Best External Hard Drives
We compared 9 external hard drives and ranked them on a 1–10 score computed from 1,474,235 verified customer ratings — driven by what real buyers reported, not editor opinion. Our current #1 pick is Seagate One Touch 8TB External Hard Drive Desktop HDD - USB-C Compatible with Most Windows and macOS, Rescue Recovery (STNB8000400), scoring 9.4/10.
Each pick below comes with a data-driven summary plus the pros and cons buyers mention most, so you can choose the best external hard drives for your needs in minutes.
Our top external hard drives picks
Seagate One Touch 8TB External Hard Drive Desktop HDD - USB-C Compatible with Most Windows and macOS, Rescue Recovery (STNB8000400)
The Seagate One Touch 8TB External Hard Drive is generally well-received for its reliable performance and ease of use across different operating systems. Users appreciate its large storage capacity, durability, and quick data transfer speeds.
- Reliable performance and easy setup
- Large storage capacity (8TB)
- Quick data transfer speeds
- Initial compatibility issues with some antivirus software
- Requires manual formatting for Mac users
Seagate Portable 2TB External Hard Drive HDD — USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PlayStation, & Xbox -1-Year Rescue Service (STGX2000400)
The Seagate Portable 2TB External Hard Drive is generally well-regarded for its reliability and ease of use across various devices, though initial setup on Mac requires formatting. Users appreciate its speed and compact design.
- Reliable with fast data transfer
- Compact and portable design
- Works seamlessly with both Windows and Mac after proper configuration
- Initial setup can be confusing for some Mac users without prior knowledge of Disk Utility
- Occasionally encounters compatibility issues with certain antivirus software
Seagate Portable 1TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PlayStation, & Xbox, 1-Year Rescue Service (STGX1000400) , Black
The Seagate Portable 1TB External Hard Drive receives positive feedback for its reliability and ease of use across different devices. However, initial setup on Mac requires formatting which can be a minor inconvenience.
- Reliable storage solution
- Fast data transfer speeds
- Compact and portable design
- Initial setup required for Mac users
- Compatibility issues with some antivirus software
Western Digital WD 5TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive for Windows, USB 3.2 Gen 1/USB 3.0 for PC & Mac, Plug and Play Ready - WDBU6Y0050BBK-WESN
The Western Digital WD 5TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive is generally well-regarded for its reliability and performance, offering a large storage capacity at an affordable price point. However, some users have encountered issues with Time Machine on macOS Monterey, which can limit the drive's versatility in backup scenarios.
- Reliable and performs flawlessly over extended use
- Offers high capacity (5TB) at a good value for money
- Compact design suitable for travel or desktop use
- Issues with Time Machine on macOS Monterey reformatting the drive as APFS, limiting its flexibility
- Cannot be used to back up older Apple computers once reformatted by Time Machine
WD 2TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive for Windows, USB 3.2 Gen 1/USB 3.0 for PC & Mac, Plug and Play Ready - WDBU6Y0020BBK-WESN
The WD 2TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive is generally well-received for its reliable performance and high capacity, offering good value. However, some users experienced issues with Time Machine on macOS Monterey.
- High-capacity storage at an affordable price
- Compact design suitable for travel or desktop use
- Quick file transfer speeds via USB 3.2 Gen 1/USB 3.0
- Time Machine compatibility issues with the newest version of macOS Monterey
- Drive may become restricted to backups only after first backup
WD 5TB My Passport, Portable External Hard Drive, Black, backup software with defense against ransomware, and password protection, USB 3.1/USB 3.0 compatible - WDBPKJ0050BBK-WESN
The WD 5TB My Passport is highly regarded for its reliability and portability. It offers ample storage at a competitive price point.
- Large capacity (5TB)
- Compact and easy to carry
- Fast transfer speeds with USB 3.0
- Software installation issues reported by some users
- Included USB cable is short
UnionSine 1TB Ultra Slim Portable External Hard Drive HDD-USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, Laptop, PS4, Xbox one, Xbox 360-(Black)
The UnionSine external hard drive is generally well-received for its ease of use and compact design. Most users find it reliable, easy to set up, and useful for storage purposes.
