11 best backup harddrives

  • Price Range:

    • The price of a backup hard drive can vary depending on factors like capacity, brand, and type (HDD or SSD). Generally, HDDs are more affordable for higher storage capacities, while SSDs are faster but more expensive per gigabyte.
  • Having a backup hard drive is an essential part of a comprehensive data protection strategy, ensuring that your important files and documents are safe and accessible even in the event of a hardware failure or data loss incident.

    Below you can find our editor's choice of the best backup harddrives on the market
      

    Seagate Portable 2TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD – USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, PS4, & Xbox - 1-Year Rescue Service (STGX2000400)

    Seagate

    Based on 96 reviews Check latest price

    Product description

    Easily store and access 2TB of content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a great laptop hard drive. Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this compact 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—no software required—and enjoy plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable.

    • Easily store and access 2TB to 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 no software required
    • This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
    • Enjoy long-term peace of mind with the included one-year limited warranty and 1 year rescue data recovery services

    Product features

    Always Spacious. Always Easy.

    Back up yesterday’s memories and today’s documents, even on the go. Seagate Portable makes it possible thanks to the plug-and-play simplicity of USB 3.0 and drag-and-drop functionality.

    What's Included

    Seagate Portable, 18-inch (45.72cm) USB 3.0 cable, Quick start guide

    WD 6TB Elements Desktop Hard Drive HDD, USB 3.0, Compatible with PC, Mac, PS4 & Xbox - WDBWLG0060HBK-NESN

    Western Digital

    Based on 13 reviews Check latest price

    Product description

    WD Elements desktop storage with USB 3.0 offers reliable, high-capacity, add-on storage, fast data transfer rates and universal connectivity with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 devices. The sleek design features up to 10TB capacity plus WD quality and reliability.

    • Fast data transfers
    • High Capacity add on storage
    • Plug and Play Ready for Windows PCs
    • WD quality inside and out
    • 2 year manufacturer's limited warranty

    User questions & answers

    Question: Does this come with the power adapter
    Answer: Yes, 110-240v power supply
    Question: Is this compatabible with the ps
    Answer: PS4 maxes out at 8TB. Do not buy this 12TB thinking it will work...trust me I already checked.
    Question: Will this work with a system that only has USB2.0 ports
    Answer: Technically it won't be any faster than a USB2 drive since the limit will be the port on the PC. But it will work no worse and if you ever get a PC with USB3 ports it will work much better.
    Question: which one is better? elements 8tb or my book 8tb
    Answer: Looking at Western Digital's Warranty information page I see this: ----- Elements - THIS MODEL - (Product Designator WDBWLG ) 1 year in the USA, Canada & Latin America 2 year in Europe, Middle East & Africa 3 year in Asia Pacific & India ------ My Book FIRST I FOUND LISTED Product Code WDBBGB NO warranty info for US, Canada & Latin America NO warranty info for Asia Pacific & India 3 Year for Europe, Middle East & Africa https://www.amazon.com/Book-Desktop-External-Drive-WDBBGB0080HBK-NESN/dp/B01LQQHLGC/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1547662493&sr=1-1&keywords=western+digital+my+book&refinements=p_n_feature_three_browse-bin%3A668383011%2Cp_n_feature_two_browse-bin%3A5446816011 ----- The only "My Book" for the USA, Canada & Latin America I see listed is: Product Code WDBFJK , and that has only a 2 year warranty and sells for a higher price. https://www.amazon.com/Book-Desktop-External-Drive-WDBFJK0080HBK-NESN/dp/B01B6BN0Q2/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1547665593&sr=1-6&keywords=western+digital+my+book+8TB&refinements=p_89%3AWestern+Digital There are other variations of the "My Book" series that have 3 year warranty in The USA, Canada & Latin America: My Book for Mac, My Book VelociRaptor Duo, My Book Thunderbolt Duo, My Book Mirror, My Book Pro, My Book Pro II, My Book World, My Book World II, My Book Studio, My Book Studio II, My Book Home, My Book Office, My Book Elite, My Book Studio, My Book Studio LX, My Book Live, My Book Duo, My Book Duo Pro Thos have Product Designators: WDBYCC, WDBUWZ, WDBUPB, WDBUSK, WDH2U, WDG1T, WDG2TP, WDG1NC, WDH1NC, WDG2NC, WDH2NC, WDH1Q, WDH2Q, WDH1CS, WDH1B, WDBAAH, WDBAAJ, WDBC3G, WDBACH, WDBACG, WDBCPZ, BDTB, WDBUTV, WDBFBE, WDBRMH, WDBDFM It seems that all should refer to WD website to match Product Designator with warranty for your locale: https://support.wdc.com/warranty/warrantypolicy.aspx#group1

