Buying Guide
The Best Budget External SSDs
We weighed five external drives on capacity and rated read speed; the X10 Pro 2TB has the fastest rated read speed, and the SSK 500GB costs the least.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
Budget external SSDs still beat hard drives for speed and toughness. Every pick is an SSD, ordered from the lowest price.
Rankings weigh drive type, capacity (as reviewed) and max read speed as the makers state them; we did not test these external drives ourselves, and any figure a maker omits is noted as missing.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
SSK Portable SSD 500GB
Undercutting the GARMESE on price when we checked.
Best for: Keeping the budget tight.
Our take Check price for SSK Portable SSD 500GB (opens in a new tab)
Shock Resistant Durability Claim
GARMESE 1TB External SSD
A shock resistant durability claim.
Best for: Buyers who want a shock resistant durability claim.
Our take Check price for GARMESE 1TB External SSD (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
Seagate One Touch SSD 2TB
A lightweight textile-covered design.
Best for: Buyers who want lightweight textile-covered design.
Our take Check price for Seagate One Touch SSD 2TB (opens in a new tab)
Fastest Rated Read Speed
Crucial X10 Pro Portable SSD 2TB
The fastest rated read speed here (2,100MB/s).
Best for: Buyers who put rated read speed first.
Our take Check price for Crucial X10 Pro Portable SSD 2TB (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
WD My Passport SSD 2TB
Hardware encryption with a password at the highest price in the group.
Best for: Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor.
Our take Check price for WD My Passport SSD 2TB (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
SSK Portable SSD 500GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
SSK's 500GB SSD ships with both USB-C and USB-A cables and offers 1,050MB/s reads.
Best for
- Keeping the budget tight.
Skip if
- Skip it if capacity matters most to you; the One Touch SSD 2TB offers 2TB.
Why we like it
It is the cheapest SSD here. It reads at up to 1,050MB/s over a 10Gbps USB-C link, fast enough for moving large project folders. Expect about 465GB to show in Windows, which is normal for a 500GB drive.
SLC caching keeps large transfers fast, and S.M.A.R.T. and TRIM support help it last. On capacity it trails the group at 0.5TB, while the One Touch SSD 2TB is rated for 2TB. On rated read speed it ties with the My Passport SSD at 1,050MB/s.
It shares a none stated security with the GARMESE and One Touch SSD 2TB; the X10 Pro 2TB goes with an SSD password protection security. You also get an activity LED and an SLC cache for steady transfers. It cost the least of the 5 picks at the time of writing, with the GARMESE the next step up.
Key dimensions & specs
- Drive type: SSD
- Capacity (as reviewed): 0.5TB
- Max read speed: 1,050MB/s
- Connection: USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-C and USB-A cables)
- Durability claim: Not stated
- Security: None stated
Pros
- Both USB-C and USB-A cables
- Activity LED
- SLC cache for steady transfers
- Rated read speed of 1,050MB/s, ahead of the One Touch SSD 2TB
Cons
- Capacity trails the One Touch SSD 2TB (2TB)
Shock Resistant Durability Claim2 of 5
GARMESE 1TB External SSD on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
GARMESE's SSD offers 2,000MB/s reads in a 33g body with a keychain hole.
Best for
- Buyers who want a shock resistant durability claim.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the SSK 500GB, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
A USB-A adapter is included. It reads at up to 2,000MB/s over USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, which is twice a standard 10Gbps drive. Full speed needs a 20Gbps port.
Its 1TB capacity ranks fourth of 5 here, behind the One Touch SSD 2TB (2TB) and ahead of the SSK 500GB (0.5TB). Its 2,000MB/s rated read speed ranks second of 5 here, behind the X10 Pro 2TB (2,100MB/s) and ahead of the One Touch SSD 2TB (1,030MB/s). It is the only pick here with a shock resistant durability claim; the My Passport SSD has a drops up to 6.5ft durability claim instead.
