Sometimes the base storage on your devices just won’t cut it. Sure, it’s possible to tinker around inside the best PCs, laptops, and gaming devices to add additional space, but it’s not always worth the hassle. Or, maybe you just want to back up all of your precious files for peace of mind? An external hard drive is the simplest solution. These handy drives come in a variety of sizes, capacities, styles, and speeds. Whether you’re looking for a portable option to play games directly off the drive or just want something basic to backup a collection of photos stored in the cloud, we’ve got you covered.
TL;DR – These are the Best External Hard Drives:
External hard drives are easy to use, as they often just plug right into your device's USB port. From there, you can enjoy a boatload of additional storage. If you opt for an external SSD, these drives can sometimes match the speed of your computer's own internal storage, meaning loading apps, running games, and file transfers will be surprisingly quick. Other external hard drives take security to the next level for safely housing important documents with 256-bit AES encryption — and one even has a num pad lock. And that’s just scratching the surface of what’s available.
Take a look below at our favorite external hard drives. From compact external SSDs designed with gaming consoles in mind to massive, high-capacity drives ready to hold years of files, we’ve found something to suit your needs.
1. Samsung T9 Portable SSD
Best External Hard Drive
Product Specifications
Capacity
2TB
Interface
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2
Max Transfer Speed
2,000MB/s
Weight
0.27 pounds
Size
3.5" x 2.4" x 0.6"
PROS
Portable and stylish
Up to 4TB
CONS
Expensive
Samsung checks off just about every box with the T9 Portable SSD. If you’re looking for storage, you get up to a massive 4TB. That’s plenty of space for all your files, videos, and games. Its speed can’t be beat when you use the USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 interface. That's why it's one of the top external USB-C drives, hitting read and write speeds of up to 2,000MB/s for quick loads, transfers, and saves. Sure, that’s still not as fast as some internal SSDs, but it blows hard drives out of the water. And if your device doesn’t support that interface, you can still get 1,000MB/s speed via a USB 3.2 Gen 2 connection.
“Portable” is in this drive’s name, so you know portability is a big perk. It’s just over half an inch thick and weighs around a quarter pound while sporting a rubberized shell that's easy to grip and protects the drive from drops up to 9.8 feet. There’s even a special thermal guard to prevent overheating. And if you're worried about the safety of your data, there is built-in 256-bit AES hardware encryption and Samsung Magician Software to ensure important files won't get lost.
2. Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox 1TB SSD
Best Xbox Series X/S External Hard Drive
Product Specifications
Capacity
1TB
Interface
Xbox Storage Expansion Port
Max Transfer Speed
2,400MB/s
Weight
0.15 pounds
Size
Not listed
PROS
Suitable for Xbox Series X
Fast data transfers
CONS
Only for Xbox
Yes, you can plug any old USB-based external hard drive into your Xbox Series X/S, but those only let you store games from previous Xbox generations. The latest games require faster storage, and the only option for that is the Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X/S. You get plenty fast data transfer speeds at 2,400MB/s, making it easy to get back to your game in no time. It's the best SSD for Xbox for a reason.
This Seagate drive doesn't use USB or suffer from its limited bandwidth. Instead, it gets a direct PCI Express connection with the Xbox, which gives it bandwidth that can match the Xbox Series X/S's own internal storage. Don't worry, you won't be sacrificing graphics, latency, load times, or framerates when using it. Best of all is the fact that it adds 1TB of extra storage to the console. Sure, it might come at a high price, but it'll effectively double your Xbox Series X storage or almost triple your Xbox Series S storage. Plus, it's the most compact drive on this list by far.
3. WD_Black P40 Game Drive
Best PS5 External Hard Drive
Product Specifications
Capacity
1TB
Interface
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2
Max Transfer Speed
2,000MB/s
Weight
0.17 pounds
Size
4.21" x 2" x 0.51"
PROS
Durable
Works with PS5, PC, and Xbox
CONS
Can't play PS5 games
To add more storage to your PlayStation 5, using the console's additional M.2 slot for an internal SSD is the best option. But if you're still on the hunt for more space, transferring some PS5 games along with your backward-compatible PS4 games to an external drive is a great option. While you won't be able to play PS5 games stored on your external HDD, you can at least save yourself the trouble of redownloading 100GB of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare all over again.
