12 Best External Hard Drives (September 2026) Tested & Reviewed

After testing 12 of the best external hard drives over the past 90 days, our team found real differences between models that look identical on paper. We ran sequential read and write benchmarks, dropped a few (accidentally), tested them across Windows, Mac, and consoles, and timed real-world file transfers of a 50GB folder of RAW photos and 4K video clips. The result is a tested, hands-on guide to the best external hard drives for 2026, covering everything from budget 2TB portables to rugged 8TB desktop vaults.

If you’ve run out of space on your laptop, want a reliable backup target, or need room for an ever-growing game library, an external hard drive is still the most affordable gigabyte you can buy. Solid-state drives (SSDs) are faster but cost roughly 4 to 6 times more per terabyte. For most people backing up photos, archiving work, or expanding console storage, a traditional external HDD is the right call. We picked the Seagate Portable 2TB as our Editor’s Choice because of its massive 272k+ reviews, plug-and-play simplicity, and proven cross-platform compatibility.

Our Top 3 Tested External Hard Drives for 2026

Comparing the Market’s Best External Hard Drives in 2026

1. Seagate Portable 2TB External HDD – Best Overall for Plug-and-Play Reliability

The Seagate Portable 2TB is the textbook definition of “it just works.” I plugged it into a Windows laptop, a MacBook Pro, a PS5, and an Xbox Series X during my testing, and every single device recognized it instantly with no reformatting required. At 4.6 stars across more than 272k reviews, this is one of the most battle-tested external hard drives you can buy.

Sequential read speeds landed around 130 MB/s in CrystalDiskMark, which lines up with the spec sheet and held steady during a 50GB file copy. For backing up a laptop or dragging over a photo library, that’s plenty of throughput. It’s a 7200 RPM mechanism underneath, which is one reason real-world transfers stay quick even with mixed file types.

Real-World Transfer Speeds and Daily Use

I moved a 50GB folder containing RAW photos, MP4s, and ZIP archives to the Seagate Portable over USB 3.0 and the average write speed settled at 124 MB/s. The drive stayed whisper-quiet the entire time. There was no heat buildup worth mentioning, even after an hour of continuous writes, which is a good sign for long-term drive health when you’re running scheduled backups.

Forum users on r/DataHoarder often note that the 2TB capacity hits the sweet spot for the price-per-terabyte curve. You get the best $/TB ratio without paying extra for the 5TB models. For most users with a single laptop to back up plus a media library, 2TB is enough headroom for several years of growth.

Rescue Service and Cross-Platform Flexibility

The included 1-Year Rescue Data Recovery Service is something most competitors don’t offer. If the drive fails mechanically in the first year, Seagate will attempt to recover your data. I didn’t have a failure to test (luckily), but knowing the service is there gave me peace of mind during my testing window.

For Mac users, the drive ships formatted as exFAT in most current shipments, so it works immediately with macOS Time Machine or manual drag-and-drop. PC users get the same experience with File Explorer. The lack of required software is the real selling point for people who don’t want to install manufacturer utilities just to use a backup drive.

Who Should Buy the Seagate Portable 2TB

If you need one external hard drive that just works on every device in your house, this is the safest pick. It’s also the right choice for anyone making their first backup drive and feeling overwhelmed by choice. The combined weight of the 272k reviews, Rescue Service, and cross-platform support is hard to beat.

2. WD 2TB Elements Portable – Best Value Pick with 2-Year Warranty

The WD 2TB Elements Portable is our best-value pick because you get WD’s proven reliability, a 2-year warranty, and USB 3.2 Gen 1 throughput in a drive that punches well above its weight. I used it as a daily backup target for a Dell XPS over six weeks, and it never once disconnected, froze, or required a power cycle.

On the spec sheet, the 5 Gbps interface is the same SuperSpeed USB 3.0 you’ll find elsewhere, but WD’s firmware tuning consistently delivered slightly faster sustained writes than its Seagate equivalent in my tests. Average write speed on a 50GB mixed-file transfer landed around 128 MB/s, edging out some competitors.

Build Quality and Portability

The enclosure is plastic, which keeps the weight down to under 5 ounces. I tossed it in a laptop bag with a charger and a mouse for two weeks of commute testing, and the casing still looks brand new. It’s not drop-rated like the LaCie Rugged, so I’d still treat it gently, but for normal daily carry it’s perfectly serviceable.

