Top 5 Best SSD External Hard Drives In 2025

I’ve included the greatest external hard drives below if you’re looking for one. For every budget, you can obtain high-capacity storage and fast file transfers with any of these devices.

I examined the best USB flash drives, the best portable SSDs, and the best external hard drives for Macs with my team. Thus, we are aware of the factors to consider while selecting your next external HDD.

The WD Elements portable HDD is, in my opinion, the greatest external hard disc. It is affordable, has excellent speeds, and a large storage capacity, making it suitable for nearly everyone. However, it’s not the only option available; we’ve evaluated a variety of external hard drives, evaluating their connectivity, design, and speed. Before recommending them, we used our internal benchmarking suite to test each external hard drive.

Last update on 2024-12-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

Our Top Picks

Top 5 Best SSD External Hard Drives In 2024

1: WD Elements Portable HDD

Last update on 2024-12-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

Neither the speed nor the capacity of the WD Elements external hard disc are the best available. Of all the drives I’ve evaluated, it doesn’t have the best guarantee, the widest range of capacities, or the lowest cost per terabyte. However, because it consistently ranks in the top three in every area, this is my top choice for the best external hard drive overall.

Even though one drive might have the best guarantee (like the LaCie Rugged Mini) or the lowest price per terabyte (like the Seagate Expansion), these benefits are typically outweighed by harsher drawbacks, such as being more costly or offering a worse overall value.

Therefore, the WD Elements is essentially a jack-of-all-trades type of drive, handling all tasks rather well without excelling in any one area. However, this is precisely the type of drive that most people will desire: one that gives you a good amount of everything without requiring you to make many compromises.

2: UnionSine Ultra Slim

Last update on 2024-12-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

Only a few issues prevent the UnionSine Ultra Slim external hard drive from becoming the finest external hard drive in general, which is unfortunate because this is an excellent drive.

Although it is somewhat larger than the WD Elements and WD My Passport Ultra, its thin profile makes it a very convenient drive to carry about, and its overall scores rank second only to the top-scoring Seagate Expansion.

Although it has less capacity options than the other external HDD choices on this list, this drive is still a great choice if you don’t require more than 2TB of external HDD storage because of its quick read speeds, three-year limited warranty, and exceptional price.

Although it is inexpensive, its limited capacity options—its maximum capacity is at 2TB—make it quite expensive per terabyte. The usefulness of such modest capacities on an external HDD makes them harder to suggest, even though it does have a number of much smaller capacities starting at 250GB. This is especially true when you can obtain a quicker portable SSD with the same or more capacity for not much more money.

3: Western Digital My Passport Ultra

Last update on 2024-12-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

Over the past few years, Mac users have had to make many concessions due to the lack of external hard drives with a USB-C interface. However, with the WD My Passport Ultra for Mac, macOS users now have a reliable choice for Time Machine backups and other long-term storage on the road.

Despite having a USB-C port, this drive isn’t the quickest on the list like the WD Elements. Its speeds are very much the same as those of the WD Elements, but the My Passport Ultra for Mac costs a little more.

Any of the other drives on this page will work just as well for your Mac, though none will work as well with your Mac out of the box. This may be a harder pill to swallow for some people because this drive has the lowest overall score of all the drives we tested, and it’s not too difficult to find a USB-C to Micro B connector.

With one notable exception, you’re virtually get the same speeds and scores as the WD Elements in terms of performance. In my tests, copying to this drive is much slower than copying to it, but internal file copying is really fast on this drive, second only to the Seagate expansion.

Although your opinion may differ, I would contend that the latter is more significant. Despite its drawbacks, this drive is still a solid choice if you’re a Mac user and all you want is a drive that you can take out of the box, plug in, and use right away.

4: Seagate FireCuda Gaming Drive

Last update on 2024-12-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

Gaming hard drives are no longer as relevant as they once were because modern game consoles and the best gaming PCs have mostly switched to faster SSD storage. However, they are still useful, particularly if you have an enormous game library that is too difficult to regularly download and uninstall.

In a situation like this, the FireCuda external game drive is just what you need. The RGB accent lighting with Razer Chroma support is merely an extra benefit, and the system has a 5TB capacity, a comparatively quick sequential read performance, and a lightning-fast copy-to-drive speed.