Like the SSK 500GB and One Touch SSD 2TB, it has a none stated security, while the X10 Pro 2TB uses an SSD password protection security. It also comes with 1,800MB/s rated writes. Its price falls between the SSK 500GB and the One Touch SSD 2TB, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & specs
- Drive type: SSD
- Capacity (as reviewed): 1TB
- Max read speed: 2,000MB/s
- Connection: USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (USB-C, USB-A adapter)
- Durability claim: Shock resistant
- Security: None stated
Pros
- rated reads up to 2,000MB/s
- 33g body with a keychain hole
- 1,800MB/s rated writes
- Included USB-A adapter
Cons
- Costs more than the SSK 500GB at the time of writing
Also Consider3 of 5
Seagate One Touch SSD 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Seagate's One Touch SSD wraps a 2TB drive rated to 1,030MB/s in a light textile cover.
Best for
- Buyers who want lightweight textile-covered design.
Skip if
- Skip it if rated read speed matters most to you; the X10 Pro 2TB offers 2,100MB/s.
Why we like it
It was the lowest-priced drive here at the time of writing and carries a three-year warranty with Rescue data recovery. It matches the X10 Pro 2TB and the My Passport SSD on capacity (2TB). Its 1,030MB/s rated read speed is the slowest in this group; the X10 Pro 2TB leads at 2,100MB/s.
Like the SSK 500GB and GARMESE, it has a none stated security, while the X10 Pro 2TB uses an SSD password protection security. You also get a lightweight textile-covered design and a six-month Mylio Photos+ subscription and a Dropbox Backup trial. Its price falls between the GARMESE and the X10 Pro 2TB, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & specs
- Drive type: SSD
- Capacity (as reviewed): 2TB
- Max read speed: 1,030MB/s
- Connection: USB 3 (as listed)
- Durability claim: Not stated
- Security: None stated
Pros
- Lightweight textile-covered design
- Three-year warranty with Rescue data recovery
- Six-month Mylio Photos+ subscription and a Dropbox Backup trial
- Capacity of 2TB, ahead of the GARMESE
Cons
- Rated read speed trails the X10 Pro 2TB (2,100MB/s)
- Costs more than the SSK 500GB at the time of writing
Fastest Rated Read Speed4 of 5
Crucial X10 Pro Portable SSD 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Crucial's X10 Pro offers 2,100MB/s reads and 2,000MB/s writes, so large exports copy back nearly as fast as they read.
Best for
- Buyers who put rated read speed first.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the SSK 500GB cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It adds IP55 water and dust resistance, a 7.5ft drop rating and password protection built into the drive. It reads at up to 2,100MB/s and is rated IP55 with 7.5-foot drop resistance. Full speed needs a 20Gbps USB port.
It matches the One Touch SSD 2TB and the My Passport SSD on capacity (2TB). On rated read speed it leads this guide at 2,100MB/s, ahead of the GARMESE (2,000MB/s). It is the only pick here with an SSD password protection security; the One Touch SSD 2TB has a none stated security instead.
You also get a lanyard loop and activity light and three months of Mylio Photos+ and Acronis True Image. Its price falls between the One Touch SSD 2TB and the My Passport SSD, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & specs
- Drive type: SSD
- Capacity (as reviewed): 2TB
- Max read speed: 2,100MB/s
- Connection: USB 3.2 (USB-C, USB-A supported)
- Durability claim: IP55, drops up to 7.5ft
- Security: SSD password protection
Pros
- rated reads up to 2,100MB/s
- 2,000MB/s rated writes
- Lanyard loop and activity light
- Three months of Mylio Photos+ and Acronis True Image
Cons
- Costs more than the SSK 500GB at the time of writing
Premium Pick5 of 5
WD My Passport SSD 2TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
WD's My Passport SSD pairs 1,050MB/s reads with password-protected hardware encryption.
Best for
- Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the SSK 500GB was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
It is rated for 6.5ft drops. It connects over USB-C and includes a USB-A path for older machines. It uses NVMe inside, which is why it reaches 1,050MB/s over USB.
On capacity it ties with the One Touch SSD 2TB and the X10 Pro 2TB at 2TB. On rated read speed it ties with the SSK 500GB at 1,050MB/s. A drops up to 6.5ft durability claim is unique to it among these picks, while the GARMESE uses a shock resistant durability claim.
It also offers drop resistance up to 6.5ft and a USB-A adapter for older systems. Only the X10 Pro 2TB came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 5 picks.