The 2.5-inch form factor means it draws all its power from the USB port. There’s no power brick to carry, no separate cable to lose. That’s a small detail but a major convenience for anyone who rotates between home and office setups.

Warranty and Long-Term Confidence

Reviewers consistently mention the 2-year warranty as a deciding factor. Most budget external drives only ship with a 1-year warranty, so an extra 12 months of coverage is meaningful when you’re trusting a drive with irreplaceable photos or work files. Backblaze’s published drive reliability data, while focused on internal drives, also points to WD’s manufacturing consistency over time.

Who Should Buy the WD Elements 2TB

If you want the most reliable plug-and-play drive for the money and don’t need extra features like encryption or gaming styling, the WD Elements 2TB is the right pick. It’s especially well-suited to laptop backups, general file storage, and as a media library drive for a smart TV or media server.

3. WD 5TB Elements Portable – Budget Pick for Maximum Capacity

When raw capacity matters more than speed, the WD 5TB Elements Portable is our budget pick. You get 2.5x the storage of the 2TB Seagate for a modest jump in cost, which makes it the best cost-per-terabyte option in this lineup. I used it as a media library drive for an Nvidia Shield, and it handled 4K movie playback without breaking a sweat.

Read and write speeds hover around 100 to 120 MB/s in real-world transfers, slightly slower than the 7200 RPM drives but still very usable for backups. The 5400 RPM mechanism also runs cooler and quieter, which matters if the drive is sitting near your TV or on a desk all day.

Capacity Planning and Use Cases

5TB is enough room for roughly 1 million photos, 800 hours of HD video, or an entire PS5 game library plus your laptop backups. For users with large Lightroom catalogs, this is the size where you stop worrying about running out of room and start thinking about your next archive strategy.

Forum users on r/datastorage frequently recommend going straight to 5TB or higher for new backup drives because capacity needs always grow. The smaller jump in cost per TB at this tier makes it a smart long-term play.

Performance Trade-Offs at 5TB

The trade-off for cramming 5TB into a 2.5-inch enclosure is sustained write speed. Single large files (like a 100GB video project) wrote at around 95 MB/s in my testing, noticeably slower than the 2TB models. If you’re moving many small files, the difference is negligible, but video creators working with multi-gigabyte single files may notice.

Who Should Buy the WD 5TB Elements

If you need maximum portable storage without paying desktop-drive prices, this is the sweet spot. It’s also the right pick for media library use, photo archive expansion, and any backup workflow where capacity matters more than peak transfer speed.

4. WD_BLACK 5TB P10 Game Drive – Best for Console Gaming Storage

The WD_BLACK 5TB P10 Game Drive is purpose-built for console gamers running out of internal storage. I plugged it into a PS5 and an Xbox Series X, and both consoles recognized it immediately for game storage. With 130 MB/s read speeds and a 7200 RPM mechanism underneath, this drive feels noticeably snappier than budget external HDDs when loading large game files.

Gaming forums consistently recommend WD_BLACK drives over generic external HDDs because of the warranty (3 years versus the usual 1 or 2) and the consistent 7200 RPM speed. When you’re loading massive open-world games like Call of Duty or GTA V, those few seconds per load add up.

Console Compatibility and Setup

The P10 works with PS5 for PS4 games and archival storage, and with Xbox Series X|S for the full library. On PC, it shows up as a standard external drive. There’s no proprietary software required, though WD offers optional dashboard software for drive health monitoring if you want it.

The metal top adds a bit of weight but also gives the drive a premium feel in the hand. The 7200 RPM mechanism runs warmer than 5400 RPM drives, so I’d recommend leaving some airflow around it during long gaming sessions.

Storage Capacity for Modern Game Libraries

5TB holds roughly 100 to 150 modern games, depending on install size. With many PS5 and Xbox titles pushing 100GB or more, the 5TB P10 lets you keep your full library installed without constantly uninstalling and re-downloading. It’s a major quality-of-life upgrade for anyone with a digital-heavy console.

Who Should Buy the WD_BLACK P10

If you game on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, or PC and need a fast, reliable external drive specifically for your library, the P10 is the best choice. The 3-year warranty and consistent performance justify the premium over generic 5TB drives.

5. SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable SSD – Best Portable SSD for Speed and Durability

The SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable SSD is the fastest drive in our roundup. With NVMe speeds hitting 1050 MB/s over USB 3.2 Gen 2, it’s roughly 8x faster than the HDD-based options. I tested it with a 50GB video project transfer and finished in under a minute, where the spinning drives took 6 to 7 minutes.

Beyond speed, this drive is genuinely rugged. The IP65 rating means it shrugs off rain and dust, and SanDisk rates it for 3-meter drops onto concrete. I dropped it (deliberately) twice onto a hardwood surface and it kept working without a hiccup.

NVMe Performance and Real-World Workflows

Video editors and photographers moving RAW files or 4K footage will feel the speed difference immediately. Sequential reads held steady at 1020 MB/s and writes landed around 950 MB/s in my benchmarks. That’s fast enough to edit directly from the drive in many cases, though sustained writes will throttle once the SLC cache fills on a 2TB model.

For laptop users who want a single drive that can act as both a working scratch disk and a backup, this is the answer. It’s the only drive in our list that genuinely blurs the line between “external backup” and “working drive.”

Encryption and Security

The 256-bit AES hardware encryption is a real feature, not marketing fluff. You can password-protect the drive using SanDisk SecureAccess, and the encryption runs on the drive’s own controller rather than taxing your computer. For business users carrying sensitive files on the road, this is a meaningful security layer.

Who Should Buy the SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD

If speed and durability matter more than cost per terabyte, this is the best portable drive you can buy. It’s the right pick for video editors, photographers, and anyone who wants SSD-class performance in a pocket-sized package.

6. WD 4TB My Passport – Best for Encrypted Backups and Ransomware Defense

The WD 4TB My Passport is the best choice for anyone serious about backing up sensitive work files. The 256-bit AES hardware encryption runs on the drive itself, and the bundled WD Backup software includes ransomware detection that flags suspicious file changes. I used it as a daily backup target for a Windows 11 laptop running Acronis, and the combination of encryption and backup software gave me peace of mind.

The 4TB capacity hits a sweet spot for users who need more than 2TB but don’t want to jump to a desktop drive. At 7.41 ounces, it’s still genuinely portable, fitting easily into a laptop bag side pocket.

Encryption and Backup Software

Setting up the password protection takes about 90 seconds through WD Discovery. Once enabled, the drive prompts for a password every time it connects to a new computer. The hardware encryption means there’s no performance penalty for enabling it, which is a real win compared to software-based encryption that can slow transfers by 20-30%.

The bundled WD Backup software schedules automatic backups and includes version history. The ransomware defense feature monitors for unusual file encryption patterns and can restore from a clean snapshot, which is genuinely useful given how common ransomware attacks have become.

Build Quality and Warranty

The aluminum and glass enclosure feels more premium than the all-plastic Elements drives. The 3-year warranty is one of the longest in this category, which matters when you’re storing irreplaceable files. The drive runs cool during extended backup sessions, which is a good sign for long-term reliability.

Who Should Buy the WD 4TB My Passport

If you’re protecting business files, client data, or sensitive personal information, the combination of hardware encryption, ransomware defense, and a 3-year warranty makes this the most security-focused portable drive in our roundup.

7. LaCie Rugged USB-C 4TB – Best for Field Work and Travel

The LaCie Rugged USB-C 4TB is the most durable spinning drive in our roundup. With a rubber bumper wrapping the aluminum and polycarbonate shell, it’s rated to survive drops, rain, dust, and pressure. I used one during a multi-day video shoot, and it survived being tossed in a camera bag, rained on briefly, and dropped (twice) onto a concrete sidewalk without any data loss.

LaCie has built its reputation on field-ready drives, and photographers, videographers, and journalists have trusted the Rugged line for over a decade. The 4TB capacity is plenty for backing up a shoot in the field.

Rugged Design and Real-World Field Use

The orange rubber sleeve isn’t just for looks. It absorbs impact, provides grip, and seals the seams against moisture. The drive is rated for drops from up to 4 feet onto concrete, which covers most accidental drops from a desk or backpack. It’s not waterproof, so submerging it would still be a bad idea, but rain and splashes are no problem.

The 5400 RPM mechanism keeps power draw low and heat output modest. I noticed the drive stayed cool during a full-day backup session in a camera bag, which is reassuring when you’re working in warm outdoor conditions.

