The 4 Best External Hard Drives on Amazon in 2026

By TwelveTabs · Updated

Illustration: a small plain navy portable hard drive with a short cable on a light desk beside a closed laptop, drawn as a soft 3D render. Not a real product.

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The top picks

Our top pick for most people is the WD Elements Portable External Hard Drive, 2TB. It won all three TwelveTabs searches we ran for this guide: “best external hard drive” (21 Amazon listings), “external hard drive for mac” (26) and “large external hard drive for backup” (24). It is a plug-and-play portable drive that runs on a single USB cable and works with Windows PCs and Macs.

Want your files locked behind a password? The WD My Passport, 2TB was the runner-up in every search and adds hardware encryption and backup software. For a game console or a small backup, the Seagate Portable, 1TB is listed for PC, Mac, PlayStation and Xbox. And for a thin drive that slips into a laptop sleeve, the Maxone Ultra Slim, 500GB comes in an aluminum case.

Want something faster and more pocket-size than a spinning drive? Our external SSDs guide compares six portable solid-state drives.

The method

How this pick was made

WD Elements Portable External Hard Drive, 2TB is the top pick. This is the work behind that choice.

  1. 71Amazon search results read, across 3 searches
  2. 9finalist pages read in full
  3. 26shopper reviews read
  4. 2expert sources cross-checked: Wirecutter, Backblaze

Run on September 25, 2026. AI read the listings and what shoppers say, then wrote this guide. Full method and limits

Our picks in detail

The WinnerBest for most people
WD Elements Portable External Hard Drive, 2TB

WD Elements Portable External Hard Drive, 2TB

Best for: Most people

  • $134.95
  • 4.7 (165,372 reviews)5-star 83% · 1-star 3%
  • 4K+ bought last month
  • ★ Amazon's Choice
  • Prime
  • Pros 2TB on a single USB cable
  • Cons No backup or password software

Prices and ratings as of September 25, 2026.

Run this search liveView on Amazon
Pros, cons and what reviewers say

Why it made the list

  • It won all three of our searches, from 21, 26 and 24 listings.
  • It holds 2TB and connects with one USB 3.2 Gen 1 cable, backward compatible with USB 3.0.
  • It is plug and play, and our Mac search confirmed its listing supports both PC and Mac.
  • Its listing also names game consoles among the devices it works with.

Drawbacks

  • It comes without the password protection and backup software of the My Passport, which is why that drive stayed close behind it in every search.
  • It is a spinning hard drive, so it moves files slower than a portable SSD.

Watch for this: WD sells this same drive at 2, 4 and 5TB under separate listings. Our table shows the 2TB. If you need more space, check the capacity in the listing title before you buy.

Skip it if you move big video files every day and want SSD speed.

Amazon's review summary

Customers appreciate the external hard drive's compact size, noting it's perfect for PS4 backups, and find it easy to set up with simple plug-and-play functionality. The storage capacity and speed receive positive feedback, with customers praising its fast backup capabilities. However, compatibility is mixed, with some customers reporting it works well with Xbox One S while others mention it doesn't work with Mac computers. Additionally, reliability is a concern, with multiple customers reporting that their drives failed completely.

Top AlternativeBest for password protection
WD My Passport Portable External Hard Drive, 2TB

WD My Passport Portable External Hard Drive, 2TB

Best for: Password protection and backups

  • $131.00
  • 4.6 (31,358 reviews)5-star 80% · 1-star 5%
  • 4K+ bought last month
  • Prime
  • Pros Hardware encryption and password lock
  • Cons Same 2TB as the top pick

Prices and ratings as of September 25, 2026.

Run this search liveView on Amazon
Pros, cons and what reviewers say

Why it made the list

  • It was the runner-up in all three of our searches.
  • It adds hardware encryption and password protection, so a lost drive does not mean lost privacy.
  • It comes with automated backup software that its listing says includes defense against ransomware.

Drawbacks

  • It holds the same 2TB as our top pick, so you pay for the security features, not more space.
  • WD’s Windows-formatted drives need reformatting for a Mac, as Wirecutter notes of its sibling, the My Passport Ultra. Check the listing for the Mac version if you use one.