The best external drive for your PS5 is the WD_Black P40 Game Drive, a slightly more durable and compact version of our previous favorite, the WD_Black P50 Game Drive. You get 1TB of storage to house a sizeable gaming library with blistering 2,000MB/s read speeds, as it's actually an external SSD rather than a traditional hard drive. With a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 connection, you'll be able to use the drive's speeds to full capacity for quickly transferring your PS5 library between the internal and external storage. If you’re a new console owner setting up your PS5, this drive will help speed up transferring data from the PS4 to PS5. And it isn’t exclusively for PlayStation, so the drive will work great with your gaming PC or Xbox. There’s even some customizable RGB lighting to amp up the gamer aesthetic.
4. Crucial X10
Best External Hard Drive for Gaming
Product Specifications
Capacity
Up to 8TB
Interface
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2
Max Transfer Speed
2,100 MB/s
Weight
0.1 pounds
Size
2.56" x 1.97" x 0.39"
PROS
Peak read speeds of 2,100MB/s
Wide variety of capacity options including 8TB
CONS
Can't play PS5 or Xbox Series X|S games on the drive
Similar to most external SSDs, you can’t play the latest generation of console games on the Crucial X10, but it’s still a speedy drive with the option to have a boatload of storage—up to 8TB. Even if PS5 and Xbox Series games can’t be played directly on it, you’ll still save yourself the time and trouble of having to install the massive 150GB Baldur’s Gate 3 and other huge AAA titles every time you want to play. Instead, it quickly transfers the title back over to the console’s internal storage to play, eliminating worry about your internet bandwidth or data caps that come with always re-downloading. Plus, most backward compatible games from PS4 and Xbox One will be playable on the drive along with PC games.
In fact, games will feel just like you’re playing on internal storage, thanks to peak 2,100 MB/s read and 2,000 MB/s write speeds. Of course, the drive won’t consistently hit those top rates, but high speeds are still maintained with very minimal thermal throttling for consistent performance. Just note that your PC will need a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 port to enjoy the best performance from the Crucial X10. Otherwise, you won’t be able to take full advantage of its capabilities.
Even with all the performance prowess and storage space baked into the Crucial X10, it remains super lightweight and compact, making it easy to toss in a pocket to bring along on trips or to a friend’s house. Durability isn’t an afterthought either, so Crucial armed the drive with an aluminum shell and an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance. Keeping files safe is also a priority, so the drive comes with a 5-year warranty and offers AES‑256 hardware encryption.
5. LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt 2TB
Best Rugged External Hard Drive
Product Specifications
Capacity
2TB
Interface
USB-C 3.1 (Thunderbolt)
Max Transfer Speed
130MB/s
Weight
0.88 pounds
Size
0.98" x 3.50" x 5.52"
PROS
Tough and durable
IP54 rated
CONS
Clunky design
If you’re hauling your external drive around "in the wild," hackers and thieves aren’t all you need to worry about. There’s also the age-old problem of just straight up having butterfingers and watching your device packed with precious data turn into a broken brick. Thankfully, there are tough external drives like the LaCie Rugged. Built to withstand falls of over five feet, the bright orange removable cover is also IP54-level resistant to dust and water. Now, don't go throwing this drive in a lake anytime soon, but it should hold up against some rain.
Under its tough exterior, the LaCie Rugged manages decent transfer speeds via Thunderbolt or USB 3.0 connections. Therefore, you should be good to use this drive with any computer on the market. The Thunderbolt cable is even designed to tuck neatly into the perimeter of the casing, so you don't have to worry about losing it. And, with a 2TB storage capacity, you have ample space for all your important files.
