Best Serial Adapters of 2026
* We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.
Serial adapters are essential tools for connecting devices that use serial communication to modern computers. They allow for the conversion of serial signals into USB signals, enabling the use of legacy devices with new hardware. Serial adapters can also be used to extend the length of serial cables, making them ideal for industrial and commercial applications. With a wide range of compatibility and functionality options, serial adapters are a versatile and reliable solution for businesses and individuals needing to connect serial devices to modern computers.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 Serial Adapters
BENFEI USB to RS-232 Serial Adapter
The BENFEI USB Serial Adapter allows you to connect various serial devices such as modems, barcode scanners, and digital cameras to your computer via a USB port. With a data transfer rate of 1Mbps, it ensures quick communication between your devices. The adapter features a standard USB Type A Male connector to a 9-pin DB9 RS-232 serial connector, making it versatile for different applications. Additionally, the tinned copper conductor and triple shielding provide optimal data transfer performance, making it a reliable choice for your connectivity needs.
OIKWAN USB to RS232 Serial Adapter Cable
The OIKWAN USB Serial Adapter is a versatile tool that connects various serial devices to your computer. It supports multiple operating systems, including Windows, Mac, and Linux, making it easy for you to use with different devices. With its high-quality FTDI chipset, you can expect reliable and fast data transfer rates of up to 1Mbps. The plug-and-play feature simplifies installation, allowing you to start using it right away without any external power supply. Its durable design ensures longevity, making it a handy addition to your tech collection.
StarTech.com 1-Port USB to RS232 Adapter Cable
The StarTech.com USB to RS232 Adapter is designed for maximised portability, allowing you to convert a USB port into an RS232 DB9 serial port. This is particularly useful for connecting, monitoring, and controlling serial devices. With broad compatibility, you can easily use it with your USB 1.0 or 2.0 ports on Windows, Mac, or Linux systems. Experience fast transfer speeds with a Baud Rate of up to 921.6Kbps, ensuring efficient data transfer. Its lightweight design fits conveniently into your carrying case, making it ideal for professionals who are always on the move.
StarTech.com USB to RS232 Serial Adapter Cable
The StarTech.com RS232 Adapter provides a reliable way to connect legacy serial devices to your computer via USB. With broad compatibility, you can easily integrate it with various operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and Mac OS. The COM retention feature ensures that your assigned serial COM port values are saved, making reconnection hassle-free. Its versatile functionality allows you to monitor and control industrial sensors and even digital signage boards, enhancing your connectivity options.
SABRENT USB to Serial DB9 Adapter 0.85m
The SABRENT USB Serial Adapter is designed to connect various serial devices to your computer effortlessly. With its USB to RS232 functionality, you can link devices like modems, cameras, and routers, providing a convenient solution for older technology. The Prolific chipset ensures wide compatibility with numerous operating systems, making it versatile for different users. Its triple-shielding design protects against interference, enhancing data transfer rates for reliable communication. Plus, the easy plug-and-play feature means you can set it up quickly without any hassle.
DriverGenius USB232A-B-C Serial Adapter Cable
The DriverGenius USB232A-B-C is a versatile USB-C to RS232 serial adapter cable, ideal for connecting legacy devices to modern systems. With its three status monitoring LEDs, you can easily track data transmission and power status, enhancing your workflow. The 3ft cable length provides flexibility, while the wide compatibility with various devices, such as barcode scanners and medical equipment, ensures it meets your professional needs. This adapter is particularly useful for IT applications in industrial control, logistics, and laboratories.
PENGLIN DB9 Male to Female Serial Breakout Board
The PENGLIN DB9 Breakout Board combines a male and female DB9 connector in one handy device, allowing you to easily convert between the two types for serial connections. Its durable construction features a copper base with gold-plated joints on a thickened FR-4 fibre glass PCB, ensuring reliable contact and resistance to oxidation for long-lasting use. This board is versatile, supporting a wide range of serial devices like industrial equipment, cash registers, and modems. Plus, the terminal block design means you can connect wires without soldering, saving you time and effort when testing or setting up RS232 interfaces.
DriverGenius USB232A-E-A Serial Adapter for PLC and Robotics
The DriverGenius USB232A-E-A Adapter is ideal for both beginners and experts involved in PLC programming, robot control, data acquisition, and embedded systems. With convenient status monitoring LEDs, you can easily track the connection's activity, simplifying troubleshooting and ensuring seamless data transmission. Its efficient serial specifications guarantee stable performance, even in noisy environments. This product is versatile, supporting various IT applications, making it perfect for users looking to connect legacy hardware with contemporary systems.
OIKWAN USB-C to Serial Adapter Cable
The OIKWAN Serial Adapter is designed for seamless data transfer between your PC or laptop with a USB Type-C port and RS-232 devices. Its USB-C transfer rate of up to 1Mbps ensures efficient communication, making it ideal for various industrial applications. You will appreciate the plug-and-play functionality, requiring no external power source or complicated setup. With the FTDI-FT232RL chipset, this adapter guarantees compatibility with multiple operating systems, including Windows and Mac, allowing you to connect easily and reliably.
StarTech 6ft USB to Serial Adapter
The StarTech USB to Serial Adapter offers excellent portability with its single cable design, eliminating the need for extra adapters and cables. You can easily convert your USB port into a null modem RS232 DB9 serial port, effectively resolving DTE/DCE conflicts. Its broad compatibility means it works seamlessly with USB 1.0 or 2.0 ports across Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Additionally, you will appreciate the fast transfer speeds, supporting up to 921.6 Kbps, ensuring efficient data transfer for your devices.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are serial adapters?
A device that adds a serial port to a computer. It plugs into the USB port and contains one or more serial port sockets.
2. What is a USB to serial port adapter?
A USB to serial adapter, also referred to as a USB serial converter or RS232 adapter is a small electronic device which can convert a USB signal to serial RS232 data signals. RS232 is the type of signal which is in many older PCs and is referred to as a serial COM port.
3. How do USB serial adapters work?
As a simplified example a typical standard USB to serial adapter consists of a USB processor chip which processes the USB signals. The USB processor sends the processed USB signals to a serial driver chip which applies the correct voltages and sends the processed data signals to the serial output.
4. Do USB to serial adapters need drivers?
The devices for some USB-to-Serial cables aren't installed by default on 64-bit operating systems. These cables use unsigned device drivers and must be installed manually.
During our serial adapter research, we found 137 serial adapter products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 83,822 customer reviews through our big data system to write the serial adapters list. We found that most customers choose serial adapters with an average price of £16.52.
The serial adapters are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of serial adapters, including BENFEI, OIKWAN, StarTech, SABRENT, DriverGenius.
Kenneth Collin graduated from Imperial College, London, at 22. He is a UX/UI designer, a web developer, and a writer, amongst others. At age 14, Kenneth programmed his first app. Kenneth's app served as a remote control for censored devices. "When I was 8, I would pick up scraps from electronics and try to rebuild or at least fix them," Kenneth said in one of his recent articles on Home repairs for top gadgets.