    WD 5TB My Passport Portable External Hard Drive, Black - WDBPKJ0050BBK-WESN

    Western Digital

    Based on 26 reviews Check latest price

    Product description

    Every journey needs a passport. The My Passport drive is trusted, portable storage that gives you the confidence and freedom to drive forward in life. With a new, stylish design that fits in the palm of your hand, there's space to store, organize, and share your photos, videos, music, and documents. Perfectly paired with Western Digital backup software and password protection, the My Passport drive helps keep your digital life's contents safe.

    • Slim design
    • Automatic backup - easy to use
    • Password protection + 256-bit AES hardware encryption
    • WD Discovery software for WD Backup, password protection and drive management
    • SuperSpeed USB port; USB 2.0 compatible

    User questions & answers

    Question: Does it come with the USB cable
    Answer: You can do it. You just need to connect your external speakers with record player!
    Question: Just to confirm this works with windows 10 no problem? I have a 4 yr old extern hard drive that doesnt and i am worried this wont
    Answer: Yes there is a is power cord and adapter that comes with it. Also you dont need Bluetooth to work the player.
    Question: Is this compatible with ps
    Answer: Yes, a one year warranty from date of purchase.
    Question: How is this model different than the one called wd 2tb black my passport portable external hard drive - usb 3.0 - wdbs4b0020bbk-wesn
    Answer: Turn the volume dial. That activates the power. The record will start spinning when the needle arm is above it.

    Product features

    Backed Up

    Make sure everything you create while on your own life journey - photos, videos, music, and documents - doesn’t get lost. The My Passport drive comes equipped with WD Backup software that can be set to run automatically to your schedule.

    Locked Down

    Keep your digital life's contents secure with My Passport password protection and built-in 256-bit AES hardware encryption. Just activate password protection and set your own personalized password using WD Discovery.

    Seagate Backup Plus Hub 4TB External Hard Drive Desktop HDD – USB 3.0, for Computer Desktop Workstation PC Laptop Mac, 2 USB Ports, 2 Months Adobe CC Photography (STEL4000100), Model:STEL4000100

    Seagate

    Based on 7 reviews Check latest price

    Product description

    Get solid USB storage and 4TB capacity in an external desktop hard drive for Mac and Windows. Featuring dual front-facing, high-speed USB 3.0 ports, Backup Plus Hub makes it easy to charge mobile devices and transfer files from cameras, USB keys, and more. Even charge USB game controllers Enjoy simple, one-click backups, or schedule automatic daily, weekly, or monthly backup by downloading Seagate Toolkit software. Plus, take advantage of a complimentary two-month membership to the Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan for access to awesome photo and video editing apps.

    • Store and access content for years with up to 14TB in a USB drive
    • A great external hard drive for Mac and Windows, this hub can charge mobile devices and transfer files from USB cameras and USB thumb drives via its two USB 3.0 ports
    • Use seamlessly between windows and Mac by installing the provided NTFS driver for Mac
    • Complimentary four-month membership to the Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan’s photo and video editing apps (Must be redeemed within 1 year of drive registration. Not available in all countries)
    • Enjoy long-term peace of mind with the included two-year limited warranty External desktop hard drive offers two front-facing, high-speed USB 3.0 ports for connecting to and recharging other USB devices like phones, cameras, and tablets

    Product features

    Backup and Recharge in One Place

    Thousands of photos, hundreds of songs, loads of movies and docs—sound familiar? Backup Plus Hub helps protect all of it with proven reliability, seamless backup, Mac and Windows usability, plus two front-facing USB 3.0 ports for charging and managing devices like phones, tablets, and cameras.

    Desk, Office, and Dorm Life—Made Easier

    Backup Plus Hub helps protect important files and can’t-live-without memories with a single click. To schedule automatic backups, simply use the included Seagate software.

