Best External Hard Drives and SSDs
Whether you need lightning-fast speeds for 4K video editing or massive, cheap storage for your family photo archive, we've broken down the top external storage options by category.
Choosing the right external drive comes down to balancing three factors: speed, capacity, and price. While blazing-fast portable SSDs have come down significantly in price, traditional spinning hard drives (HDDs) still rule when you need to store terabytes of data on a budget.
Category Winners
Quick Comparison
| Model | Category | Speed | Interface | Encryption | Price/TB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung T9 | Portable SSD | 2000 MB/s | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 | AES 256-bit | $95 - $110 |
| WD My Passport SSD | Portable SSD | 1050 MB/s | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 | AES 256-bit | $80 - $90 |
| SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD | Portable SSD | 1050 MB/s | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 | AES 256-bit | $85 - $100 |
| WD Elements Portable | Portable HDD | ~130 MB/s | USB 3.0 | None | $25 - $30 |
| Seagate Backup Plus Portable | Portable HDD | ~120 MB/s | USB 3.0 | None | $26 - $32 |
| Toshiba Canvio Advance | Portable HDD | ~130 MB/s | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | Password protection | $28 - $35 |
| WD My Book | Desktop HDD | ~180 MB/s | USB 3.0 | AES 256-bit | $18 - $25 |
| Seagate Expansion Desktop | Desktop HDD | ~160 MB/s | USB 3.0 | None | $17 - $23 |
| Synology DiskStation DS224+ | list | Network Dependent | Gigabit Ethernet | Software based | Varies (Drive cost + $300 NAS) |
SSD vs HDD: How to Choose
Before diving into specific models, it's crucial to understand the three main types of external storage available today:
Portable SSD (Solid State Drive)
Uses flash memory with no moving parts. They are incredibly fast (up to 2000 MB/s), tiny, drop-resistant, and silent. Best for: Video editing, fast file transfers, running apps/games, and traveling.
Portable HDD (Hard Disk Drive)
Uses spinning magnetic platters. They are slower (~130 MB/s), larger, and fragile (drops can break them), but offer massive storage for very little money. Best for: Cheap backups, storing large media libraries, archives.
Desktop HDD
Larger 3.5-inch spinning drives that require being plugged into a wall outlet for power. They offer the largest possible capacities (up to 22TB+) at the lowest cost per TB. Best for: Home servers, massive media archives, full system backups.
Detailed Reviews
Samsung T9
Best Portable SSDThe Samsung T9 is currently the king of portable SSDs, offering blistering fast read and write speeds, a rugged rubberized exterior, and excellent thermal management.
Pros
- Incredibly fast speeds
- Durable, non-slip rubber exterior
- Hardware encryption
Cons
- Requires USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 for max speed
- Premium price
WD My Passport SSD
Best Value SSDOffering a sweet spot between price and performance, the WD My Passport SSD provides very fast speeds in a stylish, compact metal design.
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- Compact and sleek design
- Hardware encryption
Cons
- Gets warm under heavy load
- Included cable is short
SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD
Best for OutdoorsBuilt for adventurers and on-the-go photographers, the SanDisk Extreme features an IP65 rating for water and dust resistance, plus a handy carabiner loop.
Pros
- Rugged, IP65-rated design
- Handy carabiner loop
- Consistently fast speeds
Cons
- Slightly larger than some competitors
- Rubber attracts lint
WD Elements Portable
Best Budget HDDIf you need cheap, basic storage for backups and files where speed isn't a priority, the WD Elements is a reliable and highly affordable classic.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Plug-and-play simplicity
- Compact for a hard drive
Cons
- Slow HDD speeds
- No hardware encryption
Seagate Backup Plus Portable
Best Backup SoftwareSimilar in performance to the WD Elements, but comes with excellent, easy-to-use backup software right out of the box.
Pros
- Great included backup software
- Sleek metal finish options
- Affordable
Cons
- Slow transfer speeds
- Requires formatting for Mac out of the box
Toshiba Canvio Advance
Best Colorful HDDA stylish alternative in the portable HDD space, offering textured finishes in various colors, along with basic backup and security software.
Pros
- Textured, colorful designs
- Included backup/security software
- Reliable performance
Cons
- Software is basic
- Standard slow HDD speeds
WD My Book
Best High CapacityWhen you need massive amounts of storage for a home office or media library, the WD My Book offers massive capacities up to 22TB.
Pros
- Massive storage capacities
- Hardware encryption
- Included backup software
Cons
- Requires external power supply
- Bulky desktop design
Seagate Expansion Desktop
Best Basic DesktopA no-frills, high-capacity desktop drive perfect for simple drag-and-drop storage or expanding console storage.
Pros
- Very low cost per TB
- Simple plug-and-play setup
- Quiet operation
Cons
- No included backup software
- No encryption
- Requires external power
Synology DiskStation DS224+
Best Starter NASFor those ready to move beyond USB drives, this 2-bay NAS offers your own personal cloud, automatic backups for all devices, and media streaming.
Pros
- Access files from anywhere
- Excellent Synology DSM software
- Redundancy (RAID support)
Cons
- Expensive upfront cost
- Requires separate hard drive purchase
- Setup learning curve
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an SSD or an HDD?
If you need speed (for editing photos/video or running games) or portability (traveling, working in cafes), get an SSD. If you just need a cheap place to dump terabytes of family photos, movies, or full computer backups, an HDD is much more cost-effective.
What does USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 mean?
It's a USB naming convention that indicates the maximum theoretical speed of the port. Gen 2x2 offers up to 20Gbps (around 2000 MB/s). To get these speeds, both your computer's port and the external drive must support it; otherwise, it will fall back to slower speeds.
Will these drives work on both Mac and Windows?
Most drives come formatted for either Windows (NTFS) or Mac (APFS/HFS+), or sometimes exFAT for both. You can easily reformat any drive to work with your operating system of choice using built-in disk utility tools.
Is hardware encryption worth it?
Yes, especially for portable drives. If you lose a portable drive, hardware encryption (like AES 256-bit) ensures your personal or business data cannot be accessed by whoever finds it. It requires a password to unlock every time it's plugged in.
What is a NAS?
NAS stands for Network Attached Storage. Instead of plugging into your computer via USB, it plugs into your router. This allows every computer, phone, and tablet on your Wi-Fi to access the storage simultaneously, effectively creating your own personal cloud.