Key dimensions & specs
- Drive type: SSD
- Capacity (as reviewed): 2TB
- Max read speed: 1,050MB/s
- Connection: USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-C, USB-A adapter)
- Durability claim: Drops up to 6.5ft
- Security: Password, 256-bit AES hardware encryption
Pros
- Hardware encryption with a password
- Drop resistance up to 6.5ft
- USB-A adapter for older systems
- Capacity of 2TB, ahead of the GARMESE
Cons
- Costs more than the SSK 500GB at the time of writing
How We Chose These Budget External SSDs
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- Security and extras
- We checked for password protection, encryption and backup software.
- Connection
- We checked the USB standard and connector each maker names.
- Drive type and speed
- We recorded whether each drive is an SSD or hard drive and its read speed.
- Durability
- We noted listed drop, water and dust claims.
What to Look for in a Budget External SSD
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much capacity you need
Among these picks, capacity runs from 0.5TB on the SSK 500GB to 2TB on the One Touch SSD 2TB. Pick the lowest figure that covers your use; the extra usually costs more than it returns.
Match the port
A 1,050MB/s SSD needs USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps); a 2,000MB/s SSD needs Gen 2x2 (20Gbps), which few laptops and no Macs offer. On a slower port the drive simply runs at the port's speed.
Mac and Windows formatting
Many drives ship formatted for Windows. On a Mac, reformat to APFS for Time Machine, or exFAT to share the drive with a Windows PC.
Password and encryption
Hardware encryption with a password protects a drive that could be lost. Software-only encryption depends on an app being available on each computer.
Drop and water ratings
IP ratings and drop heights are manufacturer claims. They matter for drives that travel in bags; a drive that stays on a desk needs less.
How to Choose a Budget External SSD
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping the budget tight | SSK 500GB | Undercutting the GARMESE on price when we checked |
| Buyers who want a shock resistant durability claim | GARMESE | A shock resistant durability claim |
| Buyers who want lightweight textile-covered design | One Touch SSD 2TB | A lightweight textile-covered design |
| Buyers who put rated read speed first | X10 Pro 2TB | The fastest rated read speed here (2,100MB/s) |
| Buyers for whom price is not the deciding factor | My Passport SSD | Hardware encryption with a password at the highest price in the group |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
Figures as each maker states them.
| Drive | Drive type | Capacity (as reviewed) | Max read speed | Connection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSK 500GB | SSD | 0.5TB | 1,050MB/s | USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-C and USB-A cables) |
| GARMESE | SSD | 1TB | 2,000MB/s | USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (USB-C, USB-A adapter) |
| One Touch SSD 2TB | SSD | 2TB | 1,030MB/s | USB 3 (as listed) |
| X10 Pro 2TB | SSD | 2TB | 2,100MB/s | USB 3.2 (USB-C, USB-A supported) |
| My Passport SSD | SSD | 2TB | 1,050MB/s | USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-C, USB-A adapter) |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
Prices change often; these tiers reflect Amazon prices when this guide was updated.
| Price tier | Drives |
|---|---|
| About $50 to $100 | SSK 500GB |
| About $150 to $250 | GARMESE |
| About $250 to $500 | One Touch SSD 2TB, X10 Pro 2TB, My Passport SSD |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do these external drives compare on rated read speed?
The X10 Pro 2TB, at 2,100MB/s. The GARMESE follows at 2,000MB/s, while the One Touch SSD 2TB has 1,030MB/s.
Which is the cheapest pick in this guide?
The SSK 500GB cost the least when we checked, and the My Passport SSD sat at the top of the range. Prices move often, so check the current listing before buying.
Does the cable matter?
Yes. Use the included cable or one rated for the drive's speed; a charging-only or USB 2.0 cable limits transfers.
Can I run PC games from an external SSD?
Yes. Launchers such as Steam can add a library folder on an external drive. Load times depend on the drive and port; an SSD on a 10Gbps port is far quicker than a hard drive.
Why does my 1TB drive show less space?
Drive makers count 1TB as one trillion bytes; Windows counts in binary units, so it shows about 931GB. No space is missing.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the SSK 500GB, chosen for undercutting the GARMESE on price when we checked. Look at the GARMESE for a shock resistant durability claim, the One Touch SSD 2TB for a lightweight textile-covered design and the X10 Pro 2TB for the fastest rated read speed here (2,100MB/s) if those matter more to you.
Check whether the price is for 1TB or 2TB before comparing.