Best-Selling External Hard Drives of 2018

Portable and desktop drives that plug in over USB — the ones people buy for backups, extra console storage and carrying files between machines.

Internal Hard Drives All Hard Drives

By year: All time 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

#1 — Seagate Expansion Portable 1 TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB...

Seagate Expansion Portable 1 TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB...

Seagate

#2 — Seagate Expansion 2TB USB 3.0 Portable 2.5 inch External Hard...

Seagate Expansion 2TB USB 3.0 Portable 2.5 inch External Hard...

Seagate

#3 — WD 1 TB Elements Portable Hard Drive

WD 1 TB Elements Portable Hard Drive

Western Digital

#4 — WD 2TB Elements portable external hard drive, USB 3.0 interfa...

WD 2TB Elements portable external hard drive, USB 3.0 interfa...

Western Digital

#5 — WD 4 TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive - USB 3.0, Blac...

WD 4 TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive - USB 3.0, Blac...

Western Digital

#6 — Toshiba 1TB Canvio Basics Portable External Hard Drive,USB 3....

Toshiba 1TB Canvio Basics Portable External Hard Drive,USB 3....

Toshiba

#7 — Toshiba Canvio Basics 1TB Portable External Hard Drive 2.5 In...

Toshiba Canvio Basics 1TB Portable External Hard Drive 2.5 In...

Toshiba

#8 — Seagate Expansion 4 TB USB 3.0 Desktop 3.5 inch External Hard...

Seagate Expansion 4 TB USB 3.0 Desktop 3.5 inch External Hard...

Seagate

4 · 16,686 reviews

#9 — Toshiba HDTB320EK3AA 2 TB Canvio Basics USB 3.0 Portable Exte...

Toshiba HDTB320EK3AA 2 TB Canvio Basics USB 3.0 Portable Exte...

Toshiba

#10 — LaCie LAC301558 1 TB Dust and Water Resistant Mini External H...

LaCie LAC301558 1 TB Dust and Water Resistant Mini External H...

LaCie

#11 — Western Digital My Passport 1 TB Portable Hard Drive and Auto...

Western Digital My Passport 1 TB Portable Hard Drive and Auto...

Western Digital

#12 — Transcend 1TB 2.5 inch USB 3.0 Military-Grade Shock Resistanc...

Transcend 1TB 2.5 inch USB 3.0 Military-Grade Shock Resistanc...

Transcend

#13 — Maxtor 4TB USB 3.0 portable hard drive

Maxtor 4TB USB 3.0 portable hard drive

Seagate

4 · 7,783 reviews

#14 — Seagate Backup Plus Hub, 6TB, External Hard Drive Desktop, US...

Seagate Backup Plus Hub, 6TB, External Hard Drive Desktop, US...

Seagate

4 · 4,525 reviews

#15 — Seagate 2 TB Backup Plus Slim USB 3.0 Portable 2.5 Inch Exter...

Seagate 2 TB Backup Plus Slim USB 3.0 Portable 2.5 Inch Exter...

Seagate

4 · 13,740 reviews

#16 — LaCie 2TB Rugged Mini Portable Hard Drive | USB 3.0 (LAC9000298)

LaCie 2TB Rugged Mini Portable Hard Drive | USB 3.0 (LAC9000298)

LaCie

#17 — LaCie 4TB Rugged Mini Portable Hard Drive | USB 3.0 (LAC9000633)

LaCie 4TB Rugged Mini Portable Hard Drive | USB 3.0 (LAC9000633)

LaCie

#18 — WD 4TB Elements External Hard Drive, Desktop HDD storage, USB...

WD 4TB Elements External Hard Drive, Desktop HDD storage, USB...

Western Digital

#19 — Samsung M3 1TB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive - Black - HX-M101T...

Samsung M3 1TB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive - Black - HX-M101T...

Samsung

4 · 29,729 reviews

#20 — Seagate Expansion 1TB Portable External Hard Drive 2.5" USB 3...

Seagate Expansion 1TB Portable External Hard Drive 2.5" USB 3...