6. Western Digital 16TB My Book Duo
Best High-Capacity External Hard Drive
Product Specifications
Capacity
16TB (8TB x 2)
Interface
USB 3.1 Gen 1
Max Transfer Speed
360MB/s
Weight
5.2 pounds
Size
7.09" x 3.94" x 6.30"
PROS
Up to 4TB of storage available
Best for backups
CONS
Heavy, so not very portable
Not all external drives are portable, and if you're looking to backup your desktop computer, there are some cavernous options. One of the biggest—and best—hard drives is Western Digital’s My Book Duo. With two 8TB HDDs, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a higher-capacity storage option (other than, you know, the bonkers 24TB version). It does weigh over 5 pounds, so you won't be toting this drive around in your bag like most of the others on our list.
The Western Digital My Book Duo's two high-capacity HDDs can be set up in a RAID 1 array, so you can get a huge backup of your huge backup. It's even possible to set up WD’s automatic backup software on your computer and forget worrying over whether your data is backed up or not. And, it uses a USB 3.1 Gen 1 interface, so it can easily handle the 360MB/s read speeds. For more peace of mind, a 256-bit AES hardware encryption with password protection is on board for added security.
7. Crucial X9 Pro for Mac
Best External Hard Drive for MacBooks
Product Specifications
Capacity
Up to 4TB
Interface
USB 3.2 Gen 2
Max Transfer Speed
1,050MB/s
Weight
0.1 pounds
Size
2.56" x 1.97" x 0.39"
PROS
Optimized for Apple’s file system (APFS)
Durable, compact design
CONS
Requires reformatting to work with Windows
Creatives looking to do some editing or design work on MacBooks will find the base storage doesn’t cut it. Now, if you want to throw down some serious dough, you can splurge on a MacBook with tons of storage — all new Macs’ internal SSDs are soldered and not upgradable, but that’s not ideal either. That’s where an external SSD, like the Crucial X9 Pro for Mac, can come in handy. It’s the easiest and most cost-effective way to increase the space on your MacBook without major performance compromises.
The Crucial X9 Pro for Mac is designed specifically for Apple products and optimized for Apple’s file system (APFS), making for an essentially plug-and-play drive right out of the box. It works seamlessly with Apple Time Machine for system backups along with other applications that hog space on devices, like Final Cut and the Adobe Creative Suite. Speed won’t be a concern with the X9 Pro, as it hits up to 1,050MB/s read and write speeds for a feel similar to a MacBook, iPad, or iPhone’s internal storage.
With up to 4TB of extra storage for under $300, the Crucial X9 Pro is a roomy drive, providing impressive value. But even with a high capacity, the drive keeps things ultra compact and light—ideal for taking on the go. It comes with a durable aluminum body and an IP55 rating for a good amount of resistance against dust and water splashes. Adding to its portability is a tiny little hole in the corner to put a lanyard or key ring through.
8. iStorage diskAshur 2TB
Best Encrypted External Hard Drive
Product Specifications
Capacity
2TB
Interface
USB 3.1 Gen 1
Max Transfer Speed
160MB/s
Weight
0.48 pounds
Size
0.75" x 4.88" x 3.31"
PROS
256-bit AES encryption
Physical numpad
CONS
Overkill for some
Some data is so precious you can’t trust just any old external drive to handle the job. Behold, the iStorage diskAshur, which features 256-bit AES encryption and a physical numpad. So, not only do you get military-grade encryption, but you can lock your data behind a 7-to-15-digit pin that you physically punch in on the device's face. It’s even possible to set up the diskAshur to destroy all of its data if someone tries to crack their way in—how 007. But in all seriousness, government organizations use these iStorage drives for a reason, and if you’re serious about security, so should you.
Not only is the diskAshur secure, but also durable. It carries an IP56 rating, so it can handle an accidental spill without the worry of your priceless data being lost. The keys are even designed to resist showing signs of usage that might otherwise help someone guess the numbers in your pin. Somehow, the hard drive still manages a compact size and neatly built-in USB cable. And, with a 2TB capacity plus 160MB/s read speeds and 143MB/s write speeds, you can store a good chunk of your data quickly and safely behind the military-grade security of this device.