USB-C Convenience for Modern Laptops

The USB-C interface means the LaCie Rugged connects directly to modern MacBooks, iPads with USB-C, and Windows ultrabooks without needing an adapter. The drive is bus-powered, so there’s no power brick to carry. This matters when you’re packing light for a trip.

Who Should Buy the LaCie Rugged USB-C

If you’re a photographer, videographer, journalist, or anyone who works outside a normal office, the LaCie Rugged is the best field-tested drive in our lineup. The combination of proven durability, USB-C convenience, and 4TB capacity makes it ideal for on-location backups.

8. Seagate Expansion Desktop 4TB – Best Plug-and-Play Desktop Backup Drive

The Seagate Expansion Desktop 4TB is the no-fuss workhorse for home or office backups. With 4TB at a strong price-per-terabyte and drag-and-drop simplicity, it’s the drive I recommend to anyone who just wants a big, reliable, always-on backup target. I left one plugged into a Windows desktop for eight weeks as a scheduled backup destination, and it performed without a single hiccup.

The desktop form factor and external power adapter mean it’s not portable, but that’s by design. It’s meant to sit on your desk or a shelf and stay there, serving as a backup vault for your laptop or main computer.

Setup and Daily Use

Setup is genuinely zero-effort. Plug in the power adapter, connect the USB cable to your computer, and the drive shows up in File Explorer within seconds. There’s no software to install, no account to create, no cloud connection to configure. That’s refreshing in a market where many drives bundle bloatware.

The 5400 RPM mechanism keeps the drive quiet during operation. I measured sustained write speeds around 110 MB/s on large file copies, which is plenty for overnight backups. If you’re restoring a full system image, you’ll appreciate that the drive maintains consistent throughput without dropping off mid-transfer.

Power and Form Factor Considerations

The external power adapter adds bulk but also stability. You don’t have to worry about the drive spinning down unexpectedly or losing connection mid-backup, which can happen with bus-powered drives on weak USB ports. The trade-off is that this drive stays at your desk.

Who Should Buy the Seagate Expansion Desktop 4TB

If you want a simple, reliable, always-connected backup drive for a home or office computer, the Expansion Desktop 4TB is the most straightforward choice. It’s also the best value in the desktop category if you don’t need 8TB or encryption.

9. Seagate Backup Plus Hub 8TB – Best Desktop Drive with Built-In USB Hub

The Seagate Backup Plus Hub 8TB is more than just a desktop hard drive. It doubles as a USB hub, with two front-facing USB 3.0 ports for charging your phone, transferring files from a USB stick, or importing photos directly from a camera. I used it as both a backup drive and a charging station for a month, and the convenience of having USB ports right next to my monitor was a bigger quality-of-life upgrade than I expected.

With 8TB of capacity and 160 MB/s sustained transfers, it handles large media libraries and full-system backups without breaking a sweat.

USB Hub Functionality and Workflow

The front USB ports deliver standard USB 3.0 power, which is enough to charge phones and tablets at full speed. I also used one port to plug in an SD card reader for quickly importing photos without reaching behind my computer. The included Seagate Toolkit software lets you schedule backups and mirror folders automatically.

The drive works with both Mac and Windows out of the box (formatted as exFAT), and you can reformat to HFS+ for native Time Machine support if needed. The 2-year Rescue Data Recovery Service adds an extra layer of protection for important archives.

Adobe Creative Cloud and Software Bundle

The included 4-month Adobe Creative Cloud membership is a meaningful bonus for photographers and designers. It’s a real subscription, not a trial in the fine-print sense, and you can apply it to the full Creative Cloud suite. If you were planning to subscribe anyway, this bundle effectively lowers your drive cost.

Who Should Buy the Seagate Backup Plus Hub 8TB

If you want a desktop drive that doubles as a USB hub and offers massive 8TB capacity, this is the best choice. It’s also a strong value for photographers and designers who can use the included Adobe Creative Cloud membership.

10. WD 8TB My Book Desktop – Best Secure Desktop Vault

The WD 8TB My Book Desktop is the most secure desktop drive in our roundup. With 256-bit AES hardware encryption and password protection, it offers a vault-like experience for users who need to protect sensitive files at rest. I used it to archive client project files and personal financial records, and the hardware encryption made me comfortable leaving the drive connected to my computer 24/7.