Seagate

4 · 20,548 reviews

#21 — Maxtor 500GB USB 3.0 portable hard drive

Maxtor 500GB USB 3.0 portable hard drive

Maxtor

4 · 7,992 reviews

#22 — Toshiba 4TB Canvio Basics Portable External Hard Drive,USB 3....

Toshiba 4TB Canvio Basics Portable External Hard Drive,USB 3....

Toshiba

4 · 13,885 reviews

#23 — Seagate Desktop Drive, 8TB, External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 for ...

Seagate Desktop Drive, 8TB, External Hard Drive, USB 3.0 for ...

Seagate

4 · 3,478 reviews

#24 — Western Digital 3 TB Elements USB 3.0 Portable External Hard ...

Western Digital 3 TB Elements USB 3.0 Portable External Hard ...

Western Digital

#25 — Toshiba 500GB Canvio Basics Portable External Hard Drive,USB ...

Toshiba 500GB Canvio Basics Portable External Hard Drive,USB ...

Toshiba

4 · 1,423 reviews

#26 — Transcend 2TB 2.5" USB 3.0 Military-Grade Shock Resistance Po...

Transcend 2TB 2.5" USB 3.0 Military-Grade Shock Resistance Po...

Transcend

4 · 2,065 reviews

#27 — Toshiba 2TB Canvio Basics Portable External Hard Drive, USB 3...

Toshiba 2TB Canvio Basics Portable External Hard Drive, USB 3...

Toshiba

#28 — Seagate Portable Drive, 4TB, External Hard Drive, Dark Grey, ...

Seagate Portable Drive, 4TB, External Hard Drive, Dark Grey, ...

Seagate

4 · 5,040 reviews

#29 — WD 8TB My Book external hard drive, Desktop HDD with Password...

WD 8TB My Book external hard drive, Desktop HDD with Password...

Western Digital

#30 — LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt USB-C 2 TB External Hard Drive Porta...

LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt USB-C 2 TB External Hard Drive Porta...

LaCie

4 · 234 reviews

#31 — Seagate Portable Drive, 2TB, External Hard Drive, for PC Lapt...

Seagate Portable Drive, 2TB, External Hard Drive, for PC Lapt...

Seagate

4 · 22,305 reviews

#32 — Seagate STEH1000200 1 TB Backup Plus Ultra Slim USB 3.0 Porta...

Seagate STEH1000200 1 TB Backup Plus Ultra Slim USB 3.0 Porta...

Seagate

4 · 668 reviews

#33 — WD 6 TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive - USB 3.0, Black

WD 6 TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive - USB 3.0, Black

Western Digital

#34 — WD 8TB Elements External Hard Drive, Desktop HDD storage, USB...

WD 8TB Elements External Hard Drive, Desktop HDD storage, USB...

Western Digital

#35 — WD My Passport 2 TB Portable Hard Drive and Auto Backup Softw...

WD My Passport 2 TB Portable Hard Drive and Auto Backup Softw...

Western Digital

4 · 232 reviews

#36 — WD 10TB Elements External Hard Drive, Desktop HDD storage, US...

WD 10TB Elements External Hard Drive, Desktop HDD storage, US...

Western Digital

#37 — LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt USB 3.0 1 TB External Hard Drive Por...

LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt USB 3.0 1 TB External Hard Drive Por...

LaCie

#38 — Maxone Portable External Hard Drive 500GB 2.5" HDD - USB 3.0 ...

Maxone Portable External Hard Drive 500GB 2.5" HDD - USB 3.0 ...

Maxone

#39 — Transcend 2TB StoreJet 25M3 Rugged Portable HDD, One Touch Ba...

Transcend 2TB StoreJet 25M3 Rugged Portable HDD, One Touch Ba...

Transcend

#40 — WD 4TB My Book external hard drive, Desktop HDD with Password...

WD 4TB My Book external hard drive, Desktop HDD with Password...

Western Digital

#41 — Transcend 4TB StoreJet 25H3 Rugged Portable HDD, One Touch Ba...

Transcend 4TB StoreJet 25H3 Rugged Portable HDD, One Touch Ba...