    What's Included

    Backup Plus Hub, 18-inch (45.72cm) USB 3.0 cable, 18W power adapter, Quick start guide, Seagate backup software, Mac driver

    Seagate Backup Plus Slim 2TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD – Silver USB 3.0 For PC Laptop And Mac, 1 year Mylio Create, 2 Months Adobe CC Photography (STHN2000401)

    Seagate

    Based on 6 reviews Check latest price

    Product description

    Store and access 2TB of photos and files on the go, with Seagate Backup Plus Slim. The perfect complement to personal aesthetic, this compact, portable external hard drive features a minimalist brushed metal enclosure and quick plug-and-play connectivity with the included USB 3. 0 cable. Giving files extra protection is practically effortless—simply back up with a single click or schedule automatic daily, weekly, or monthly backups. Plus—edit, manage, and share photos with a one-year complimentary subscription to Mylio Create and a two-month membership to Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan.

    • Store and access 2TB of photos and files on the go, with Seagate Backup Plus Slim, an external hard drive for Mac and Windows
    • This portable external hard drive features a minimalist brushed metal enclosure, and is a stylish USB drive
    • Simply plug this external hard drive for Mac and Windows into a computer via the included USB 3. 0 cable to back up files with a single click or schedule automatic daily, weekly, or monthly backups. Reformatting may be required for use with time machine
    • Edit, manage, and share photos with a 1 year complimentary subscription to Mylio Create and a 2 month membership to Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan
    • Enjoy long term peace of mind with the included 2 year limited

    Product features

    A Little Fits a Lot

    Small enough for a loaded laptop bag, spacious enough for loads of content—Backup Plus Slim is the perfect marriage of easy portability and truly useful file storage. Easily plug into Windows and Mac computers via USB 3.0 and enjoy helpful tools like customizable backup and folder mirroring.

    What's Included

    Seagate Backup Plus Slim drive | 18-inch (45.72cm) USB 3.0 cable | Quick start guide | Downloadable Seagate Toolkit backup software | One-year Mylio Create plan | Two-month membership Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan

    Seagate STHN2000400 Backup Plus Slim 2TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD - Black USB 3.0 for PC Laptop and Mac, 1 Year Mylio Create, 2 Months Adobe CC Photography

    Seagate

    Based on 2 reviews Check latest price

    Product description

    Store and access 2TB of photos and files on the go, with Seagate Backup Plus Slim. The perfect compliment to personal aesthetic, this compact, portable external hard drive features a minimalist brushed metal enclosure and quick plug and play connectivity with the included USB 3.0 cable. Giving files extra protection is practically effortless—simply back up with a single click or schedule automatic daily, weekly, or monthly backups. Plus—edit, manage, and share photos with a one year complimentary subscription to Mylio Create and a two month membership to Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan.

    • Store and access 2TB of photos and files on the go, with Seagate Backup Plus Slim, an external hard drive for Mac and Windows
    • This portable external hard drive features a minimalist brushed metal enclosure, and is a stylish USB drive
    • Simply plug this external hard drive for Mac and Windows into a computer via the included USB 3.0 cable to back up files with a single click or schedule automatic daily, weekly, or monthly backups; Reformatting may be required for use with Time Machine
    • Edit, manage, and share photos with a 1 year complimentary subscription to Mylio Create and a 2 month membership to Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan
    • Enjoy long term peace of mind with the included 2 year limited warranty

    User questions & answers

    Question: how long is the usb cable and what type of cable is it
    Answer: I had this hard drive for awhile as a spare backup drive in my PC. I plugged it into the front port of my PS4 and instantly gained 4TB of space. It requires no extra power source, the PS4 will format it and you can play games on it just the same as installing to your HDD inside the PS4. I don't notice any speed issues on my PRO, it runs the same speed. It's perfect to stop you from having to shuffle games off and on the limited 1TB in the system.
    Question: Do you plug in and it automatically backs up all data including photos
    Answer: An MP3 is about 1-2 meg/minute depending on bit rate, so in the worst case, say 4-8 million minutes depending on bit rate, so it's about 66,666 to 123,000 hours depending on file size. About 7.6 - 15 years of continuous recording. Chances are, unless you're loading it with porn (and maybe not even then!) you probably can't fill this before it wears out. Trust me, by the time you even come close to filling this drive, a 40TB drive will be about the same price, you'll buy that, then copy everything over, format it, then offer it to your kid, who will wonder what can he do with a drive this small.
    Question: Can you play the new xbox series x/s off of the hard drive
    Answer: Hello, thank you for your support. This may need to be connected to the USB2.0 interface of raspberry PI 4 to work normally. You can try it.Thanks.
    Question: Can this be used for extra, regular use, storage for an iMac? Like attached to the back of it
    Answer: Hello, it has a strong fall resistance. It won't break easily.