Watch for this: the My Passport also comes in 4, 5 and 6TB listings. They are the same drive in bigger sizes.

Skip it if you do not need encryption. The Elements does the same job for less fuss.

Amazon's review summary

Customers find the external hard drive to be of good quality, with positive feedback about its compact size, ease of use, and storage capacity, with one customer noting it can hold 1200+ home videos. However, the drive's reliability is concerning, with multiple customers reporting it crashes within 4 months. Moreover, speed performance is mixed, with some finding it extremely fast while others say it's much slower than expected. Additionally, compatibility receives mixed reviews - while it works well with PS4, some customers report it's not recognized by any computer. Value for money is also mixed, with some considering it a good investment while others describe it as "worst money ever spent."

Top AlternativeBest for consoles and small backups
Seagate Portable External Hard Drive, 1TB

Seagate Portable External Hard Drive, 1TB

Best for: Game consoles and a small backup

  • $119.99
  • 4.6 (273,228 reviews)5-star 82% · 1-star 4%
  • 6K+ bought last month
  • #1 Best Seller
  • Pros Plug and play over USB 3.0
  • Cons Half the space of our top two

Prices and ratings as of September 25, 2026.

Run this search liveView on Amazon
Pros and cons

Why it made the list

  • It was a runner-up in our Mac search and our backup search.
  • It is a compact 1TB plug-and-play drive that its listing says works with PC, Mac, PlayStation and Xbox.
  • Its listing includes a one-year Rescue data recovery service.

Drawbacks

  • It holds half the space of our top two picks.
  • Our searches placed it below both WD drives each time.

Skip it if you are backing up a laptop with lots of photos or video. Go for 2TB or more.

Top AlternativeBest thin drive
Maxone Ultra Slim Portable External Hard Drive, 500GB

Maxone Ultra Slim Portable External Hard Drive, 500GB

Best for: A thin, light drive for small files

  • $37.59
  • 4.4 (58,977 reviews)5-star 75% · 1-star 7%
  • 3K+ bought last month
  • Pros Ultra-slim aluminum case
  • Cons Only 500GB

Prices and ratings as of September 25, 2026.

Run this search liveView on Amazon
Pros, cons and what reviewers say

Why it made the list

  • It was a runner-up in our main search, from 21 listings.
  • It comes in an ultra-slim charcoal grey aluminum case.
  • It is a plain USB 3.0 plug-and-play drive for everyday backups of documents and photos.

Drawbacks

  • 500GB fills up fast with photos or video, which is why our search ranked it below the 2TB drives.
  • Maxone is a lesser-known brand than WD or Seagate.

Skip it if you need to back up a whole computer.

Amazon's review summary

Customers find the external hard drive works well, is easy to plug and play, and has ample storage capacity. However, the drive's reliability is concerning, with multiple customers reporting it stops working within a year. Moreover, compatibility and speed receive mixed feedback - while it works with MacBook Air and PS4, some customers say it doesn't work with their laptops, and while some find it transfers files quickly, others report super slow performance. Value for money also gets mixed reviews, with some considering it a great product for the price while others feel they didn't get what they paid for.

Expert picks

Western Digital My Passport Ultra (5 TB)
Wirecutter's top pick

Western Digital My Passport Ultra (5 TB)

Wirecutter's top pick, shown next to ours so you can compare. Our picks may differ from the experts'.

  • $276.99
  • 4.5 (23,352 reviews)
View on Amazon

Compare the picks

Prices and ratings as of September 25, 2026. They change often, so check today's price on Amazon.