Transcend

#42 — G-Technology 0G03675 G-DRIVE 6 TB Enterprise Class 7200 RPM, ...

G-Technology 0G03675 G-DRIVE 6 TB Enterprise Class 7200 RPM, ...

Western Digital

4 · 212 reviews

#43 — WD 3TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive - USB 3.0

WD 3TB Elements Desktop External Hard Drive - USB 3.0

Western Digital

#44 — LaCie Porsche Design 2 TB USB 3.0 Portable 2.5 inch External ...

LaCie Porsche Design 2 TB USB 3.0 Portable 2.5 inch External ...

LaCie

4 · 176 reviews

#45 — Verbatim 53023 HARD DRIVE 1TB 2.5IN USB 3.0 BLACK SORECOP INC...

Verbatim 53023 HARD DRIVE 1TB 2.5IN USB 3.0 BLACK SORECOP INC...

Verbatim

#46 — Silicon Power 1TB External Portable Hard Drive Rugged Armor A...

Silicon Power 1TB External Portable Hard Drive Rugged Armor A...

SP Silicon Power

4 · 286 reviews

#47 — WD 20TB My Book Duo Desktop HDD USB 3.1 Gen 1 with software f...

WD 20TB My Book Duo Desktop HDD USB 3.1 Gen 1 with software f...

Western Digital

#48 — WD 4TB My Passport Ultra, portable external storage, external...

WD 4TB My Passport Ultra, portable external storage, external...

Western Digital

#49 — Sonnics 1TB Blue External Portable Hard drive USB 3.0 super f...

Sonnics 1TB Blue External Portable Hard drive USB 3.0 super f...

Sonnics

#50 — Maxone 2.5" Portable External Hard Drive 320GB-USB 3.0 Ultra ...

Maxone 2.5" Portable External Hard Drive 320GB-USB 3.0 Ultra ...

Maxone

#51 — WD 2 TB My Passport Wireless Pro, Black

WD 2 TB My Passport Wireless Pro, Black

Western Digital

3 · 1,056 reviews

#52 — Verbatim Store 'N' Go Secure Portable Hard Drive - 1 TB, with...

Verbatim Store 'N' Go Secure Portable Hard Drive - 1 TB, with...

Verbatim

3 · 361 reviews

#53 — Sonnics 500GB USB 3.0 Desktop External Hard Drive for XBOX ON...

Sonnics 500GB USB 3.0 Desktop External Hard Drive for XBOX ON...

Sonnics

4 · 1,089 reviews

#54 — Freecom 56057 1TB Tough Drive USB 3.0 2.5 inch External Hard ...

Freecom 56057 1TB Tough Drive USB 3.0 2.5 inch External Hard ...

Freecom

4 · 410 reviews

#55 — LaCie 5TB Rugged Portable Hard Drive | USB-C (STFR5000800)

LaCie 5TB Rugged Portable Hard Drive | USB-C (STFR5000800)

LaCie

#56 — WD 2 TB My Passport Portable Hard Drive - White

WD 2 TB My Passport Portable Hard Drive - White

Western Digital

#57 — Silicon Power SP010TBPHDA30S3W 1 TB Rugged Armor A30 Shockpro...

Silicon Power SP010TBPHDA30S3W 1 TB Rugged Armor A30 Shockpro...

SP Silicon Power

#58 — WD 3TB My Book Desktop HDD USB 3.0 with software for device m...

WD 3TB My Book Desktop HDD USB 3.0 with software for device m...

Western Digital

4 · 4,123 reviews

#59 — Sonnics 500GB USB 3.0 External Portable Hard Drive for Window...

Sonnics 500GB USB 3.0 External Portable Hard Drive for Window...

Sonnics

4 · 329 reviews

#60 — WD 6TB My Book external hard drive, Desktop HDD with Password...

WD 6TB My Book external hard drive, Desktop HDD with Password...

Western Digital

#61 — Sonnics 320GB 2.5 Inch Red External pocket Hard drive USB 3.0...

Sonnics 320GB 2.5 Inch Red External pocket Hard drive USB 3.0...

Sonnics

4 · 329 reviews

#62 — Intenso 6002560 1TB Memory Station USB 2.0 5400rpm 2.5 Inch E...

