The 6 Best External Hard Drives for Mac
External hard drives for Mac provide secure, high-speed storage for backups, media files, and professional workflows.
The best external hard drives for Mac combine Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C connectivity, APFS compatibility, and fast SSD or high-capacity HDD performance to match Apple’s ecosystem.
This guide compares top-rated drives from Western Digital, Samsung, Seagate, LaCie, and SanDisk, helping you choose the ideal model for your MacBook, iMac, or Mac Studio—whether you need portable speed or large desktop storage within your budget.
- Choose USB‑C or Thunderbolt (3/4) drives for plug‑and‑play Mac compatibility and guaranteed speeds.
- Reformat drives to APFS for SSDs; use HFS+ for HDDs or exFAT for cross‑platform use.
- Pick SSDs for speed and durability; HDDs for high‑capacity, cost‑effective backups.
- Prioritise encryption, password protection and reputable brands for data security and reliability.
- Match capacity and portability to your workflow; keep a second drive for offsite backups.
The 6 Best External Hard Drives for Mac
Overall Best – Samsung T7 SSD
For the best balance of speed, security, portability, and price, the Samsung T7 Portable SSD is hard to beat. With read speeds of up to 1,050MB/s, this palm-sized, super-lightweight SSD enclosure delivers blazing performance.
The durable design features up to 6 feet of drop protection, a dynamic thermal guard to regulate heat levels, and integrated password and AES 256-bit hardware encryption to ensure your data remains secure.
It’s compatible with Macs, iPads, Windows PCs, and Android devices via the USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface. Available in capacities ranging from 500GB to 2TB.
Samsung T7 SSD
Your old hard drive is a slow, fragile liability that's bottlenecking your work. One drop and you're done. This is the fix. It's 9.5 times faster, built from solid aluminium, and features hardware encryption. Stop gambling with your data and get a professional tool.
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Runner Up – WD My Passport HDD
The latest version of the popular WD My Passport external drive offers high capacities ranging from 1TB to a massive 5TB.
The compact 2.5-inch form factor means it’s easy to transport when needed. But it’s still noticeably more significant than an SSD. Speeds max out at around 150MB/s, but performance remains very respectable.
Optional automatic backup software helps safeguard your files. And there’s built-in 256-AES encryption plus compatibility across devices—great value for money.
WD My Passport HDD
You bought a premium Mac, but you're backing it up to a cheap, plastic drive that needs an adapter. That's a bad look. This is the fix. It’s a sleek, metal hard drive built to match your machine. It’s USB-C native, features built-in hardware encryption, and supports both Mac and PC. Stop using an ugly afterthought.
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Best Budget – Seagate Expansion Desktop
If you want plenty of affordable storage, Seagate has you covered. With a capacity of up to 24TB, there’s ample room to grow.
With a maximum data transfer rate of 120MB/s via USB 3.0, it handles full HD video streaming and image backups without issues. Support for Time Machine backups is a handy feature. It also includes helpful utilities for social media and cloud backups.
Seagate Expansion Desktop
You're one hard drive crash away from losing everything because your laptop is full, and you have no backup. This is the fix. It's not a tiny portable drive; it's a 4TB data vault for your desk. It’s a simple, plug-and-play system that even includes data recovery services. Stop gambling.
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Best Performance – G-Technology G-Drive SSD
Demanding intensive tasks like 4K video editing and 3D graphic design require next-level speeds. The G-Technology G-Drive SSD delivers precisely that – with blistering rates up to 2,800MB/s read and 2,500MB/s write when hooked up via Thunderbolt 3.
Storage options range from 500GB to a monstrous 15TB to suit varying project sizes. It has a durable aluminium housing to withstand life on the road. It also utilises dual Thunderbolt 3 ports for Daisy Chaining extra peripherals.
Professional-grade performance comes at a steeper price. But for smooth editing of Ultra HD footage, it’s worth it.
G-Technology G-Drive SSD
You're a creative pro, but your storage is amateur hour. You're bottlenecked by slow, unreliable drives. This is the fix. It's not just a drive; it's a modular workstation hub. It combines a massive, enterprise-grade hard drive for your archive with a 10Gbps SSD slot for your active projects. Stop waiting.
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Most Reliable – LaCie Rugged SSD Pro
The LaCie Rugged SSD Pro is specifically designed for maximum resilience in demanding environments.
Its rubber sleeve and aluminium corning provide all-terrain drop, crush, rain, and dust protection without compromising style. Both Thunderbolt 3 and USB Type-C deliver speeds above 950MB/s.
Seagate Secure AES-256 encryption, combined with required password access, keeps confidential data ultra-secure. With capacities of up to 2TB, it also provides ample room for memory-intensive media folders. Paying extra for supreme reliability gives invaluable peace of mind.