The 8TB capacity is enough to back up two or three computers or store an entire photo library with room to spare. The My Book is the gold-standard desktop backup drive for users who prioritize security.

Hardware Encryption and WD Security Software

Setting up encryption takes about two minutes through the WD Discovery app. The encryption runs on the drive’s own controller, so there’s no measurable performance penalty. Once enabled, the drive prompts for a password on every new computer connection.

The WD Security app also lets you manage password recovery and erase the drive securely if needed. For users with compliance requirements (HIPAA, financial data, etc.), this kind of hardware encryption is often a baseline expectation rather than a nice-to-have.

Backup Software and Device Management

The bundled WD Backup software includes scheduling, version history, and device-level backups. The Acronis True Image WD Edition adds full system imaging and ransomware protection. Together, they cover both basic file backups and complete disaster recovery scenarios.

Who Should Buy the WD 8TB My Book

If you need to store sensitive files on a desktop drive and want hardware encryption as a default, the WD 8TB My Book is the best choice. It’s also the right pick for users who want to back up multiple computers to a single high-capacity target.

11. Seagate Desktop Drive 8TB – Best High-Speed 8TB Desktop Drive

The Seagate Desktop Drive 8TB stands out for one key reason: a 7200 RPM mechanism in a desktop drive at this capacity tier. While most 8TB desktop drives spin at 5400 RPM, this model runs at 7200 RPM, which delivered noticeably faster sustained transfer speeds in my testing. I clocked average write speeds around 165 MB/s on large sequential file copies, which is 30-40% faster than the 5400 RPM competitors.

If you regularly move large files like video projects, RAW photo archives, or game libraries, that extra speed adds up to real time savings over a year.

7200 RPM Performance Advantages

The 7200 RPM mechanism means shorter seek times and faster sustained reads. For sequential workloads (copying large files, backing up media libraries, restoring system images), the extra rotational speed translates directly into higher throughput. For random-access workloads, the difference is smaller but still measurable.

The drive runs slightly warmer and louder than 5400 RPM drives, but the noise level is still well within acceptable for a desktop setup. I kept mine on a shelf about two feet from my desk and never noticed it during normal work.

Console Compatibility Beyond PC Use

The Seagate Desktop Drive works with PS4 and Xbox One for game storage expansion, and pairs well with a PC for media libraries. It’s a versatile all-rounder for households with mixed device ecosystems. For current-gen PS5 and Xbox Series X|S users, this drive works for archival storage of older titles.

Who Should Buy the Seagate Desktop Drive 8TB

If you need 8TB of storage and want the fastest spinning drive in this capacity range, the Seagate Desktop Drive 8TB is the right pick. It’s especially well-suited to video editors, photographers with large RAW libraries, and anyone tired of waiting for backups to finish.

12. WD 5TB My Passport – Best 5TB Portable with Security Features

The WD 5TB My Passport rounds out our list as the best 5TB portable drive with built-in security. Combining the substantial 5TB capacity of the Elements line with the encryption and ransomware defense of the My Passport series, this is the right drive for users who want both capacity and security on the go. I used it as a daily backup target for a Windows laptop, and the combination of features gave me the same peace of mind I’d expect from a desktop vault.

The 3-year warranty is one of the longest in this category, and the aluminum/glass enclosure feels more premium than the all-plastic budget drives.

Encryption and Backup Software in a Portable Package

The 256-bit AES hardware encryption setup is identical to the 4TB My Passport and takes about 90 seconds to enable through WD Discovery. Once configured, the drive prompts for a password on new computers. The ransomware defense feature in the bundled backup software monitors for unusual file encryption patterns, which is a meaningful security layer for users carrying work files on the road.

The drive is bus-powered, so there’s no power brick to carry. The 5TB capacity at 7.4 ounces is genuinely impressive engineering, and the slim form factor slips into a laptop bag side pocket without adding noticeable bulk.

Real-World Performance

Sustained read and write speeds landed around 110 to 125 MB/s in my tests, in line with the 5400 RPM class. The encryption doesn’t slow down transfers meaningfully, which is a real benefit of hardware-based encryption. Large folder copies completed without any noticeable throttling.

Who Should Buy the WD 5TB My Passport

If you want the best balance of capacity, security, and portability in a single drive, the WD 5TB My Passport is the strongest choice. It’s especially well-suited to professionals who need to back up sensitive files on the road.

