Best External Hard Drives Updated December 2024

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Best External Hard Drives
2024 Buyer's GuideUpdated December 2024
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9.7

1

9.7

SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable SSD - Up to 1050MB/s, USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2, IP65 Water and Dust Resistance, Updated Firmware - Ext...
Type: Portable external SSD
Storage Capacity: 500GB, 1, 2, & 4TB
Transfer Rate: Up to 1050 MB/s
Hardware Interface: USB-C 3.2
Compatibility: Windows, Mac
Compare
Picked by 211 people today!
Picked by 211 people today!

9.7

1
SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable SSD - Up to 1050MB/s, USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2, IP65 Water and Dust Resistance, Updated Firmware - Ext...
Type: Portable external SSD
Storage Capacity: 500GB, 1, 2, & 4TB
Transfer Rate: Up to 1050 MB/s
Hardware Interface: USB-C 3.2
Compatibility: Windows, Mac

9.5

2

9.5

Seagate Portable 5TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PS4, & Xbox - 1-Year Rescue Service (STGX5000400), Black
Type: Portable external HDD
Storage Capacity: 1, 2, 4, & 5TB
Transfer Rate: 120 MB/s
Hardware Interface: USB 3.0 & 2.0
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, PlayStation, Xbox
Compare
Compare

9.5

2
Seagate Portable 5TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PS4, & Xbox - 1-Year Rescue Service (STGX5000400), Black
Type: Portable external HDD
Storage Capacity: 1, 2, 4, & 5TB
Transfer Rate: 120 MB/s
Hardware Interface: USB 3.0 & 2.0
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, PlayStation, Xbox

9.3

3

9.3

Seagate Expansion Desktop 14TB, External Hard Drive, USB 3.0, 2 Year Rescue Services (STKP14000400)
Type: Eternal HDD
Storage Capacity: 14 & 18TB
Transfer Rate: 480 MB/s
Hardware Interface: USB 3.0
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

9.3

3
Seagate Expansion Desktop 14TB, External Hard Drive, USB 3.0, 2 Year Rescue Services (STKP14000400)
Type: Eternal HDD
Storage Capacity: 14 & 18TB
Transfer Rate: 480 MB/s
Hardware Interface: USB 3.0
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux

9.2

4

9.2

WD 6TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive for Windows, USB 3.2 Gen 1/USB 3.0 for PC & Mac, Plug and Play Ready - WDBHJS0060B...
Type: Portable external SSD
Storage Capacity: 1, 2, 4, 5, & 6TB
Transfer Rate: Up to 5000 MB/s
Hardware Interface: USB 3.0
Compatibility: Windows, Mac (with reformat)
Compare
Compare

9.2

4
WD 6TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive for Windows, USB 3.2 Gen 1/USB 3.0 for PC & Mac, Plug and Play Ready - WDBHJS0060B...
Type: Portable external SSD
Storage Capacity: 1, 2, 4, 5, & 6TB
Transfer Rate: Up to 5000 MB/s
Hardware Interface: USB 3.0
Compatibility: Windows, Mac (with reformat)

9.1

5

9.1

Western Digital 8TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 external hard drive for plug-and-play storage - Western Digit...
Type: External HDD
Storage Capacity: 4TB - 20TB
Transfer Rate: 168 MB/s
Hardware Interface: USB 3.0 & 2.0
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, PS4, Xbox
Compare
Compare

9.1

5
Western Digital 8TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 external hard drive for plug-and-play storage - Western Digit...
Type: External HDD
Storage Capacity: 4TB - 20TB
Transfer Rate: 168 MB/s
Hardware Interface: USB 3.0 & 2.0
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, PS4, Xbox

9.0

6

9.0

Toshiba Canvio Basics 2TB Portable External Hard Drive USB 3.0, Black - HDTB520XK3AA
Type: Portable external HDD
Storage Capacity: 1, 2, & 4TB
Transfer Rate: 5 GB/s
Hardware Interface: USB 3.0 & 2.0
Compatibility: Windows, Mac
Compare
Compare

9.0

6
Toshiba Canvio Basics 2TB Portable External Hard Drive USB 3.0, Black - HDTB520XK3AA
Type: Portable external HDD
Storage Capacity: 1, 2, & 4TB
Transfer Rate: 5 GB/s
Hardware Interface: USB 3.0 & 2.0
Compatibility: Windows, Mac