Intenso 6002560 1TB Memory Station USB 2.0 5400rpm 2.5 Inch E...

Intenso

#63 — Western Digital WDBKVX0010PSL-WESN My Passport Portable SSD 1...

Western Digital WDBKVX0010PSL-WESN My Passport Portable SSD 1...

Western Digital

#64 — LaCie Rugged Triple 1 TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD – U...

LaCie Rugged Triple 1 TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD – U...

LaCie

4 · 101 reviews

#65 — Maxone Portable External Hard Drives 160GB-USB 3.0 2.5''HDD B...

Maxone Portable External Hard Drives 160GB-USB 3.0 2.5''HDD B...

Maxone

4 · 352 reviews

#66 — Asus Travelair N 1 TB Wireless Hard Drive with NFC Connection

Asus Travelair N 1 TB Wireless Hard Drive with NFC Connection

Intel

3 · 37 reviews

#67 — Verbatim 53177 2TB Store 'n' Go USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive -...

Verbatim 53177 2TB Store 'n' Go USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive -...

Verbatim

#68 — WD My Passport Ultra 4 TB Portable Hard Drive - White/Gold

WD My Passport Ultra 4 TB Portable Hard Drive - White/Gold

Western Digital

4 · 449 reviews

#69 — Silicon Power 4 TB External Portable Hard Drive Rugged Armor ...

Silicon Power 4 TB External Portable Hard Drive Rugged Armor ...

SP Silicon Power

#70 — Sonnics 2TB External Hard Drive USB 3.0 Compatible with XBOX ...

Sonnics 2TB External Hard Drive USB 3.0 Compatible with XBOX ...

Sonnics

#71 — Sonnics 1TB Silver External Portable Hard drive USB 3.0 super...

Sonnics 1TB Silver External Portable Hard drive USB 3.0 super...

Sonnics

#72 — WD 1.5 TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive - USB 3.0, Black

WD 1.5 TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive - USB 3.0, Black

Western Digital

#73 — Toshiba Canvio Ready 500GB Portable External Hard Drive 2.5 I...

Toshiba Canvio Ready 500GB Portable External Hard Drive 2.5 I...

Toshiba

4 · 1,550 reviews

#74 — Silicon Power 2 TB External Portable Hard Drive Rugged Armor ...

Silicon Power 2 TB External Portable Hard Drive Rugged Armor ...

SP Silicon Power

#75 — Seagate Expansion 4 TB USB 3.0 Desktop 3.5 inch External Hard...

Seagate Expansion 4 TB USB 3.0 Desktop 3.5 inch External Hard...

Seagate

4 · 755 reviews

#76 — Transcend 2TB StoreJet 25H3 Rugged Portable HDD, One Touch Ba...

Transcend 2TB StoreJet 25H3 Rugged Portable HDD, One Touch Ba...

Transcend

#77 — Seagate Expansion 500GB USB 3.0 Portable 2.5 inch External Ha...

Seagate Expansion 500GB USB 3.0 Portable 2.5 inch External Ha...

Seagate

#78 — WD 16TB My Book Duo Desktop HDD USB 3.1 Gen 1 with software f...

WD 16TB My Book Duo Desktop HDD USB 3.1 Gen 1 with software f...

Western Digital

#79 — Sonnics 160GB Blue External Portable Hard drive USB 3.0 super...

Sonnics 160GB Blue External Portable Hard drive USB 3.0 super...

Sonnics

#80 — Bipra S2 2.5 inch USB 2.0 NTFS Portable External Hard Drive -...

Bipra S2 2.5 inch USB 2.0 NTFS Portable External Hard Drive -...

Bipra

4 · 581 reviews

#81 — Transcend 2TB StoreJet 300 Thunderbolt USB 3.0 Portable Hard ...

Transcend 2TB StoreJet 300 Thunderbolt USB 3.0 Portable Hard ...

Transcend

3 · 352 reviews

#82 — Sonnics 1TB Desktop External Hard Drive USB 3.0 high speed fo...

Sonnics 1TB Desktop External Hard Drive USB 3.0 high speed fo...