    LaCie LAC9000298 Rugged Mini 2TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD - USB 3.0 USB 2.0 Compatible, Drop Shock Dust Rain Resistant Shuttle Drive, For Mac And PC Computer Desktop Workstation PC Laptop

    LaCie

    Based on 8 reviews Check latest price

    Product description

    Travel with a capacity of 2TB in an ultra compact portable hard drive—LaCie Rugged Mini. Seamlessly connect to USB 3. 0 computers, transfer content fast with speeds of up to 130MB/s, and trek confidently with all terrain durability of drop, crush, and rain resistance. This drive even includes a complimentary one month membership to the Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps Plan for access to awesome photo and video editing apps, as well as a two year limited for long term peace of mind.

    • Travel with a massive capacity of up to 5TB in an ultra compact portable external hard Drive
    • For those who have a need for Speed, seamlessly connect to USB 3. 0 computers and transfer content Fast with speeds of up to 130MB/s
    • Trek confidently with an external Hard Drive that offers all terrain durability of drop, crush, and water resistance
    • Take advantage of a complimentary 1 month membership to the Adobe creative cloud all apps plan for access to awesome photo and video editing apps
    • Enjoy long term peace of mind with the included 2 year limited

    Product features

    The Smallest Rugged Around

    With capacities of up to 5TB, the LaCie Rugged Mini is a small but mighty USB 3.0 portable hard drive. Perfect for busy creatives, it offers premium protection for photos, footage, and more while delivering Mac and Windows compatibility, fast speeds, and customizable backup.

    What's Included

    LaCie Rugged Mini hard drive, USB 3.0 cable (2.0 compatible), Quick Install Guide

    WD 4TB My Passport Ultra for Mac Silver Portable External Hard Drive, USB-C - WDBPMV0040BSL-WESN

    Western Digital

    Based on 7 reviews Check latest price

    Product description

    The My Passport Ultra is trusted, portable storage in a design that brilliantly pairs metal and matte finishes to create a sophisticated style. It has plenty of space to store all the content you love. Social media and cloud storage import, WD Backup software and password protection help keep all your memories safe and secure. Easy to use, just plug it in to start saving and backing up.

    • USB-C ready, USB 3.0 compatible
    • Innovative style with refined metal cover
    • Password protection with 256-bit AES hardware encryption
    • Formatted for Mac
    • 3-year manufacturer's limited warranty

    Product features

    USB-C ready, USB 3.0 compatible

    Featuring the latest in USB-C technology, the My Passport Ultra for Mac portable drive delivers quick and easy storage for your Mac, while the included USB-3.0 adapter makes sure it’s compatible with older machines.

    Innovative Style and Function

    Fusing modern anodized metal and textures, the My Passport Ultra for Mac portable drive matches your personal style and the latest Mac computers.

    Maxone 500GB Ultra Slim Portable External Hard Drive HDD USB 3.0 for PC, Mac, Laptop, PS4, Xbox one - Charcoal Grey

    Maxone

    Based on 21 reviews Check latest price
    • ✔ Ultra Slim and Sturdy Metal Design: Merely 0.4 inch thick. All-Aluminum anti-scratch model delivers remarkable strength and durability, keeping this portable hard drive running cool and quiet
    • ✔ A Reliable Game Drive: This PS4 external hard drive features fast and stable performance for PS4, PS4 Pro, and Xbox One, does not refuse or delete a game. Compatible with Microsoft Windows and Mac OS(10.6.5 and above) in the meantime
    • ✔ Improve PC Performance: Powered by USB 3.0 technology, this USB hard drive is much faster than - but still compatible with - USB 2.0 backup drive, allowing for super fast transfer speed at up to 5 Gbit/s
    • ✔ Plug and Play: This external drive is ready to use without external power supply or software installation needed. Ideal extra storage for your computer and game console
    • ✔ What's Included: Portable external hard drive, 19-inch(48.26cm) USB 3.0 hard drive cable, user's manual, 3-Year manufacturer warranty with free technical support service

    Product features

    Introducing Maxone Ultra Slim Portable Hard Drive

    Powered by USB 3.0 technology, Maxone portable hard drives are much faster than USB 2.0, allowing for speedy transfer when organizing your files.

    This portable hard drive by default is formatted as exFAT, which works well with Windows and Mac. Some of the old devices may need reformat.

    No reformat required for Windows and Mac, just plug it in and play. Y cable will be needed for Wii U.

    To maximize performance, please connect your hard drive to a USB 3.0 port, also compatible with USB 2.0.