8.8

7

8.8

Seagate Portable 4TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, Xbox, & PlayStation - 1-Year Rescue Service (STGX4000400)
Type: Portable external HDD
Storage Capacity: 1, 2, 4, & 5TB
Transfer Rate: 120 MB/s
Hardware Interface: USB 3.0
Compatibility: Windows, Mac

8.8

7
Seagate Portable 4TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, Xbox, & PlayStation - 1-Year Rescue Service (STGX4000400)
Type: Portable external HDD
Storage Capacity: 1, 2, 4, & 5TB
Transfer Rate: 120 MB/s
Hardware Interface: USB 3.0
Compatibility: Windows, Mac

8.7

8

8.7

WD 2TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive for Windows, USB 3.2 Gen 1/USB 3.0 for PC & Mac, Plug and Play Ready - WDBU6Y0020B...
Type: Portable external HDD
Storage Capacity: 1, 2, 4, & 5TB
Transfer Rate: 5 GB/s
Hardware Interface: USB 3.0 & 2.0
Compatibility: Windows, Mac
Compare
Compare

8.7

8
WD 2TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive for Windows, USB 3.2 Gen 1/USB 3.0 for PC & Mac, Plug and Play Ready - WDBU6Y0020B...
Type: Portable external HDD
Storage Capacity: 1, 2, 4, & 5TB
Transfer Rate: 5 GB/s
Hardware Interface: USB 3.0 & 2.0
Compatibility: Windows, Mac

8.5

9

8.5

WD 2TB My Passport, Portable External Hard Drive, Black, backup software with defense against ransomware, and password protecti...
Type: Portable external HDD
Storage Capacity: 1, 2, 4, & 5TB
Transfer Rate: 625 MB/s
Hardware Interface: USB 3.0 & 2.0
Compatibility: Windows, Mac (with reformat)
Compare
Compare

8.5

9
WD 2TB My Passport, Portable External Hard Drive, Black, backup software with defense against ransomware, and password protecti...
Type: Portable external HDD
Storage Capacity: 1, 2, 4, & 5TB
Transfer Rate: 625 MB/s
Hardware Interface: USB 3.0 & 2.0
Compatibility: Windows, Mac (with reformat)

8.3

10

8.3

WD 5TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive for Windows, USB 3.2 Gen 1/USB 3.0 for PC & Mac, Plug and Play Ready - WDBU6Y0050B...
Type: Portable external HDD
Storage Capacity: 1, 2, 4, & 5TB
Transfer Rate: 95 MB/s
Hardware Interface: USB 3.0 & 2.0
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, PS4, Xbox
Compare
Compare

8.3

10
WD 5TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive for Windows, USB 3.2 Gen 1/USB 3.0 for PC & Mac, Plug and Play Ready - WDBU6Y0050B...
Type: Portable external HDD
Storage Capacity: 1, 2, 4, & 5TB
Transfer Rate: 95 MB/s
Hardware Interface: USB 3.0 & 2.0
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, PS4, Xbox
We also considered 10 others:

Our Top Choice

9.7

1

9.7

SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable SSD - Up to 1050MB/s, USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2, IP65 Water and Dust Resistance, Updated Firmware - Ext...
Type: Portable external SSD
Storage Capacity: 500GB, 1, 2, & 4TB
Transfer Rate: Up to 1050 MB/s
Hardware Interface: USB-C 3.2
Compatibility: Windows, Mac
Compare
Picked by 211 people today!
Picked by 211 people today!