Sonnics

3 · 183 reviews

#83 — WD Elements 2TB USB 2.0 External Desktop Hard Drive - Black

WD Elements 2TB USB 2.0 External Desktop Hard Drive - Black

Western Digital

4 · 1,039 reviews

#84 — WD 4TB My Passport Ultra for Mac, portable external hard driv...

WD 4TB My Passport Ultra for Mac, portable external hard driv...

Western Digital

#85 — Sonnics 500GB Desktop External Hard Drive USB 3.0 high speed ...

Sonnics 500GB Desktop External Hard Drive USB 3.0 high speed ...

Sonnics

3 · 246 reviews

#86 — Maxone Portable External Hard Drives 160GB-USB 3.0 HDD Backup...

Maxone Portable External Hard Drives 160GB-USB 3.0 HDD Backup...

Maxone

4 · 428 reviews

#87 — Sonnics 3TB External Hard Drive USB 3.0 Compatible with XBOX ...

Sonnics 3TB External Hard Drive USB 3.0 Compatible with XBOX ...

Sonnics

#88 — WD 1413011 3 TB My Passport for Mac Portable Hard Drive - Black

WD 1413011 3 TB My Passport for Mac Portable Hard Drive - Black

Western Digital

#89 — Bipra 2.5" External SATA Hard Drive - Storage Device (250GB)

Bipra 2.5" External SATA Hard Drive - Storage Device (250GB)

Bipra

4 · 92 reviews

#90 — ADATA HD650 1TB USB3.0 High Speed Triple-Layer Anti-Shock Out...

ADATA HD650 1TB USB3.0 High Speed Triple-Layer Anti-Shock Out...

ADATA

#91 — WD 3 TB Elements Portable Hard Drive

WD 3 TB Elements Portable Hard Drive

Western Digital

#92 — Silicon Power 1 TB External Portable Hard Drive Rugged Armor ...

Silicon Power 1 TB External Portable Hard Drive Rugged Armor ...

SP Silicon Power

4 · 44 reviews

#93 — Bipra 2.5" External SATA Hard Drive - Storage Device (320GB

Bipra 2.5" External SATA Hard Drive - Storage Device (320GB

Bipra

4 · 35 reviews

#94 — Maxone Portable External Hard Drives 160GB-USB 3.0 2.5'' HDD ...

Maxone Portable External Hard Drives 160GB-USB 3.0 2.5'' HDD ...

Maxone

4 · 334 reviews

#95 — Sonnics 1TB Red External Portable Hard drive USB 3.0 super fa...

Sonnics 1TB Red External Portable Hard drive USB 3.0 super fa...

Sonnics

4 · 192 reviews

#96 — WD 10TB My Book Desktop HDD USB 3.0 with software for device ...

WD 10TB My Book Desktop HDD USB 3.0 with software for device ...

Western Digital

4 · 4,913 reviews

#97 — Sonnics 250GB Silver External Hard Drive Portable Hard Drive ...

Sonnics 250GB Silver External Hard Drive Portable Hard Drive ...

Sonnics

4 · 5,697 reviews

#98 — Bipra 1TB 2.5 inch USB 2.0 FAT32 Pocket Size Slim External Ha...

Bipra 1TB 2.5 inch USB 2.0 FAT32 Pocket Size Slim External Ha...

Bipra

4 · 72 reviews

#99 — WD Elements 1.5TB USB 3.0 Portable External Hard Drive

WD Elements 1.5TB USB 3.0 Portable External Hard Drive

Western Digital

#100 — Seagate Backup Plus 4 TB USB 3.0 Desktop 3.5 inch External Ha...

Seagate Backup Plus 4 TB USB 3.0 Desktop 3.5 inch External Ha...

Seagate

4 · 262 reviews

The top 100 external hard drives on Amazon UK in 2018, ranked by average sales rank across the year — so a drive that sold steadily beats one that spiked for a week. See the all-time external hard drives chart, the other side of the split at internal drives in 2018, or every hard drive of 2018.

Internal and external are Amazon’s own classification, not our guess — every drive is filed under one or the other.