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The 8 Best backup drives of 2024

Are you trying to find backup drives among various brands on the market but aren’t sure where to begin? To assist you in finding the right one, we’ve put together a list of the 7 best to help you pick the perfect one!

We investigated and evaluated a number of the top-selling backup drives on the market in order to create our list of the best. Making a decision among the many options available is never simple. There are an infinite number of models available, each with a distinct price. And as you’ll find out, the best options aren’t usually the ones you imagine! This comparison is rich and relevant because of the numerous factors that were employed. You will find products featured in this ranking not only based on their pricing but also on their features and other customers reviews. To write this review, we completed 17 hours of research and did 30 backup drives tests. You won’t need to pick products at random any more. If you’re unsure of what to look for, browse our list and consult the buying guide!

An overview of our top picks

Table of contents

The best backup drives you can buy today

SaleNo. 1
Seagate Portable 5TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PS4, & Xbox - 1-Year Rescue Service (STGX5000400), Black
  • Easily store and access 5TB of content on the go with the Seagate portable drive, a USB external hard Drive
  • Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
  • To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition software required
  • This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
No. 2
Toshiba Canvio Basics 1TB Portable External Hard Drive USB 3.0, Black - HDTB510XK3AA
  • Sleek profile design with a matte, smudge-resistance finish
  • Plug & Play - Easy to use with no software to install
  • Quickly add more storage capacity to your PC and other compatible devices
  • USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 compatible with no external AC power cord needed
  • Pre-formatted NTFS for Windows PC (reformatting required for Mac computers)
No. 3
Western Digital 2TB Elements Portable HDD, External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 for PC & Mac, Plug and Play Ready - WDBU6Y0020BBK-WESN
  • Adding extra storage for your videos, music, photos, and files..Operating temperature: 5°C to 35°C.
  • Transfer data at maximum speed with USB 3.0; USB 2.0 compatible
  • Improve PC performance - When your internal hard drive is almost full your PC slows down. Don’t delete files. Free up space on your internal hard drive by transferring files to your WD Elements portable hard drive and get your laptop moving again.
  • Plug-and-play ready for Windows PC
  • High capacity in a small enclosure – The small, lightweight design offers up to 5TB* capacity, making WD Elements portable hard drives the ideal companion for consumers on the go.
  • English (Publication Language)
SaleNo. 4
Western Digital 5TB My Passport Portable External Hard Drive with backup software and password protection, Black - WDBPKJ0050BBK-WESN
  • Slim Design.Specific uses: Personal, gaming, Business
  • Software for device management and backup with password protection. (Download and installation required. Terms and conditions apply. User account registration may be required.)
  • 256-bit AES hardware encryption
  • SuperSpeed USB 3.0 port (5Gbps); USB 2.0 compatible
  • 3-year limited warranty
SaleNo. 5
Seagate Expansion Desktop, 16TB, External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 (STKP16000402)
  • Easy-to-use desktop hard drive—simply plug in the power adapter and USB cable
  • Fast file transfers with USB 3.0
  • Drag-and-drop file saving right out of the box
  • Automatic recognition of Windows and Mac computers for simple setup (Reformatting required for use with Time Machine)
SaleNo. 6
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 External Solid State Drive, Seq. Read Speeds Up to 2,000MB/s for Gaming, Students and Professionals, MU-PG2T0B/AM, Black
  • NONSTOP SPEED: Race through projects with our fastest SSD for creators; Load, edit and transfer with sustained read and write speeds of up to 2,000MB/s1; The T9 Portable SSD performs at high speeds even during longer processes
  • DYNAMIC THERMAL GUARD: When you’re elbow-deep in a passion project, the T9 Portable SSD stays cool; Its advanced thermal solution withstands and controls heat to keep the SSD at ideal temperatures—even in heavy use2
  • ADAPTS TO EVERY NEED: Whether you’re using a desktop, camera or a gaming console3, count on the T9 Portable SSD for extensive compatibility; It’s a true team player when it comes to heavy-duty application usage or file-saving
  • STRONG. SOLID. STABLE: From concept to completion – the T9 Portable SSD gives you the longevity to last through heavy use with one convenient drive that dares to go the distance
  • WORKS LIKE MAGIC: Your T9 Portable SSD performs like new with the always up-to-date Magician Software; With firmware updates, extra encryption and continual monitoring of your drive health, it works like a charm
