Despite the rise of external SSDs, traditional external hard drives (HDDs) remain the most cost-effective way to store and back up large amounts of data in 2026. At roughly $15-30 per terabyte for HDDs versus $60-80 per terabyte for external SSDs, spinning drives still dominate for bulk storage, backups, and media archives. The best overall portable HDD is the WD My Passport (5TB, ~$130), recommended by Wirecutter and PCWorld for its combination of encryption, backup software, and reliability. For desktop use with maximum capacity, the Seagate Expansion Desktop (up to 24TB) delivers near-280 MB/s sequential speeds -- twice the rate of typical 2.5-inch portable drives. [src1, src2, src3]
The external HDD market in 2026 splits into two categories: portable 2.5-inch bus-powered drives (up to 6TB, no external power needed) and desktop 3.5-inch drives (8TB-24TB, AC adapter required) that offer faster speeds and lower cost per terabyte. Western Digital and Seagate control nearly the entire market, with Toshiba and LaCie offering niche alternatives for budget and rugged use cases respectively. Prices have risen by an average of 46% since September 2025 due to AI-driven demand for storage, making current pricing a notable consideration. [src1, src4, src7]
| Model | Price | Capacity | Interface | Speed | Form Factor | Best For | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WD My Passport | ~$130 | 1-5TB | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | ~120 MB/s | 2.5" Portable | Best overall portable | Check price |
| WD My Passport USB-C | ~$185 | 1-6TB | USB 3.2 Gen 1 (USB-C) | ~130 MB/s | 2.5" Portable | Best USB-C portable | Check price |
| Seagate Expansion Desktop | ~$280 | 4-24TB | USB 3.0 | ~280 MB/s | 3.5" Desktop | Best desktop performance | Check price |
| WD Elements Desktop | ~$220 | 4-18TB | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | ~200 MB/s | 3.5" Desktop | Best value desktop | Check price |
| WD My Book | ~$350 | 4-22TB | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | ~200 MB/s | 3.5" Desktop | Best desktop with encryption | Check price |
| Seagate One Touch | ~$115 | 1-5TB | USB 3.0 | ~120 MB/s | 2.5" Portable | Best stylish portable | Check price |
| Toshiba Canvio Advance | ~$95 | 1-4TB | USB 3.0 | ~138 MB/s | 2.5" Portable | Best budget portable | Check price |
| LaCie Rugged Mini | ~$145 | 1-5TB | USB 3.0 | ~130 MB/s | 2.5" Portable | Best rugged portable | Check price |
| Seagate Portable | ~$65 | 1-5TB | USB 3.0 | ~120 MB/s | 2.5" Portable | Best ultra-budget | Check price |
| WD Elements Portable | ~$70 | 1-5TB | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | ~120 MB/s | 2.5" Portable | Best no-frills budget | Check price |
The WD My Passport is Wirecutter's and PCWorld's consensus pick for the best portable external hard drive. It offers 256-bit AES hardware encryption, WD Backup software with ransomware protection, and reliable performance at a competitive price. The 5TB model provides the best capacity-to-price ratio. USB 3.2 Gen 1 delivers up to 120 MB/s sustained reads. Three-year warranty. [src1, src2]
The highest-capacity portable HDD on the market at 6TB. While branded "Works with USB-C," it uses a Micro-B connector with an included USB-A to USB-C adapter. Includes Acronis True Image software and 256-bit AES encryption. The enclosure is made from over 50% post-consumer recycled plastic. At roughly $30/TB, it remains far cheaper than any SSD alternative. [src1, src6]
PCWorld's Editors' Choice for desktop external storage. The 16TB model reads and writes at close to 280 MB/s -- nearly twice the speed of portable HDDs. Available in capacities from 4TB to 24TB, with the 12TB and 16TB models hitting the price-per-terabyte sweet spot at around $17-20/TB. Plug-and-play with no software required. Includes Rescue Data Recovery Services. [src1, src7]
No-frills desktop storage at record-breaking prices -- the 12TB model has been available at under $15/TB during sales. Preformatted NTFS for Windows, can be reformatted for Mac. USB 3.2 Gen 1 interface with backward USB 2.0 compatibility. Two-year warranty. The interior typically houses a 5400 RPM drive with 256MB cache. [src1, src4]
The fastest read/write performance among desktop HDDs at approximately 200 MB/s sequential. Built-in 256-bit AES hardware encryption with WD Security password protection. Includes WD Backup and Apple Time Machine compatibility. Available up to 22TB. Three-year warranty. Ideal for those who need both massive capacity and data security. [src2, src4]
Outperforms the WD My Passport in raw speed tests at 138 MB/s read and 154 MB/s write. Weighs just 210g with a slim 19mm profile. Includes Toshiba Storage Backup Software and password protection. Available in four colors. Excellent value at under $25/TB. [src3, src5]
Drop-resistant up to 1.2 meters, rain-resistant, and pressure-resistant up to one ton. The iconic Neil Poulton design with orange rubber bumpers has been an industry standard since 2005. USB 3.0 with up to 130 MB/s transfer speed. Includes both USB-C and USB-A cables. Two-year warranty with Rescue Data Recovery Services. Ideal for photographers, videographers, and field workers. [src3, src5]
The most affordable way to get reliable external storage. No-frills design with USB 3.0, plug-and-play for both Windows and Mac. Compatible with PlayStation and Xbox for game storage. One-year Rescue Data Recovery Services included. Available in capacities from 1TB to 5TB. [src3, src4]
→ Desktop HDD: WD Elements Desktop 12TB (~$220, ~$18/TB) or Seagate Expansion Desktop 16TB (~$280, ~$17/TB). Desktop drives are 30-50% cheaper per TB than portable drives. Requires AC power adapter. [src1, src4, src7]
→ WD My Passport 5TB (~$130). Wirecutter and PCWorld consensus pick. 256-bit AES encryption, backup software, 3-year warranty. For tighter budgets: Seagate Portable 2TB (~$65). [src1, src2]
→ LaCie Rugged Mini 5TB (~$145). Drop-resistant (1.2m), rain-resistant, pressure-resistant (1 ton). Iconic design proven over 20 years. Includes data recovery service. [src3, src5]
→ Portable: WD My Passport (~$130, 256-bit AES hardware encryption). Desktop: WD My Book (~$350, same encryption plus password protection). Both include backup software. [src1, src2, src4]
→ Consider an external SSD instead. Even budget SSDs deliver 1,000+ MB/s vs HDDs' 120-280 MB/s. At $60-80/TB, SSDs are competitive under 4TB. [src1, src4]
→ WD My Passport 5TB (~$130). Best balance of encryption, reliability, capacity, and price for most users. If desktop use with larger capacity: Seagate Expansion Desktop 16TB (~$280). [src1, src2]