Our picks and Wirecutter's top pick, side by side
PictureProductOutcome
1WD Elements Portable External Hard Drive, 2TBWD Elements Portable External Hard Drive, 2TBSpace: 2TB · Extra: Simple plug and playPrice $134.954K+ bought last monthRating 4.7165,372 reviews5-star 83% · 1-star 3%Winner. Best for: Most people
2WD My Passport Portable External Hard Drive, 2TBWD My Passport Portable External Hard Drive, 2TBSpace: 2TB · Extra: Password, backup appPrice $131.004K+ bought last monthRating 4.631,358 reviews5-star 80% · 1-star 5%Best for: Password protection and backups
3Seagate Portable External Hard Drive, 1TBSeagate Portable External Hard Drive, 1TBSpace: 1TB · Extra: Rescue planPrice $119.996K+ bought last monthRating 4.6273,228 reviews5-star 82% · 1-star 4%Best for: Game consoles and a small backup
4Maxone Ultra Slim Portable External Hard Drive, 500GBMaxone Ultra Slim Portable External Hard Drive, 500GBSpace: 500GB · Extra: Aluminum casePrice $37.593K+ bought last monthRating 4.458,977 reviews5-star 75% · 1-star 7%Best for: A thin, light drive for small files
Western Digital My Passport Ultra (5 TB)Western Digital My Passport Ultra (5 TB)Price $276.99Not listedRating 4.523,352 reviewsWirecutter's top pick

How to choose an external hard drive

An external hard drive is the simplest way to back up a computer or add space. These are the choices that matter.

  • Portable or desktop. Wirecutter explains that a portable drive needs only one USB cable, so it is easy to carry with a laptop. A desktop drive also needs a power outlet but is generally faster, which suits everyday work on files stored on the drive. All four of our picks are portable.
  • Hard drive or SSD. A hard drive gives you the most space for your money. Wirecutter suggests a portable SSD instead if file transfer speed matters more to you than space. Two SSDs reached our shortlists but not our finals.
  • Pick the size for the job. Backing up a whole laptop needs at least as much space as the laptop holds, and more if you keep old versions. Our top two picks hold 2TB. The same WD drives are sold in bigger sizes under separate listings, covered below.
  • Check the format for a Mac. WD’s Windows-formatted drives work on a Mac after reformatting, Wirecutter notes, or you can buy the Mac version. Our top pick’s listing says it works with PC and Mac. Reformatting erases the drive, so do it before you copy files over.
  • One drive is not a full backup. Backblaze’s 3-2-1 rule says to keep three copies of your data, on two different kinds of storage, with one copy off-site, such as a cloud backup. An external drive is one of those copies, not all three.

What we left out, and why

Our three searches returned 71 Amazon listings. TwelveTabs shortlisted 30 and read the listing pages of 9 finalists. The same drive won every search, so the finals were small. What stayed out:

  • Bigger WD Elements and My Passport drives, 4 to 6TB. They reached our shortlists, even in our search for a large backup drive, but each time the 2TB version of the same drive ranked higher. They are the same drives in larger sizes, so pick the capacity you need.
  • Samsung T7 and SanDisk Extreme portable SSDs. Both were shortlisted but did not reach a final. If speed matters most, they are worth a look.

Wirecutter’s top pick, the Western Digital My Passport Ultra (5 TB), is in our table. Wirecutter calls it the best balance of speed, space and portability for most people. It is a close relative of our second pick with more space, and it did not appear in our shortlists. Wirecutter’s desktop pick is the Western Digital Elements (8 TB).

How we researched

On September 25, 2026 we ran three live TwelveTabs searches of Amazon: “best external hard drive”, “external hard drive for mac” and “large external hard drive for backup”. Together they returned 71 listings. TwelveTabs shortlisted 30 of them, read the listing pages of 9 finalists and named a winner and runners-up in each. The same WD drive won all three. We kept four drives in four sizes and uses. AI wrote this guide from that research.

Listings change: we read them on September 25, 2026, and a capacity, model or seller may differ today.

Prices, ratings and review counts come from Amazon and were read on September 25, 2026.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

What is the best external hard drive for a Mac?

Our top pick won our “external hard drive for mac” search, and its listing says it works with Mac and PC. You may need to reformat a Windows-formatted drive for full Mac use.

How much storage does an external hard drive need?

At least as much as the computer you are backing up, and more if you want room for old versions. For most laptops, 2TB is a sensible start.

Is an external hard drive enough for backup?

It is one good copy. Backblaze’s 3-2-1 rule suggests three copies on two kinds of storage, with one kept off-site. Want files shared across several devices on your home network instead? See our NAS devices guide.

How did TwelveTabs choose these external hard drives?

We ran three live TwelveTabs searches of Amazon on September 25, 2026, which read the listing pages of 9 finalists, and checked the advice against Wirecutter and Backblaze. AI wrote this guide from that research.

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