Best External Hard Drives

Buying guide for Best external hard drives

We’ve all been there: that moment your laptop or desktop computer tells you it’s running out of hard drive space. In some circumstances, this can be panic-inducing because a lack of space can prevent you from creating or saving new files. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be. If your computer is running out of storage space, you can always add more with an external hard drive.

External hard drives are small, nondescript boxes with extra storage that connect to your computer via one or more USB cables. While they may not look like much, they can be essential tools for keeping your files backed up, and they’re ideal for transporting files that are too large to transfer over the internet.

Most external hard drives look the same, but there are some big differences when it comes to capacity, stability, and speed, so it pays to know what to look for ahead of time.

If you buy a portable external hard drive, make sure to password protect any sensitive files on it in case the drive is ever stolen or lost. For more information, search the web for different ways to encrypt your files.

Key considerations

If you’re unsure which external hard drive to buy, answering these questions can help narrow your search considerably:

Will you be using your external hard drive for gaming?

Using an external hard drive with a gaming PC or a video game console can be a little tricky because games need fast access to a lot of data and it can be tough to find one that’s up to the task. If you’re buying an external hard drive specifically for video games, search for models that are explicitly compatible with your setup. For example, hard drives that can work with the Xbox One are usually branded or contain explicit “works with Xbox One” language in the product title or description.

How much storage do you think you’ll need?

The big question with external hard drives is always how big you should go, and we believe that bigger is better. Before you start shopping, take an inventory of how much space you currently have or need so you’re certain to get a drive with enough space. When in doubt, get the biggest drive you can afford.

Do you need portable storage?

Portable drives are handy for taking your files with you anywhere, but as you might expect, they’re more expensive and often less capacious than their non-portable equivalents. If you plan on parking your external hard drive somewhere, you can save money by avoiding portable options. On the other hand, if portable storage is key, you might need to adjust your expectations around cost (or compromise and buy a smaller drive).

We review a wide variety of external hard drives, including high-capacity magnetic models and durable solid-state drives capable of extremely fast transfers.

Some of our favorite external hard drives to recommend are outfitted with protective bumpers and premium cases that protect from moisture and physical shock.

Some of the external hard drives we recommend are equipped with powerful hardware encryption, suitable for government contractors and other security-minded users.

We’re careful to note what type of connector each external hard drive uses and what USB bus types it can take advantage of.

While they can be costly and tend to run a little hot, some of the best external hard drives we review utilize blazing-fast components and are surprisingly compact.

When researching external hard drives, we make sure to check which file system each is formatted with and which operating systems offer plug-and-play compatibility.

In our quest for the best, we look at external hard drives that boast standalone wireless access points, granting access to multiple users at once without plugging in.

We make a point of recommending reputable external hard drives made with durable and reliable internal hardware.

In our product research, we place high value on external hard drives that are resilient and can operate a long time without errors.

We understand security is a top concern, so we look for external hard drives that offer specialized protection from physical tampering via permanent seams and high-strength epoxy.

External hard drive features

It can be a challenge to tell different external hard drives apart. Here’s a cheat sheet to the most important differences between models.

Capacity

The most important feature on an external hard drive is how much storage it has, so prioritize capacity and get the biggest drive you can afford. Just remember that your actual storage will be less than the amount noted on the box (based on the existing files it needs to function), so if you want to know what actual storage different drives have, subtract about 20% from the advertised capacity.

Data transfer speed

Another key differentiator is how fast a drive can transfer files back and forth. Transfer speed relies on several different things, including the speed of your computer, but the connectivity options are the biggest factor. If you need the fastest external hard drive available, look for one that can connect via USB-C (if you have a spare USB-C port). If you need to work with the older physical USB standard, stick to external hard drives that support USB 3.0, which is faster than, and backward-compatible with, USB 2.0 devices as well.

Portability

Taking data with you can be critical, so if you’re looking for a mobile storage solution, you’ll need to limit your search to portable models. Portable external hard drives are a little pricier than their desktop, plug-in equivalents, but they can fit in your pocket, and in some cases transfer data just as fast. Consider your own needs, and if you need to take your data with you anywhere, get a portable external hard drive.

External hard drive prices

Inexpensive

Most basic external hard drives cost between $50 and $100. In this price range, you’ll find drives around the 1TB to 2TB range, which can be perfect for users who typically deal with smaller files. Many of the drives in this price range are portable, so you can still find a deal even if you need to take your data to lots of different places.

Mid-range

If you look in the $100 to $200 range, you’ll see increased capacities and more portable options. Drives at this price typically have capacities ranging from 4TB to 8TB, and often come in multiple colors. If you need enough storage to last you for at least a year or two, you’ll need to spend at least this much.

Expensive

Between $200 and $300, you’ll encounter external hard drives that have the highest storage capacities. Some models in this range justify the price by including an extra-rugged enclosure, but the truth is that most of them are simply overpriced. Avoid overpaying for your external hard drive, and only spend this much if you absolutely need the space.

Tips

• Always buy more storage than you think you need. When you’re shopping for an external drive, it’s important to plan for both your current and your future needs, so buy one that gives you room to grow. Our recommendation is to buy a hard drive with enough room for all the data you have today and a few terabytes to spare.
• Never unplug an external hard drive while it’s transferring files. All external hard drives have the same weakness: they have big problems if you disconnect them while they’re sending or receiving data. When it’s time to disconnect your external drive from your computer, eject it in the operating system first, or power down your computer entirely, before pulling the cable out. Doing it any other way can result in data loss or other malfunctions.
• Don’t bother with the software that comes with your external hard drive. Most hard drive manufacturers include applications that are designed to help you use your drive. These applications aren’t required; in fact, your computer’s operating system will do a better job of interacting with your drive. Your hard drive will likely include software setup files on the drive itself, but those can be safely deleted.

Before you buy a specific external hard drive, check that your computer has the necessary available ports. Some hard drives require multiple USB ports, and you may already have other peripherals taking up your computer’s existing ones.

FAQ

Q. Will most external hard drives work with my Mac?

A. Yes. External hard drives typically come in OS-agnostic formats, so you can plug them into any computer and start using them right away. In some rare occasions, you may find an external drive that comes in a Windows-only format, but you can use your Mac’s Disk Utility software to reformat the drive to a compatible format. (If you do reformat your drive, do so with caution because the process will completely delete any data saved on it.)

Q. Are external hard drives noisy?

A.Some of them are, but it’s rare. Most external hard drives operate silently, but some models, particularly those that have multiple physical drives inside and are made to plug into the wall, have built-in fans to keep them from overheating. Fans like these aren’t typically very loud, but they’re persistent, leading some users to prefer fanless models.

Q. Why do some external hard drives use two USB ports to connect to a computer while others just use one?

A. Some external hard drives plug into the wall with an AC adapter to get power, while others can receive a charge over USB. If you find an external hard drive that requires two USB ports, that means one of the connections is used to transfer data while the other transfers power.