  • WORLD’S #1 FLASH MEMORY BRAND: Performance and reliability from the world’s #1 brand for flash memory since 20034; All firmware and components are produced in-house, including our world renowned DRAM and NAND, for quality and you can trust
  • SUPPORTS iPHONE: Supports iPhone 15 Pro Res 4K at 60fps video and more5; Included SSD cable recommended
SaleNo. 7
Seagate One Touch, 2TB, Password activated hardware encryption, portable external hard drive, portable external hard drive, PC, Notebook & Mac, USB 3.0, Black (STKY2000400)
  • This external drive includes a USB cable that works seamlessly with Windows, Mac, and Chromebook laptops (purchase adapter separately for use with USB-C computers. Reformatting may be required for use with Time Machine).
  • The perfect complement to personal aesthetic, this portable external hard drive features a minimalist brushed metal enclosure.
  • Up to 5TB capacity helps keep all your memories in one place—simply plug in via USB 3.0 to back up with a single click or schedule automatic daily, weekly, or monthly backups.
  • Organize your photos with a Mylio Photos complementary subscription and enjoy automatic backups with a Dropbox Backup Plan free trial. (Must redeem within one year of drive registration. Not available in all countries. Trial subscriptions are subject to change in vendor or terms. Please refer to drive packaging for official offer.)
  • Enjoy long-term peace of mind with the included limited warranty and Rescue Data Recovery Services.
  • English (Publication Language)
SaleNo. 8
SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable SSD - Up to 1050MB/s, USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2, IP65 Water and Dust Resistance, Updated Firmware - External Solid State Drive - SDSSDE61-2T00-G25
  • Get NVMe solid state performance with up to 1050MB/s read and 1000MB/s write speeds in a portable, high-capacity drive(1) (Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending on host device & other factors. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes.)
  • Up to 3-meter drop protection and IP65 water and dust resistance mean this tough drive can take a beating(3) (Previously rated for 2-meter drop protection and IP55 rating. Now qualified for the higher, stated specs.)
  • Use the handy carabiner loop to secure it to your belt loop or backpack for extra peace of mind.
  • Help keep private content private with the included password protection featuring 256‐bit AES hardware encryption.(3)
  • Easily manage files and automatically free up space with the SanDisk Memory Zone app.(5). Non-Operating Temperature -20°C to 85°C
SaleNo. 9
Western Digital 4TB My Book Desktop External Hard Drive, USB 3.0, External HDD with Password Protection and Backup Software - WDBBGB0040HBK-NESN
  • Massive capacity, up to 22TB capacity. (1TB = one trillion bytes. Actual user capacity may be less depending on operating environment.).Specific uses: Personal
  • Includes software for device management and backup with password protection (Download and installation required. Terms and conditions apply. User account registration may be required.)
  • 256-bit AES hardware encryption
  • SuperSpeed USB (5 Gbps); USB 2.0 compatible
  • Trusted storage built with WD reliability
No. 10
USB Drive 1TB, High-Speed USB Flash Drive 1TB with Keychain, Portable Thumb Drive - Large Capacity Memory Stick 1TB for PC/Laptop, 1 Terabyte Data Storage USB Stick 1TB: USB Storage Flash Drive 1000GB
  • Expand Your Data Storage - USB Flash Drive 1TB can accommodate a massive 1000GB of data, providing optimal storage space for important work, school, or home data options. USB Drive 1TB allows for the transfer and storage of up to 204,800 photos, 102,400 MP3 audio files, 2560 minutes of 1080P HD video, or 5120 minutes of 720P HD video.
  • Excellent Craftsmanship - Memory Stick 1TB features a robust and durable ABS and metal casing, with a keychain design. Internally, it incorporates an advanced imported intelligent chip and undergoes numerous intricate and rigorous assembly processes. As a result, it possesses excellent waterproof, magnetic-resistant, high-temperature-resistant, and X-ray-resistant performance, ensuring its lifespan surpasses that of other similar products, providing you with a worry-free data storage experience.
  • Universal Compatibility - USB Storage Flash Drive 1TB can be used with a wide range of devices, including Windows 7 / 8 / 10 / Vista / XP / Unix / 2000 / ME / NT Linux. And it is compatible with most USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 ports, so you can easily transfer data or content with quick plug-and-play accessibility.
  • Compact and Portable Design - The size of the Thumb Drive 1TB is 58mm*19.5mm*10.8mm, and it makes it easy to slip into your pocket. The end of the USB Stick 1TB has a loop that can easily be attached to your keychain or lanyard, used to help keep from losing, and for easy carrying.
  • 100% Satisfaction Guarantee - All 1 Terabyte Flash Drives have been rigorously tested and formatted before leaving the factory. If you have any questions please send an e-mail to us, and our customer services will reply to you within 24 hours.

