| Feature | Z-Tek (PL2303) | FTDI FT232R | CH340G | |---------|----------------|-------------|--------| | Price | $6 | $18–25 | $4 | | Win 11 driver | Problematic (blocked clones) | Native | Stable | | macOS support | Mediocre | Excellent | Good | | Linux | Good (kernel) | Excellent | Good | | Build quality | Poor | Good | Average |
Many users mistakenly believe that all USB-to-serial cables use the same driver. This is false. Using the wrong driver can lead to: z-tek usb to serial comm port driver