LaCie Rugged SSD Pro
You're a creative pro, but your external drive is a fragile liability. One bump, and you've lost the entire shoot. This is the industry-standard fix. It's a 5TB tank, engineered to be shock- and drop-resistant. Additionally, it’s encrypted and includes data recovery features. Stop gambling and protect your work.
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Best Wireless – SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD
The SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD removes cable limitations by supporting fast WiFi speeds of up to 550MB/s. That’s quick enough for streaming 4K video.
At the same time, the durable silicon shell, with an IP55 rating for dust/water resistance, and up to 2-metre drop protection, allows it to thrive in demanding environments.
Compatible across Mac, Windows, Android and iPadOS. Capacities range from 500GB to 2TB—factor in the high price for cutting cords. If you value flexible wireless use, it’s a justifiable expense.
SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD
Your old portable hard drive is a slow, fragile liability. One drop or splash and your entire project is gone. This is the fix. It’s not just a drive; it's a high-speed vault. It's built to survive a three-meter drop, shrugs off water and dust, and features hardware encryption. Stop waiting for transfers and start protecting your work.
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Best for High-Capacity Backups – WD My Book
Sometimes you don't need a drive to chuck in your bag, you just need a massive digital shed to store everything. That's where the WD My Book comes in.
This is a desktop drive, meaning it needs its own power supply and is meant to sit on your desk and stay there. But what you lose in portability, you gain in sheer space for your money.
With capacities ranging up to a frankly enormous 44TB, this is the perfect solution for running your Time Machine backups or archiving years of photos and videos. It connects via USB 3.0, which is more than sufficient for backup jobs.
It also comes with automatic backup software and built-in 256-bit AES hardware encryption, ensuring your data remains private. For pure, simple, cost-effective storage, it’s a brilliant bit of kit.
WD 16TB My Book
You're just one click away from losing everything because your backup system is inadequate. This is the fix. It's not just a drive; it's a 16TB data vault for your desk. It’s a complete system with automatic backup software and hardware encryption. Stop gambling with your data.
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What to Look for in an External Hard Drive for Mac
Compatibility
The most crucial factor is ensuring the external hard drive you select is designed to work with Macs out of the box. Most external hard drives are formatted to work with both Windows and Mac.
But some cheaper options are Windows-only. Always check product descriptions to confirm compatibility before making a purchase.
Understanding Mac File Systems
Right, let's have a quick chat about file formats. Look, most drives you buy will come formatted as exFAT. The simple reason is that they work straight away on both a Windows PC and your Mac. It’s the universal translator of hard drives. However, here's the thing: it's not ideal for just a Mac.
If you're only using the drive with your Mac, you'll want to reformat it to Apple File System, or APFS. It’s a piece of cake to do in the Disk Utility app that’s already on your machine.
APFS is properly optimised for the SSDs in modern Macs, giving you better performance and solid features like crash protection and strong encryption.
For an older spinning hard drive, or an HDD you’ll use for Time Machine, the older HFS+ format is still a perfectly good shout.
Hard Disk Drive vs Solid State Drive
The main options for Mac external hard drives are traditional Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) or solid-state drives (SSDs). HDDs have moving parts, making them slower and more prone to failure if knocked.
However, according to GB, they are significantly cheaper than SSDs. SSDs have no moving parts, making them faster, smaller, and more durable. But they are significantly more expensive.
Storage Capacity
Consider how much extra storage you currently need, as well as potential future needs. Storage capacities for external hard drives range from 500GB to 10 TB or more.
1-4TB is ideal for most home users to back up essential files and media collections. Professional creatives working with huge files may need higher capacities.
Connectivity
The latest Macs only have USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 ports. Well, actually, the newest ones have what’s called Thunderbolt 4 or USB4. Don't let the name change worry you; it's the exact same USB-C plug.
The main thing to know is that it's all backwards compatible, so any drive you buy with a USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 cable will work a treat. It just guarantees certain speeds and features, so you know you're getting what you paid for. So, choose a drive with USB-C or Thunderbolt for direct plug-and-play connectivity.
Some HDDs still use older USB 3.0/3.1 standards, so they require a compatibility adapter. This won't impact speeds but is a bit clunky. Wireless external SSDs offer cable-free flexibility but are pricier.
Transfer Speeds
USB 3.0 and 3.1 offer decent speeds of up to 5Gbps for HDDs. Whereas USB-C can reach 10Gbps. For SSDs, Thunderbolt 3 achieves maximum speeds of 40Gbps.
Always check benchmarks from independent testing sites to verify manufacturer speed claims. Faster drives allow quicker file transfers and backups.
Security
Select an external HDD or SSD that offers data encryption and password protection if storing sensitive documents. Some drives come with this built in. Or you can manually encrypt drives for free using Disk Utility in macOS. An encrypted drive means that if lost or stolen, your data remains secure.
Size and Portability
Standard external hard drives are typically larger and heavier than slim and lightweight portable SSDs. An SSD can easily replace an external drive in your bag to transport files. However, a larger HDD is acceptable if it primarily resides on your desk. Having decent drop protection also matters for frequently moved drives.
