Top 10 Best external hard drives in 2026

Last Updated - 6/9/2026

🏆Best Choice

Seagate

Seagate Portable 2TB External Hard Drive HDD — USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PlayStation, & Xbox -1-Year Rescue Service (STGX2000400)

9.8

ChoiceComparer.com Score

9.8

/ 10

Outstanding

Main highlights

•Easily store and access 2TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive
•Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
•To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
•This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable

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$79.85

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SanDisk

SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable SSD - Up to 1050MB/s, USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2, IP65 Water and Dust Resistance, Updated Firmware - External Solid State Drive - SDSSDE61-2T00-G25

9.7

ChoiceComparer.com Score

9.7

/ 10

Outstanding

Main highlights

•Get NVMe solid state performance with up to 1050MB/s read and 1000MB/s write speeds in a portable, high-capacity drive(1) (Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending on host device & other factors. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes.)
•Up to 3-meter drop protection and IP65 water and dust resistance mean this tough drive can take a beating(3) (Previously rated for 2-meter drop protection and IP55 rating. Now qualified for the higher, stated specs.)
•Use the handy carabiner loop to secure it to your belt loop or backpack for extra peace of mind.
•Help keep private content private with the included password protection featuring 256‐bit AES hardware encryption.(3)
•Easily manage files and automatically free up space with the SanDisk Memory Zone app.(5). Non-Operating Temperature -20°C to 85°C

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$149.99

$209.99

-29%

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WD 5TB My Passport, Portable External Hard Drive, Black, backup software with defense against ransomware, and password protection, USB 3.1/USB 3.0 compatible - WDBPKJ0050BBK-WESN

9.5

ChoiceComparer.com Score

9.5

/ 10

Outstanding

Main highlights

•Slim durable design to help take your important files with you
•Vast capacities up to 6TB[1] to store your photos, videos, music, important documents and more
•Back up smarter with included device management software[2] with defense against ransomware
•Help secure your important files with password protection and hardware encryption
•3-year limited warranty

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$119.75

$139.99

-14%

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TOSHIBA

Toshiba Canvio Basics 2TB Portable External Hard Drive USB 3.0, Black - HDTB520XK3AA

9.4

ChoiceComparer.com Score

9.4

/ 10

Excellent

Main highlights

•Sleek profile design with a matte, smudge-resistance finish
•Plug & Play - Easy to use with no software to install
•Quickly add more storage capacity to your PC and other compatible devices
•USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 compatible with no external AC power cord needed
•Pre-formatted NTFS for Windows PC (reformatting required for Mac computers)

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$72.44

$77.99

-7%

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WD 2TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive for Windows, USB 3.2 Gen 1/USB 3.0 for PC & Mac, Plug and Play Ready - WDBU6Y0020BBK-WESN

9.2

ChoiceComparer.com Score

9.2

/ 10

Excellent

Main highlights

•High capacity in a small enclosure – The small, lightweight design offers up to 6TB* capacity, making WD Elements portable hard drives the ideal companion for consumers on the go.
•Plug-and-play expandability
•Vast capacities up to 6TB[1] to store your photos, videos, music, important documents and more
•SuperSpeed USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps)

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$69.99

$79.99

-13%

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Maxone

Maxone 500GB Ultra Slim Portable External Hard Drive HDD USB 3.0 Compatible with PC, Laptop, Charcoal Grey

9.1

ChoiceComparer.com Score

9.1

/ 10

Excellent

Main highlights

•Ultra Slim and Sturdy Metal Design: Merely 0.4 inch thick. All-Aluminum anti-scratch model delivers remarkable strength and durability, keeping this portable hard drive running cool and quiet.
•Compatibility: It is compatible with Microsoft Windows 7/8/10, and provides fast and stable performance for PC, Laptop.
•Improve PC Performance: Powered by USB 3.0 technology, this USB hard drive is much faster than - but still compatible with - USB 2.0 backup drive, allowing for super fast transfer speed at up to 5 Gbit/s.
•Plug and Play: This external drive is ready to use without external power supply or software installation needed. Ideal extra storage for your computer.
•What's Included: Portable external hard drive, 19-inch(48.26cm) USB 3.0 hard drive cable, user's manual, 3-Year manufacturer warranty with free technical support service.

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$28.99

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Aiolo Innovation

Aiolo Innovation 1TB External Hard Drive Ultra Slim Portable HDD-USB 3.0 USB-C for PC, Mac, Laptop, PS4, Xbox one,Xbox 360

8.9

ChoiceComparer.com Score

8.9

/ 10

Great

Main highlights

•Ultra fast data transfers: the external hard drive works with USB 3.0 thickened copper cable to provide super fast transfer speeds. Theoretical read speed is as high as 110MB/s-133MB/s and write speed is as high as 103MB/s.
•Ultra-thin and quiet: the motherboard adopts a noise-free solution, giving you a quiet working environment. Lightweight and portable size designed to fit in your pocket for easy portability.
•Compatibility: compatible with PS4/xbox one/Windows/Linux/Mac/Android,Stable and fast downloading on game console no difference from fast transmission when using on PC.
•Plug and Play: no software to install, just plug it in and the drive is ready to use. The hard drive chip is wrapped with aluminum anti-interference layer to increase heat dissipation and protect data
•Package Contents: 1* portable hard drive, 1 *USB 3.0 cable, 1*USB to type C adapter，1 *user manual, shell packaging, three-year manufacturer's warranty and free technical support services