- Easy setup with plug-and-play functionality
- Compact and lightweight design for portability
- Suitable for storing various file types
- One negative report about connection issues and unreliable performance
- A concern regarding the actual storage capacity not meeting advertised 1TB
WD 6TB My Passport, Portable External Hard Drive, Black, Backup Software with Defense Against ransomware, and Password Protection, USB 3.1/USB 3.0 Compatible - WDBR9S0060BBK-WESN
The WD My Passport 6TB external hard drive is generally well-received for its large storage capacity and reliability. However, some users reported issues with initial recognition and lower-than-expected transfer speeds.
- High storage capacity
- Portable design suitable for travel
- Self-powered (no additional power source required)
- Lower than expected transfer speed
- Incompatibility of the included USB cable
Seagate Expansion 6TB External Hard Drive HDD - USB 3.0, with Rescue Data Recovery Services (STKP6000400)
The Seagate Expansion 6TB External Hard Drive is generally well-received for its capacity and value, although reliability varies among users. It offers good performance for backup and storage tasks but may be noisy during operation.
- Large storage capacity at a reasonable price
- Compatibility across multiple systems with plug-and-play ease
- Includes data recovery services
- Potential noise issues under heavy use
- Occasional quality control problems (e.g., faulty USB cables)
Quick Comparison
| Product | Score |
|---|---|
| Seagate One Touch 8TB External Hard Drive Desktop HDD - USB-C Compatible with Most Windows and macOS, Rescue Recovery (STNB8000400) | 9.4/10 |
| Seagate Portable 2TB External Hard Drive HDD — USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PlayStation, & Xbox -1-Year Rescue Service (STGX2000400) | 9.4/10 |
| Seagate Portable 1TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PlayStation, & Xbox, 1-Year Rescue Service (STGX1000400) , Black | 9.4/10 |
| Western Digital WD 5TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive for Windows, USB 3.2 Gen 1/USB 3.0 for PC & Mac, Plug and Play Ready - WDBU6Y0050BBK-WESN | 9.3/10 |
| WD 2TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive for Windows, USB 3.2 Gen 1/USB 3.0 for PC & Mac, Plug and Play Ready - WDBU6Y0020BBK-WESN | 9.3/10 |
| WD 5TB My Passport, Portable External Hard Drive, Black, backup software with defense against ransomware, and password protection, USB 3.1/USB 3.0 compatible - WDBPKJ0050BBK-WESN | 9.1/10 |
| UnionSine 1TB Ultra Slim Portable External Hard Drive HDD-USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, Laptop, PS4, Xbox one, Xbox 360-(Black) | 8.7/10 |
| WD 6TB My Passport, Portable External Hard Drive, Black, Backup Software with Defense Against ransomware, and Password Protection, USB 3.1/USB 3.0 Compatible - WDBR9S0060BBK-WESN | 8.6/10 |
| Seagate Expansion 6TB External Hard Drive HDD - USB 3.0, with Rescue Data Recovery Services (STKP6000400) | 8.4/10 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the best external hard drive right now?
- Seagate One Touch 8TB External Hard Drive Desktop HDD - USB-C Compatible with Most Windows and macOS, Rescue Recovery (STNB8000400) is our top-ranked pick, with a ChoiceRadar score of 9.4/10. It leads our ranking of 9 external hard drives built from real customer-rating data.
- How does ChoiceRadar rank external hard drives?
- Every product is scored on a 1–10 scale computed from its full distribution of customer star ratings, then the strongest candidates are curated for each category. We never accept payment for placement — see our methodology for the exact formula.
- How many external hard drives did you compare?
- This ranking covers 9 external hard drives, drawing on 1,474,235 customer ratings in total.
- Are these external hard drives rankings independent?
- Yes. Rankings are determined by customer-rating data using the same formula for every product. We may earn an affiliate commission when you buy through our links, but that never changes how products are scored or ordered.