The 5 Best External Hard Drives for Backing Up a Computer
Five external hard drives for backing up a computer, including Western Digital 8TB and WD Elements 2TB Portable, compared by capacity, USB connection and backup workflow.
Our top 5 external hard drives for backing up a computer
Swipe to compare price, customer rating and best use →
| Product | Price | Customer rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
01 Western Digital 8TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive USBDetails ↓ | $399.38 | 4.5/5Observed Oct 12, 2026 | Best 8TB desktop |
02 Western Digital WD 2TB Elements Portable External Hard DriveDetails ↓ | $131.50 | 4.7/5Observed Oct 13, 2026 | Best WD 2TB portable |
03 YOTUO 1TB External Hard Drive Portable Storage Expansion HDDDetails ↓ | $85.99 | 4.3/5Observed Oct 12, 2026 | Best USB-C 1TB |
04 Toshiba Canvio Basics 2TB Portable External Hard Drive USBDetails ↓ | $143.79 | 4.6/5Observed Oct 13, 2026 | Best Toshiba 2TB |
05 UnionSine 500GB Ultra Slim Portable External Hard DriveDetails ↓ | $39.43 | 4.4/5Observed Oct 12, 2026 | Best slim 500GB |
01 — Western Digital
Best 8TB desktopWestern Digital 8TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive USB
Western Digital 8TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive USB provides 8TB of external hard-disk storage through USB 3.0. Its portable enclosure can be moved between compatible computers; compare the exact cable and file-system requirements before using it for backups. Keep an independent second copy of irreplaceable files; a single external disk can fail.
View on Amazon ↗Reasons to buy
+Western Digital 8TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive USB provides 8TB of external hard-disk storage through USB 3.
Reasons to avoid
−Costs $340.56 more than the least expensive pick in this guide.
02 — Western Digital
Best WD 2TB portableWestern Digital WD 2TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive
WD Elements 2TB Portable External Hard Drive provides 2TB of external hard-disk storage through USB 3.2. Its portable enclosure can be moved between compatible computers; compare the exact cable and file-system requirements before using it for backups. If the drive is used with macOS and Windows, plan the file system before copying files.
View on Amazon ↗Reasons to buy
+WD Elements 2TB Portable External Hard Drive provides 2TB of external hard-disk storage through USB 3.
Reasons to avoid
−Costs $91.47 more than the least expensive pick in this guide.
03 — YOTUO
Best USB-C 1TBYOTUO 1TB External Hard Drive Portable Storage Expansion HDD
YOTUO 1TB External Hard Drive Portable Storage Expansion HDD provides 1TB of external hard-disk storage through USB 3.0. Its portable enclosure can be moved between compatible computers; compare the exact cable and file-system requirements before using it for backups. Game storage rules differ by console generation, so check whether titles can run externally.
View on Amazon ↗Reasons to buy
+YOTUO 1TB External Hard Drive Portable Storage Expansion HDD provides 1TB of external hard-disk storage through USB 3.
Reasons to avoid
−Costs $46.56 more than the least expensive pick in this guide.
04 — TOSHIBA
Best Toshiba 2TBToshiba Canvio Basics 2TB Portable External Hard Drive USB
Toshiba Canvio Basics 2TB Portable External Hard Drive provides 2TB of external hard-disk storage through USB 3.0. Its portable enclosure can be moved between compatible computers; compare the exact cable and file-system requirements before using it for backups. For photo work, copy from the drive to faster storage before editing large RAW batches.
View on Amazon ↗Reasons to buy
+Toshiba Canvio Basics 2TB Portable External Hard Drive provides 2TB of external hard-disk storage through USB 3.
Reasons to avoid
−Costs $94.37 more than the least expensive pick in this guide.
05 — UnionSine
Best slim 500GBUnionSine 500GB Ultra Slim Portable External Hard Drive
UnionSine 500GB Ultra Slim Portable External Hard Drive provides 500GB of external hard-disk storage through USB 3.0. Its portable enclosure can be moved between compatible computers; compare the exact cable and file-system requirements before using it for backups. Backups should include a restore test; a connected drive alone does not confirm the files are recoverable.
View on Amazon ↗Reasons to buy
+UnionSine 500GB Ultra Slim Portable External Hard Drive provides 500GB of external hard-disk storage through USB 3.
Reasons to avoid
−0.
Price information
Amazon price and availability checked Oct 25, 2026, 6:13 PM Lisbon time. Prices and availability are subject to change; the information shown on Amazon.com at purchase applies.
Our process
How we picked.
We compare five relevant products for different needs, using documented specifications, clear use cases and practical trade-offs. Our goal is to make the differences clear and help you choose with confidence.
- 01Relevance
Each product must fit the guide’s intended use, audience and requirements.
- 02Specifications
We compare the key product details that meaningfully affect the buying decision.
- 03Use case and fit
We compare the intended use, configuration and practical fit of every selected product.
- 04Strengths and limitations
We explain where each option performs best and the compromises to consider.
Good questions
FAQ — External Hard Drives for Backing Up a Computer
01What is the best overall pick among these external hard drives for backing up a computer?+
The Western Digital 8TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive USB is our first pick for this guide. Western Digital 8TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive provides 8TB mechanical-disk storage through USB 3.0. It offers the strongest overall balance for this use case.
02Which of these external hard drives for backing up a computer is the budget-friendly choice?+
The UnionSine 500GB Ultra Slim Portable External Hard Drive is our budget-friendly choice for occasional transfers of a relatively small file collection. Check its stated limitations and exact configuration before buying.
03Which of these external hard drives for backing up a computer is the premium choice?+
The Western Digital 8TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive USB is the premium option in this comparison. Consider it when its features and intended use match your priorities.
04How do the top two external hard drives for backing up a computer recommendations compare?+
The Western Digital 8TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive USB is our stronger overall fit for the “best external hard drive for backing up computer” use case. The Western Digital WD 2TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive is another option for the use case covered by this guide.
05What should you look for when comparing external hard drives for backing up a computer?+
Start with the “best external hard drive for backing up computer” use case. We then compare , along with the limitations that could make a product unsuitable for your needs.
06Which option is best for the use case covered by this guide?+
The Western Digital WD 2TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive is our shortlist choice for the use case covered by this guide. Western Digital WD 2TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive for Windows lists 2TB HDD capacity, USB 3.2 Gen 1 connection for this external hard drive.
07When should you avoid the Western Digital 8TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive USB?+
Consider another option if the linked size, configuration, fit or compatibility requirements do not match your use case. The other four recommendations cover different budgets, priorities and use cases.
08How should I choose among these external hard drives for backing up a computer?+
Start with the best-for and skip-if notes, then compare the specifications and trade-offs that matter for your use case.
09How did Few Better choose these external hard drives for backing up a computer?+
We evaluated five options against the exact search intent, the “best external hard drive for backing up computer” use case, relevant specifications, use cases and meaningful trade-offs. Affiliate commission does not determine inclusion or position.
10When was this buying guide last updated?+
This guide was last reviewed on 2026-10-25. Confirm the exact model, configuration and final details on Amazon before purchasing.
The short answer
Start with the Western Digital 8TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive USB.
It is our first pick for this guide’s exact scope. Choose another option when its stated use case or trade-off better matches yours.
View on Amazon ↗Keep looking
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