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$47.88

$56.79

-16%

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YOTUO

YOTUO Portable External Hard Drive Storage Expansion Mobile HDD USB 3.0 USB-C for PC, Mac, Desktop, Laptop, PS4, PS5, Xbox One X/S, Xbox 360, Xbox Series X/S, Office & Game (Black, 1TB)

8.8

ChoiceComparer.com Score

8.8

/ 10

Great

Main highlights

•【Plug and play for home and office equipment】YOTUO HDD01 USB 3.0 external hard drive. Suitable for Windows XP/2003/Vista/7/8/10/11, Linux, Mac OS system. As well as laptops, desktop computers, PS4, PS5, XBOX 360, XBOX ONE, XBOX series X/S and other office equipment and gaming equipment. The product is plug-and-play when used in Windows. For Mac users, first format the drive and select the ExFat format.
•【The first time you use this product in your gaming device, you will need to install an external hard disk into your gaming device】XBOX Simply follow the steps prompted by the system pop-up window to use it in the device. PS5 may receive the message "This USB drive's file system is unsupported" when plugging in an external hard disk and may display an incorrect storage capacity. There is no need to worry. You can simply find "USB Storage Device" in the "Settings" screen, follow the steps prompted by the system to install the drive and format it, and it will be ready for use. PS4, please find "USB Storage Device" in "Device" interface in "Settings".
•【Gaming device manufacturer restrictions for different generations of games】Due to restrictions imposed by gaming device manufacturers, the PS5 can read and run PS4 games directly from an external hard drive, but cannot run PS5 games directly from an external hard drive; PS5 games on the external hard drive need to be moved to the device in order to run. Similarly, the Xbox X Series and Xbox S Series can only run Xbox One games directly from an external hard drive.
•【Patented silicone sleeve protects hard drive】 The patented silicone sleeve inside wraps around the hard disk. It protects the hard disk more effectively against shocks and drops.
•【About the discrepancy between the nominal capacity and the actual capacity】The actual capacity of the hard disk is not the same as the nominal capacity because the measurement method (binary) used by the hard disk manufacturer is different from the measurement method (decimal) used by the computer system. This is normal.
•【External hard drives including this product cannot transfer data between different brands of gaming devices or between gaming devices and office equipment】For example, PS4 and PS5 can transfer data and use each other, but cannot transfer data and use each other in XBOX and office equipment. For XBOX devices, selecting "Use for Media" after connecting an external hard disk allows you to transfer pictures and videos between office devices, but not for gaming. After use in gaming devices, you need to format the product or re-execute the hard disk partition according to the system before you can use it in office devices.
•【Slim and compact unique appearance】The product has a sleek and minimalist look with a combination of mirror and frosted textures. Weighing only 0.16 kilograms, it's easy to carry and takes up little space.
•【USB 3.0 SuperSpeed Transfer】 Utilizes an ultra-fast transfer USB 3.0 cable with transfer speeds of up to 5.0 Gbit/s.

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$53.99

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LaCie

LaCie Rugged Mini 2TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD - USB 3.0/ 2.0 Compatible, Drop Shock Dust Rain Resistant Shuttle Drive, For Mac And PC Computer (LAC9000298), orange

8.6

ChoiceComparer.com Score

8.6

/ 10

Good

Main highlights

•Shock, drops up to 4 feet, dust and water resistant for all-terrain use.Specific uses: Personal
•For Mac compatibility this Hard Drive requires reformatting. Refer to Application Guide for more details
•Password protection built in
•Uses USB 3.0 which is up to 4 times faster than USB 2.0 (USB 2.0 compatible)
•Includes 1-month complimentary membership to Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps Plan. Must redeem by January 31, 2020

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$89.99

$99.99

-10%

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TOSHIBA

Toshiba Canvio Advance 1TB Portable External Hard Drive USB 3.0, Green - HDTCA10XG3AA, Backup 2.0

8.5

ChoiceComparer.com Score

8.5

/ 10

Good

Main highlights

•Compact design with stylish, textured finish and color options to fit your lifestyle.
•Automatic backup software to easily back up your content (free download, for Windows PC only).
•Password protection software to help prevent unauthorized access to your data (free download, for Windows PC only).
•USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 compatible.

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$59.98

$68.99

-13%

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With our cutting-edge technology, we examine thousands of products and retailers, assessing reviews, ratings, trends, and sales rankings to identify what matters most to users like you.

Our team evaluates this data alongside genuine user feedback, merging AI analysis with human insights to provide you with real-time, highly-rated recommendations that empower your decision-making with clarity and confidence.