Best External Hard Drives
External drives remain the simplest way to add storage or keep backups without opening your PC. Whether you need a pocket-sized portable for travel or a high-capacity desktop unit for Time Machine, the right pick depends on how much space you need, how fast you need it, and what you are willing to spend per terabyte. We track every USB-connected drive on Amazon US and UK and sort them by price per TB so you can find the best value instantly.
HDD vs SSD for external storage
External HDDs offer far more capacity per dollar — a 5 TB portable HDD costs about the same as a 1 TB portable SSD. Choose an external HDD when you need bulk storage for backups, media libraries, or archives. Choose an external SSD when you need speed, shock resistance, or a truly pocket-sized form factor for working files and fast transfers.
Quick Verdict
- Who this is for
- Anyone who needs plug-and-play extra storage — laptop users, photographers, Mac and PC backup shoppers, and travellers who want a portable drive they can toss in a bag.
- What usually wins
- A 4–5 TB portable HDD for most people. A desktop 8 TB+ USB HDD if you need more capacity and don't mind a power cable. An external SSD only if speed or extreme portability is your top priority.
- Prioritise
- Capacity at the price you can afford. Most external drives use the same internal mechanisms — the best deal per TB wins.
Prices updated hourly from Amazon US and UK. All links go directly to the retailer. Details.
Best Value External Drives
The cheapest external drives available right now, ranked by price per terabyte. Includes both portable and desktop USB drives.
Kadxyan External SSD 1 TB 2 TB 4 TB 6 TB 8 TB Type-C Solid State Drive USB 3.1 540 M/S for Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP/Mac OS 10.4, Linux, Android
Kadxyan External SSD 1 TB 2 TB 4 TB 6 TB 8 TB Type-C Solid State Drive USB 3.1 540 M/S for Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP/Mac OS 10.4, Linux, Android
4TB Portable External USB Hard Drive, USB 3.0 Slim Storage Device, High-Speed Data Backup & Memory Expansion for PC & Laptop Computers(Blue)
Kadxyan External SSD 1 TB 2 TB 4 TB 6 TB 8 TB Type-C Solid State Drive USB 3.1 540 M/S External Hard Drive for Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP/Mac OS 10.4, Linux, Android
Kadxyan External SSD 1 TB 2 TB 4 TB 6 TB 8 TB Type-C Solid State Drive USB 3.1 540 M/S External Hard Drive for Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP/Mac OS 10.4, Linux, Android
512MB Black USB 2.0 Flash Drive Wholesale Lot Bulk Memory Stick
Type-c USB 3.1 SSD Portable Flash Memory 4TB SSD Hard Drive Portable SSD External SSD Hard Drive for Laptop Desktop (Color : Blue, Size : 2TB)
High-speed portable solid-state drive - ultra-thin and shockproof, USB 3.0 high-speed data transfer, large-capacity external hard drive, available in 2TB/4TB/8TB capacities.
Portable External HDDs (2.5″)
Bus-powered 2.5-inch portable drives — no wall plug needed. Ideal for laptop backup, travel, and carrying files between machines. Capacities typically range from 1 TB to 5 TB.
Desktop External HDDs (3.5″, 8 TB+)
High-capacity desktop external drives for stationary backup, media servers, and bulk archive storage. These require a power adapter but offer the best price per terabyte in external form.
Why this matters: Desktop externals use full-size 3.5-inch drives internally, which means higher capacities and better price per TB than portable 2.5-inch models. If the drive will sit on a desk permanently, desktop externals are the better value.
External SSDs
Portable solid-state drives with USB connectivity. Faster, lighter, and more shock-resistant than external HDDs — but pricier per terabyte. Best for working files, fast transfers, and rough handling.
Kadxyan External SSD 1 TB 2 TB 4 TB 6 TB 8 TB Type-C Solid State Drive USB 3.1 540 M/S for Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP/Mac OS 10.4, Linux, Android
Kadxyan External SSD 1 TB 2 TB 4 TB 6 TB 8 TB Type-C Solid State Drive USB 3.1 540 M/S for Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP/Mac OS 10.4, Linux, Android
Kadxyan External SSD 1 TB 2 TB 4 TB 6 TB 8 TB Type-C Solid State Drive USB 3.1 540 M/S External Hard Drive for Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP/Mac OS 10.4, Linux, Android
Kadxyan External SSD 1 TB 2 TB 4 TB 6 TB 8 TB Type-C Solid State Drive USB 3.1 540 M/S External Hard Drive for Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP/Mac OS 10.4, Linux, Android
Type-c USB 3.1 SSD Portable Flash Memory 4TB SSD Hard Drive Portable SSD External SSD Hard Drive for Laptop Desktop (Color : Blue, Size : 2TB)
High-speed portable solid-state drive - ultra-thin and shockproof, USB 3.0 high-speed data transfer, large-capacity external hard drive, available in 2TB/4TB/8TB capacities.
High-speed portable solid-state drive - ultra-thin and shockproof, USB 3.0 high-speed data transfer, large-capacity external hard drive, offering 2TB/4TB/8TB capacities.
Portable SSD 4TB USB-C External Hard Drive – Black | Compatible with PC, Laptop, Mac - Compact Backup Storage Drive
How to Choose
External drives are straightforward, but a few decisions make the difference between a great purchase and buyer's remorse.
Portable vs desktop
2.5-inch portable drives run on USB bus power and fit in a pocket, topping out around 5 TB. 3.5-inch desktop externals need a wall plug but offer 8–24 TB capacities and better price per TB. Pick based on whether you need to carry the drive or park it on a desk.
HDD vs SSD
External HDDs win on cost per terabyte by a wide margin — often 3–5× cheaper per TB than external SSDs. SSDs are faster, lighter, and shock-proof. For bulk backup or media storage, HDD is the clear value play. For fast transfers or rough handling, SSD is worth the premium.
USB generation
USB 3.0 (5 Gbps) is fast enough for any external HDD — the drive's mechanical speed is the bottleneck, not the bus. USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) or Thunderbolt matters only for external SSDs where you want to unlock full SSD read/write speeds.
Backup software and encryption
Many external drives bundle backup software or hardware encryption. These are nice extras but should not drive your buying decision. Any drive works with built-in OS backup tools (Time Machine, File History, rsync). Buy on capacity, price per TB, and form factor first.
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