Essential Factors When Deciding the Right External Hard Drive for Your Needs
1. Storage Capacity
Consider your current and likely future storage requirements, e.g., the number of photos, videos, and project files. And buy an external drive that comfortably exceeds this, rather than skimping on storage. As drives fill up and free space decreases, performance noticeably declines. So, building in overhead capacity is advised.
2. Security
All external drives have inherent risks of failure, corruption, loss, theft or accidental damage. So, having backups of your data is crucial for avoiding catastrophe. Consider an additional external drive purely for making regular backups stored safely offsite. Encrypting drives also adds essential security if they fall into the wrong hands.
3. Transfer Speeds
Faster drives with USB-C, Thunderbolt 3, or WiFi 6 allow you to move files on and off the drive more quickly. Handy for transferring batches of large photos or videos.
Or editing very high-resolution footage smoothly directly from the drive. A more affordable HDD is OK for extra document/media storage. Professional media creators need cutting-edge SSD speeds.
4. Physical Durability
Standard external HDDs and SSDs typically have enclosures to protect the drive's internals from minor bumps and knocks. However, for frequent transport, consider a rugged drive with rubber or metal shielding, plus dust/splashproofing, to survive inevitable drops and spills when mobile. Regular backups to another drive also protect against hardware failure.
5. Drive Format
External drives formatted specifically for Windows won’t work on Mac and vice versa. Most drives are pre-formatted to FAT32 or exFAT to work universally across both operating systems. Always check before buying. If a drive is Windows-only, you can reformat it using Mac Disk Utility, but this involves wiping the data.
6. Warranty and Brand Reliability
Look, this is not the place to save a tenner by buying some no-name drive from a dodgy website. A hard drive holds your valuable data, possibly even your entire business.
The last thing you want is for it to fail. Sticking to recognised brands like Western Digital, Seagate, Samsung, LaCie, or Crucial is just smart policy. These companies have been doing this for years and have a reputation to protect.
Also, check the warranty. A high-quality SSD will typically come with a 3-year or even a 5-year limited warranty. That's the manufacturer telling you they're confident it won't break.
A short warranty should be a red flag. Just remember, a warranty will replace your drive if it fails; however, it won't recover your data. That's why having backups is non-negotiable.
Frequently Asked Questions About External Hard Drives for Mac
Why do I need an external hard drive for my Mac?
Macs have limited internal drive capacity. An external drive provides supplemental storage to accommodate your expanding needs over time, such as for backups, file sharing, storing creative projects, or archiving older files that are no longer needed on your primary internal drive.
How do I choose the suitable external hard drive capacity?
Consider both your current storage needs and potential future requirements. Photos, videos and project files consume much more capacity over time. Therefore, it is more significant than existing needs to build in room for growth. 1-2TB suits most needs today. Creative pros require larger 4-6TB+ drives.
What’s the difference between HDD and SSD drives?
HDDs use older mechanical spinning disk technology, making them more prominent. But it's cheaper per GB. SSDs are faster, smaller, and more durable, using integrated circuits rather than moving parts—a significant difference in $ per GB. HDD is great for backups. SSD is better for active projects.
Is Thunderbolt 3 faster than USB-C external drives?
Yes. Both Thunderbolt and USB-C connectors are used on the latest Macs. However, Thunderbolt 3 operates at speeds of up to 40Gbps, whereas USB-C Gen 2 has a maximum speed of 10Gbps. This makes a significant difference when transferring large files on a regular basis. Thunderbolt 3 drives allow smoother video editing and graphic design work directly from the drive. USB-C suits more straightforward needs.
How do Time Machine backups work on an external drive?
Apple’s built-in Time Machine software allows you to incrementally back up all contents of your internal drive to prevent data loss. Just designate an external drive as the Time Machine destination in System Preferences. Automatic backups then continuously sync in the background to this drive. Restoring data is straightforward if a disaster strikes the main drive.
Can I use a single external drive between a Mac and a Windows PC?
Many external drives are preformatted to work on both operating systems without reformatting. Alternatively, you can format a drive in either Mac Disk Utility or Windows Disk Manager to suit both, such as exFAT. Remember, once partitioned and formatted for either Mac or PC, you typically can’t change it without wiping the contents.
Summary
Investing in a high-quality external drive tailored to your specific needs and budget is a smart way to safeguard your valuable data. Always check that the storage capacity, speeds, connectivity, durability ratings, and security encryption capabilities match how you realistically plan to use the drive.
For maximum resilience, having two external drives is advisable – one for backups and another for actively editing projects directly from the drive, if needed. Shop around for deals and independent product reviews. But don’t risk a bargain basement no-name drive that could fail and lose all your files.
Paying more for recognised quality brands with extended warranties brings valuable peace of mind, knowing your data remains protected in the long term.
