac (El Capitan) and it even communicates with my Apple Magic Mouse 2, which is very selective with Bluetooth adapters.
I also read that the Kinivo BTD-400 works well with Macs.
Kinivio doesn’t work very well at all. My Mighty Mouse is sporadic. Bought this for connecting Garmin cycling sensors to my 2010 Mac Pro desktop and it just won’t function properly.
Please note that Avantree long range bluetooth USB adapter is only for audio and not for data transfer. I bought one and only noticed after I used it. My fault for not paying attention to the long product name.
look into a standard Ubuntu install ( or any main derivative)
and use Lutris, Steam or crossover(maybe?)
Ive been looking to set up a lutris interface and it seems very awesome so far, (think steam without some creapy company looking to make cash)
Ubuntu are best supported in the linux world and all the ways to play weird games that support linux will support ubuntu first
Why no Bluetooth 5.0 adapters in your list?
Because there are none worth mentioning at this point.
What should I do then? I want to enable bluetooth 5.0 on my pc so that i can use my bluetooth 5.0 earphones? Is there any options or am I fucked.
You’re all good=) Bluetooth is backward compatible so your headphones should work with any of these adapters (but you won’t experience BT 5.0 benefits). But you can also try Bluetooth 5.0 receivers/transmitters (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W5DDZQN/, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TLVJWQ5/) but they won’t work for BT keyboard or mouse.
your in luck, avantree makes 5.0 dongles specifically for latency free headphone listening…
this is the older 4.1 version..
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01G3J1I5M/
but these are the current 5.0 versions..
https://avantree.com/wireless-adapters/pc-gaming-adapter?Bluetooth_Verison=23&support_audio_codec=104
the DG60 is specifically the one you are looking for and it has a super long range of 160feet..
and there’s the DG80, the 5.0 version of the DG40 shown above.
and yes, I know this post is a few years old, it’s still good info to anyone looking for it.. like I was..
note: these are audio bluetooth adapters only.. they won’t work with other devices like mice, keyboards, and game controllers like an all around BT adapter would… but that’s what you give up for the super low latency and sound quality.
Cheers..
Do all the dongles support Bluetooth LE, or just the ones that specifically say so?
It’s a new “normal” so they all should. But still, check the specs. For example, Techkey dongle doesn’t add BLE to Windows 7 or earlier while it works in Win 8 or newer.
I am considering replacing my USB cord with a USB Bluetooth receiver for use in my vehicle’s USB outlet. I want to wirelessly connect Android Auto from my phone to my car through the USB outlet instead of using the cord. Are there any compatible Bluetooth USB dongles available that would do this?
Hi Shawn,
No. And from what I understand, it wouldn’t work anyway https://www.lifewire.com/android-auto-wireless-4176354
Good day! I plan to use a Bluetooth 4.1 headphone on my pc, but my motherboard doesn’t have the bluetooth technology so I need an adapter. Do you know if a bluetooth 4.0 adapter would work with a 4.1 headphone?
Hi Samuel,
Bluetooth is backwards compatible so yes, it will work.
Hi there
Thanks for the great article.. almost just ordered a usb2bluetooth dongle, how hard can it be? 🙂
I wanna use it for music from my stationary computer – for good quality music 2 headphones, BUT also to reach my TV via the Google Dongle Chromecast G3.
1) You write that all of them are not suited for TV (hope that means they can’t be a TV dongle (as the Chromecast)) but okay to sent from the PC – to the Chromecast
But what would you recommend here ? smooth good stream quality important
Thanks.
Hi,
Unfortunately, we don’t have experience with Chromecast g3 so it’s difficult for us to advise on that. All dongles in our list use BT 4.0 so the stream quality should be pretty much the same. You may try Techkey as it’s relatively new.
can you reccommend a long range blue tooth adaptor that will connect with an older Yamaha amplifier with RCA inputs?
They all have 10 meters (33 feet) range, except Avantree Leaf. Avantree Leaf has 20 meters (66 feet) but it works only with audio devices (doesn’t work with keyboards, mice, etc.). Ragarding “will it connect to Yamaha amp?”, can’t say for sure.
Thank you 🙂
Hi my 14 year old son wants a Bluetooth adapted 4.0 for his computer and I need advice on which one many thanks
Hi Tara,
All adapters on the list are 4.0 so you can choose any of them.
why are you writing up BT 4.0 when 5 is head and shoulders above?
Because there are none (at least decent ones) at this point. There are BT 5 receivers and transmitters but while some of them look similar, it’s a different product.
Almost all these adapters are rated for 10m (33ft), could you please explain how the TECHKEY has phenomenal range? Have you tested them all?
Also when I look up the range of the TP-Link UB400 it says it is only 10m (I guess this is a typo)
I am looking for a bluetooth adapter or keyboard+mouse combo to reach across the house. A standard bluetooth keyboard/adapter drops out about a metre short of where I need it. Any recommendations are much appreciated
Hi. For TP-Link UB400 it was stated on the Amazon that its operating range is 65ft. But yeah, it’s hardly a case. With Techkey, it’s 33ft on paper but while some adapters may lose the connection before your reach 33ft, Techkey is reported to provide what it states on the tin.
And Techkey recently released a BT 5.0 adapter so it may be worth trying https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085LB5Y8M/. While it states that it offers a better range than 4.0 and that “Signal transmission distance reaches 20 meters”, some users report that it’s still 10-12 meters.
The article points out that class 1 Bluetooth can have much greater range than class 2 (100m vs 30m), but the reviews don’t seem to include any. The “Startech Mini USB Bluetooth 4.0 Class 1” is one such class 1 device, although to achieve the products advertised 50m range, the other device it is paired with has also to be a class 1. Marketing material from the Bluetooth Special Interest Group reckons that real-world range for class 2 devices is 5–10 metres (16–33 ft) while real-world range for Class 1 is in most cases 20–30 metres (66–98 ft). (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluetooth#Uses)… Read more »
Yeah, I’m not at all impressed, no-one is making an all-in-one Bluetooth 5.0 or 5.1 USB Adapter that will work with both my mouse and my Sennheiser HD headphones, using APTX HD/LL Is that too much to ask in 2020?? If I get an audio Dongle, it does not work with my mouse, and if I was to get one that worked with my mouse, it would not have APTX HD/LL.
I have the CSR 4.0 on my desktop and it won’t read my headphones properly. My headphones are actually two devices in one. One device is audio headphones and the other is hands free headset which allows the mic to work. My laptop came with Bluetooth capability and reads both ways and let’s me choose which setting I wish to use. The CSR does not and only reads as hands free which is fine for phone calls but really lacks the sound I get on the plain headphones device setting. I would like to know why my laptop Bluetooth is… Read more »
Hi Tony,
Sorry for the late reply. It’s difficult to tell what causes this issue but Kinivo BTD-400 uses Broadcom chipset so you can give it a try. Also, Techkey BT 5.0 adapter uses a different chipset than CSR.