    Easy to Use

    Maxone Ultra Slim external hard drive is ready to use without external power supply or software installation needed. Simply drag and drop files you want to save.

    Improve PC Performance

    Offering high storage capacity up to 2TB, this drive is made to free up more space and effectively improve the performance of your PC and laptop.

    Ultra Compact and Light Weight

    All-Aluminum anti-scratch model offers stronger exterior protection, delivering remarkable strength and durability. Yet this drive is also compact and light weight. Easy to carry around wherever you go.

    WD 8TB My Book Desktop External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 - WDBBGB0080HBK-NESN

    Western Digital

    Based on 7 reviews Check latest price

    Product description

    The My Book drive is trusted desktop storage designed to complement your personal style with a massive amount of space to store your photos, videos, music and documents. Equipped with password protection and perfectly paired with WD Backup or Apple Time Machine, My Book desktop storage helps keep your files safe.Operating System: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, macOS 10.13+.

    • Auto backup with included WD Backup software and Time Machine compatibility
    • Password protection with hardware encryption
    • Trusted storage built with WD reliability
    • USB 3.0 port; USB 2.0 compatible
    • 3-year manufacturer's limited warranty

    Product features

    Complete Backup

    My Book desktop storage comes equipped with WD Backup software and Time Machine compatibility* to help make sure your photos, videos, music and documents don’t get lost. You can set it to run automatically to your schedule. Just pick the time and frequency to back up important files from your system.

    *Reformatting required.

    Seagate Enterprise Capacity 8TB 256MB Cache 7200RPM (512e) SATA 6Gb/s 3.5inch Internal Hard Drive - ST8000NM0105

    Seagate

    Product description

    Seagate Enterprise Capacity 3.5 HDD ST8000NM0105 8TB 7200 RPM 256MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Enterprise Hard Drive is Capacity-Optimized Enterprise Hard Drive for Bulk-Data Applications





    8TB, 3.5-inch enterprise drive with industry-leading 6-disk technology,¹ resulting in 33% more storage in the same storage slot

    Advanced Write Caching feature to utilize enhanced algorithms, resulting in the industry's highest nearline storage workload performance efficiencies-100% performance improvement in random writes over last-generation drive

    Widely accepted, proven ninth-generation conventional perpendicular recording technology for reliable access to unstructured data in bulk storage applications

    SATA 6Gb/s interfaces in industry-standard advanced formats for easy integration into replicated and RAID multi-drive storage servers and systems

    State-of-the-art cache, on-the-fly error-correction algorithms, super parity and end-to-end SAS-based data integrity for accurate data storage

    Industry-leading rotational vibration tolerance design helps ensure consistent performance in dense multi-drive systems

    Engineered for 24×7 workloads of 550TB/yr-10× that of desktop drives

    Robust performance with dual processors, ramp load technology, top-coverattached motor and humidity sensor for optimum performance in all chassis

    Seagate Secure Self-Encrypting Drive featuring Instant Secure Erase for costsaving drive retirement and secure data-at-rest protection



    Best-Fit Applications

    Hyperscale applications/cloud data centers with replicated storage

    Massive scale-out data centers and big data analytics

    High-capacity density RAID storage

    Mainstream enterprise external storage arrays (SAN, NAS, DAS)

    Distributed file systems, including Hadoop and Ceph

    Enterprise backup and restore-D2D, virtual tape

    Centralized surveillance storage

    CCTV DVR / NVR Hard Drive

    • HIGH-DENSITY STORAGE - 8TB hard disk drive designed for Hyperscale applications/cloud data centers solutions requiring maximum storage efficiency. 3.5-inch form factor for space-constrained data centers. FAST DATA ACCESS - 6Gb/s SATA for high data integrity, scalability and fast data access.
    • ULTIMATE PERFORMANCE - Robust performance with dual processors, ramp load technology, top-cover-attached motor and humidity sensor for optimum performance in all chassis.
    • HIGHEST-RELIABILITY - The industry’s highest-reliability 7200-RPM drive, designed for 24×7 operation with MTBF of 2.0M hours and AFR of 0.44%.
    • Bare Drive Only, Single Pack, (No Screws, Cables or Accessories included) -Friendly Reminder- Please FORMAT HDD on system in order to be detected/shows on system.
    • (Old Model) 5 Years Warranty from Reseller, Worry Free Return! 100% Full Refund. Works for Desktop PC/Mac, RAID System, NAS Network Storage, CCTV DVR Surveillance System

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