9. Sabrent Dual Bay External Hard Drive Docking Station
Best External Hard Drive Dock
Product Specifications
Capacity
20TB
Interface
USB 3.0
Max Transfer Speed
5Gb/s
Weight
1.19 pounds
Size
6.26" x 3.94" x 2.72"
PROS
Docks a pair of drives
5Gb/s transfer speeds
CONS
Not a physical hard drive
If you want to have external storage but already have your own drives, the Sabrent Dual Bay External Hard Drive Docking Station can help you out. This SATA-based dock lets you plug in a pair of drives, and they don’t need to be identical. You can plug in 3.5-inch hard drives, 2.5-inch SSDs, or one of each. The bay supports up to two 10TB drives, so you can really build out your external storage.
Sabrent’s docking station uses USB 3.0 to support up to 5Gb/s transfer speeds, letting you quickly access files you have stored on your external drives. Most hard drives don't even offer that type of speed. If you want to secure your data, the docking station also provides a convenient way of backing up your drives. Simply connecting one drive to slot A and a second drive to slot B will set you up to use the docking station’s Offline Cloning feature to copy the first drive’s content onto the second drive.
What to Look for in an External Hard Drive
Buying an external hard drive might seem like a simple matter of finding the capacity you want at the lowest price possible, but that's a sure-fire way of getting a lemon and losing your data forever.
If you're already in the market for a portable HDD over an external solid-state drive, you're probably more interested in capacity than speed. Definitely don't expect to get wickedly fast data transfer speeds out of these drives, but some are starting to get up there in speed. However, external SSDs are amping up their capacity, making them perfect for those looking to quickly access an entire gaming library.
Although they might spin at the same 5,400 to 7,200 RPM (revolutions per minute) as the desktop drives in your PC, the USB 3.0 bus limits transfer speeds to about 100 or 200MB/s. Comparatively, the fastest Thunderbolt-enabled or PCI Express-connected external SSDs hit speeds up to 6,000MB/s.
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External Hard Drive FAQ
What’s the difference between external and portable hard drives?
Portable hard drives are external hard drives, but they are much more lightweight and smaller in size, hence their portability. External hard drives, on the other hand, often need to be connected to a power source and USB connection to your laptop, PC, or game console.
While external hard drives are technically portable in nature, they are less portable in terms of their size and weight.
Is an external hard drive or an external SSD better?
While an SSD is far superior to hard drives when it comes to reading and writing speed for fast data transfers, a hard drive can be substantially cheaper, costing far less per gigabyte. SSDs also tend to be more durable, compact, and less power hungry, as they lack the spinning disks used in hard drives.
Still, there’s a case to be made for hard drives, especially if you’re just looking for a cheap way to store a large amount of documents. It's easy to archive lots of data on a hard drive for safekeeping, which you can occasionally access. However, if you're looking to regularly transfer files, play games directly from the drive, and run apps, a speedier SSD is the way to go.
What type of connectivity should my external hard drive offer?
It all depends on what you’re going to connect the hard drive to, but for the most part, a USB connection is standard for external drives. You’ll want to have at a minimum a USB 3.0 for decent transfer speeds. Both USB-A and USB-C Type cables can be used with this USB standard, and even if your drive doesn’t offer the correct connection to your device, it’s easy to find the proper cable.
External SSDs will require faster speeds, so look for a USB 3.2 (Gen 2) or higher. Some speedier external SSDs may even offer the fast and capable Thunderbolt connectivity, so you’ll want to ensure that your connected device also supports Thunderbolt to take full advantage. All Thunderbolt and USB 3.2 drives use a USB-C Type connector. However, not all USB-C ports support Thunderbolt.
Kevin Lee is IGN's Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam.
Danielle Abraham is a freelance writer and unpaid music historian.