How to choose a good backup drives

Does the idea of finding a fantastic backup drives make you anxious? When it comes to purchasing this product, specifically when deciding which model to select, has your head been spinning between options? You are not alone if that is the case. We are aware of the pressure involved in the purchasing process!

Your presence here indicates that you are interested in backup drives. Before choosing which product would be the best for your needs after being inundated with information, locate a reliable source with genuine selections. You can get that information from a variety of sources, including buying guides and rating websites, word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and family, online discussion forums where users can share their own experiences, product reviews that can be found all over the internet, and YouTube channels. You can only get the right product through exhaustive analysis. But you realize that’s not always simple. In order to ease your concerns, we have taken the time to develop a list of the top backup drives products available right now. You might be wondering how we came up with the list. How was this buying guide developed?

First, we used our algorithms to gather as much reliable data as we could about these products. To verify all the data gathered, we used both artificial intelligence and a lot of algorithms.
Then, our experts used criteria that are recognized in the business to evaluate them according to their quality to price ratio, allowing us to choose the top backup drives on the market right now!

The selection of the goods is not arbitrary. Before creating a list, we take into account a number of factors. Below are some of the criteria discussed:

Brand Value: What happens if you choose a dubious brand just because it appears to be a good deal? So the likelihood of receiving a product with a short shelf life increases. That is due to the fact that well-known brands have a reputation to uphold, while others do not. Top backup drives brands strive to provide some distinctive traits that set them apart from the competition. So, hopefully one or more of the items on our list will be perfect for you.

Features: Useful features are all you need, not tons of them. We consider the important aspects and select the top backup drives based on those.

Specifications: Numbers always help you measure the quality of a product in a quantitative way. We try to find products with higher specifications, but with the right balance.

Quality: A product’s quality may always be quantified with the aid of numbers. We look for goods with better standards that strike the proper balance. The best quality product that gets highly appreciated and recommended by experienced users.

Customer ratings:  Would it be accurate to suggest that the backup drives were used by hundreds of customers before you? Superior ratings indicate that many customers had better service.

Customer Reviews: Like ratings,  provide you with accurate and reliable information about the product from genuine customers. Customer ratings are very important to all of us because they contain accurate and reliable information about the customer service we received from several hundred customers.

Seller Rank: This is very intriguing! Not only do you need a good backup drives, you also need a product with rising sales that is trendy. It accomplishes two goals. First, the expanding user base proves the quality of the product. Second, given that number, producers must be able to offer greater quality and after-sales support.

Value: You get what you pay for, they say, so consider the value. Cheap isn’t always good and expensive isn’t always bad. However, that does not imply that spending a lot of money on a product that is flashy but underwhelming is a good idea. Before adding them to the list, we make an effort to evaluate how much value you can get for your money from your backup drives.

Durability: Durability and reliability are closely related concepts. You will benefit from a strong and long-lasting backup drives for months and years to come.

Product availability: Products come and go, and new ones replace the old ones. Most likely, a few new features and required changes were made. What use is it to use a supposedly good product if the maker no longer supports it? We make an effort to highlight products that are current and offered by one or more trustworthy sellers, if not more.

Negative Reviews: Yes, we do take that into account as well! The goods with the majority of bad reviews are filtered out and disregarded when we choose the best-rated one on the market.

These are the standards by which we selected our backup drives. Do we end our process there? Hell no. The most crucial fact about us that you should be aware of is that we regularly update our website with current and pertinent information. We have one more layer of filtration since we place the greatest importance on reader satisfaction. Please let us know if any product included here is incorrect, irrelevant, subpar, or simply out of date. We always value your opinions, and we’ll work hard to make any necessary corrections to our list in response to them.

Why should you believe us?

There are now thousands of possibilities for these products on Amazon, but choosing the best one can be difficult and time-consuming. And what backup drives should you purchase in 2022?

This guide is the result of more than 10 years of experience in researching, testing and writing about many topics. Each member of our team is an authority in their area. We read every article we could find online and every consumer review on every retail website for seven hours. Additionally, we discovered a ton of websites that offered helpful resources, including buying tips and thorough information on backup drives.