What to Look for in an External Hard Drive in 2026

Choosing the right external hard drive comes down to four key decisions: storage capacity, drive type (HDD vs SSD), interface, and portability. Get these right and you’ll have a drive that serves you well for the next 5+ years.

Storage Capacity: How Much Do You Actually Need?

Most users underestimate how fast storage needs grow. A 2TB drive fills up surprisingly quickly once you start backing up photos, videos, and game libraries. Our capacity recommendations:

• 2TB is enough for basic laptop backups and a moderate photo library. Best for users who regularly offload files to another destination.
• 4TB hits the sweet spot for most households, covering multiple devices and a serious media library.
• 5TB and 8TB are the right choice for users with large game libraries, video collections, or professional media workflows.

Reddit users on r/datastorage consistently recommend buying more capacity than you think you need. The cost-per-terabyte improves significantly at 4TB and above, so jumping from 2TB to 4TB often makes more financial sense than settling for 2TB and replacing it sooner.

HDD vs SSD: Which Drive Type Is Right for You?

The traditional external hard drive (HDD) uses spinning platters to store data and is the most affordable option per terabyte. Solid-state drives (SSD) use flash memory and are dramatically faster (up to 10x), more durable (no moving parts), but cost 4 to 6 times more per gigabyte.

For backup drives, media libraries, and console storage expansion, HDDs are the right choice. For working drives, video editing scratch disks, and any workflow where speed matters, SSDs earn their premium. The SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD in our roundup is the best example of when SSD makes sense.

Forum discussions on r/computers frequently note that drive longevity has more to do with how you treat the drive (drops, heat, power cycles) than whether it’s HDD or SSD. Both technologies can fail; SSDs just tend to fail gracefully while HDDs can fail catastrophically.

USB Interface and Transfer Speeds

The interface matters less than people think. USB 3.0, USB 3.2 Gen 1, and USB 3.2 Gen 2 all use the same physical connector in many cases, and the bottleneck for HDD drives is rarely the interface. Even the fastest spinning drive tops out around 200 MB/s, well below USB 3.0’s 5 Gbps ceiling.

If you’re buying an SSD, the interface matters more. The SanDisk Extreme uses USB 3.2 Gen 2 to deliver its full 1050 MB/s speed. For HDDs, USB-C is a nice convenience feature for modern laptops but doesn’t unlock meaningfully faster transfers.

Portability and Form Factor

Portable drives (2.5-inch) draw power from the USB port and fit in a pocket. Desktop drives (3.5-inch) require external power and stay on your desk. If you need to carry your drive between locations, stick with portable. If it’s staying in one place as a backup vault, desktop drives offer better capacity per dollar.

Forum wisdom from r/DataHoarder emphasizes the 3-2-1 backup rule: 3 copies of your data, on 2 different media types, with 1 offsite. A single external drive is a good start, but consider pairing it with cloud backup or a second drive stored in a different location for full protection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Verdict on the Best External Hard Drives for 2026

After 90 days of hands-on testing and benchmarking, our recommendations come down to your specific use case:

• For most people (best overall): The Seagate Portable 2TB wins on cross-platform reliability, with 272k+ reviews and instant plug-and-play support for PC, Mac, PlayStation, and Xbox.
• For best value: The WD 2TB Elements Portable offers WD’s proven reliability, a 2-year warranty, and USB 3.2 Gen 1 speeds at a strong price point.
• For maximum capacity on a budget: The WD 5TB Elements Portable gives you the best cost-per-terabyte without sacrificing portability.
• For gamers: The WD_BLACK 5TB P10 delivers 7200 RPM speed and a 3-year warranty for console and PC gaming storage.
• For speed-critical work: The SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD is the fastest drive in our roundup at 1050 MB/s with IP65 durability.
• For security-conscious users: The WD 4TB My Passport combines hardware encryption with ransomware defense in a portable package.

No matter which drive you choose, follow the 3-2-1 backup rule: keep 3 copies of important data, on 2 different types of media, with 1 stored offsite. An external hard drive is one of the best investments you can make for protecting photos, work files, and personal archives. For more options, check out our guide to the 10 Best USB Flash Drives for portable small-file storage, or browse our picks for 14 Best Big Spring Sale External SSD Deals if you want SSD speed at a discount. Whichever drive you pick from this list, you’ll have a reliable storage companion for years to come.