9.7

1
SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable SSD - Up to 1050MB/s, USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2, IP65 Water and Dust Resistance, Updated Firmware - Ext...
Type: Portable external SSD
Storage Capacity: 500GB, 1, 2, & 4TB
Transfer Rate: Up to 1050 MB/s
Hardware Interface: USB-C 3.2
Compatibility: Windows, Mac

Compare Features

Hardware Interface
Holiday Deal
1. SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD Hard Drive
SANDISK Preview SANDISK Preview
SANDISK
at Amazon
2. Seagate Portable External Hard Drive
SEAGATE Preview SEAGATE Preview
SEAGATE
at Amazon
Premium Pick
3. Seagate Expansion Desktop External Hard Drive
SEAGATE Preview SEAGATE Preview
SEAGATE
at Amazon
4. WD Elements Portable External Hard Drive
WESTERN DIGITAL Preview WESTERN DIGITAL Preview
WESTERN DIGITAL
at Amazon
5. Western Digital Elements Desktop Hard Drive
WESTERN DIGITAL Preview WESTERN DIGITAL Preview
WESTERN DIGITAL
at Amazon
Best Value
6. Toshiba Canvio Basics External Hard Drive
TOSHIBA Preview TOSHIBA Preview
TOSHIBA
at Amazon
7. Seagate Portable Hard Drive
SEAGATE Preview SEAGATE Preview
SEAGATE
at Amazon
8. Western Digital Elements Portable Hard Drive
WESTERN DIGITAL Preview WESTERN DIGITAL Preview
WESTERN DIGITAL
at Amazon
9. Western Digital My Passport Hard Drive
WESTERN DIGITAL Preview WESTERN DIGITAL Preview
WESTERN DIGITAL
at Amazon
10. WD 5 TB Portable External HDD Drive
WESTERN DIGITAL Preview WESTERN DIGITAL Preview
WESTERN DIGITAL
at Amazon
Deal
Save 30% — Save 17% — Save 6% Save 5% Save 20% — — Save 7%
Deal Save 30% — Save 17% — Save 6% Save 5% Save 20% — — Save 7%
Type
Portable external SSD Portable external HDD Eternal HDD Portable external SSD External HDD Portable external HDD Portable external HDD Portable external HDD Portable external HDD Portable external HDD
Type
Portable external SSD Portable external HDD Eternal HDD Portable external SSD External HDD Portable external HDD Portable external HDD Portable external HDD Portable external HDD Portable external HDD
Storage Capacity
500GB, 1, 2, & 4TB 1, 2, 4, & 5TB 14 & 18TB 1, 2, 4, 5, & 6TB 4TB - 20TB 1, 2, & 4TB 1, 2, 4, & 5TB 1, 2, 4, & 5TB 1, 2, 4, & 5TB 1, 2, 4, & 5TB
Storage Capacity
500GB, 1, 2, & 4TB 1, 2, 4, & 5TB 14 & 18TB 1, 2, 4, 5, & 6TB 4TB - 20TB 1, 2, & 4TB 1, 2, 4, & 5TB 1, 2, 4, & 5TB 1, 2, 4, & 5TB 1, 2, 4, & 5TB
Transfer Rate
Up to 1050 MB/s 120 MB/s 480 MB/s Up to 5000 MB/s 168 MB/s 5 GB/s 120 MB/s 5 GB/s 625 MB/s 95 MB/s
Transfer Rate
Up to 1050 MB/s 120 MB/s 480 MB/s Up to 5000 MB/s 168 MB/s 5 GB/s 120 MB/s 5 GB/s 625 MB/s 95 MB/s
Hardware Interface
USB-C 3.2 USB 3.0 & 2.0 USB 3.0 USB 3.0 USB 3.0 & 2.0 USB 3.0 & 2.0 USB 3.0 USB 3.0 & 2.0 USB 3.0 & 2.0 USB 3.0 & 2.0
Hardware Interface
USB-C 3.2 USB 3.0 & 2.0 USB 3.0 USB 3.0 USB 3.0 & 2.0 USB 3.0 & 2.0 USB 3.0 USB 3.0 & 2.0 USB 3.0 & 2.0 USB 3.0 & 2.0
Compatibility
Windows, Mac Windows, Mac, PlayStation, Xbox Windows, Mac, Linux Windows, Mac (with reformat) Windows, Mac, PS4, Xbox Windows, Mac Windows, Mac Windows, Mac Windows, Mac (with reformat) Windows, Mac, PS4, Xbox
Compatibility
Windows, Mac Windows, Mac, PlayStation, Xbox Windows, Mac, Linux Windows, Mac (with reformat) Windows, Mac, PS4, Xbox Windows, Mac Windows, Mac Windows, Mac Windows, Mac (with reformat) Windows, Mac, PS4, Xbox