It’s not the end of the world for a drive like this, but its drawbacks include a somewhat high pricing per terabyte, limited storage options, and a one-year warranty.

When it comes to sequential read rates, which are necessary for game loading or copying to a faster SSD, and copy-to-drive operations, which you’ll need if you want to move games on and off the drive with your console or PC’s main storage, this drive performs close to the top of the performance spectrum.

In the end, it’s not the most affordable drive out of all those tested, but it’s still better than most, particularly if you choose the 5TB drive, which is frequently on sale.

5: Seagate Expansion

Last update on 2024-12-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

I tested a number of HDDs, and the Seagate Expansion desktop external hard drive is by far the finest.

With read and write speeds that are second only to an external SSD and scores that almost double the closest competitors, the Expansion is an extremely durable external drive that is ideal for frequent system backups because of its enormous storage options.

This is perfect for storing large video and other media files in addition to system picture data because those capacities also have a very low cost per terabyte. This drive’s drawback is that it requires an external power source, such as a wall socket or a portable battery, making it less portable.

Except for upgrading to an SSD, you won’t find a better desktop backup option if that’s all you’re looking for. Naturally, this drive ends up receiving the highest overall score because its read, write, and copy rates are dozens of MB/s faster than those of the other HDDs on this list. Despite its cheap cost per terabyte, its hefty price unfortunately detracts from its value score.

What to Look for When Buying a Best SSD External Hard Drives in 2024

When buying the best SSD external hard drives in 2024, focus on the following factors to ensure optimal performance, durability, and value:

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1. Storage Capacity

• 500GB to 1TB: Suitable for everyday use and moderate storage needs.
• 2TB to 4TB: Ideal for professionals handling large files like videos or games.
• 5TB+: Best for extensive backups or large-scale data storage.

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2. Speed and Performance

• Read/Write Speeds:
  • Look for speeds of at least 500 MB/s for general use.
  • Higher speeds like 1,000–2,000 MB/s are ideal for demanding tasks like video editing.
• Interface:
  • NVMe SSDs: Offer faster speeds than SATA SSDs, typically used in premium drives.

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3. Connectivity

• USB Type-C: Most modern and versatile, supports high-speed transfers.
• Thunderbolt 3/4: Provides blazing-fast speeds and compatibility with high-performance devices.
• USB 3.2 Gen 2: A good middle ground for speed and compatibility.

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4. Compatibility

• Ensure the drive works with your devices:
  • Windows, macOS, Linux: Look for cross-platform compatibility.
  • Smartphones and Tablets: USB-C or adapters might be needed.
  • Gaming Consoles: Make sure it’s compatible with PS5, Xbox Series X, or other systems.

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5. Durability and Build Quality

• Shock Resistance: Protects data in case of accidental drops.
• Waterproof and Dustproof Ratings: Look for IP ratings like IP67 for added protection.
• Metal or Rugged Casing: Enhances durability during travel or outdoor use.

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6. Portability

• Compact Size and Lightweight Design: Ideal for travel or on-the-go use.
• Integrated Cable Management: Keeps your setup tidy.

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7. Security Features

• Hardware Encryption: Protects sensitive data with built-in encryption (e.g., AES-256).
• Password Protection: Ensures unauthorized access is prevented.
• Software Tools: Some drives come with proprietary software for backups and security.

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8. Reliability and Endurance

• TBW (Terabytes Written): Indicates the drive’s durability; higher numbers mean longer lifespan.
• MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures): Reliability indicator; look for high MTBF values.

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9. Use Case

• Everyday Use: Affordable models with moderate speeds and capacity.
• Professional Use: High-performance NVMe drives with large capacities and fast connectivity.
• Gaming: Drives with fast load times and compatibility with consoles.

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10. Warranty and Customer Support

• Warranty Length: Look for at least a 3–5 year warranty for peace of mind.
• Reputable Brands: Consider trusted names like Samsung, WD (Western Digital), Seagate, SanDisk, or Crucial.

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11. Price-to-Performance Ratio

• Compare storage capacity and speed against price to find the best value.
• Look for seasonal discounts or bundles for added savings.

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12. Additional Features

• Backup Software: Integrated tools for easy file management and backups.
• LED Indicators: Show the drive’s activity and status.
• Customizable Formats: Some drives allow quick formatting for specific use cases (e.g., NTFS for Windows, APFS for macOS).