Buying Guide
The Best External Hard Drive for Mac Backup
Three external drives ranked on capacity and drive type, where the Passport Ultra for Mac has the largest capacity; the YOTUO 1TB is the cheapest route in.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read3 products evaluated
A hard drive is the cheapest way to keep full Mac backups. Every pick is a hard drive, ordered by capacity.
Rankings weigh drive type, capacity (as reviewed) and connection as the makers state them; any figure a maker omits is noted as missing rather than guess, since we have not benched them.
Quick Picks
Our 3 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Largest Capacity
WD My Passport Ultra for Mac 5TB
The largest capacity here (5TB).
Best for: Buyers who put capacity first.
Our take Check price for WD My Passport Ultra for Mac 5TB (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
Seagate Portable 2TB External Hard Drive
An 18in USB 3.0 cable.
Best for: Buyers who want 18in USB 3.0 cable.
Our take Check price for Seagate Portable 2TB External Hard Drive (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
YOTUO 1TB Portable External Hard Drive
Undercutting the Seagate Portable 2TB on price when we checked.
Best for: Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build.
Our take Check price for YOTUO 1TB Portable External Hard Drive (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The largest capacity here (5TB). | Buyers who put capacity first. | Check price for WD My Passport Ultra for Mac 5TB (opens in a new tab) |
| An 18in USB 3.0 cable. | Buyers who want 18in USB 3.0 cable. | Check price for Seagate Portable 2TB External Hard Drive (opens in a new tab) |
| Undercutting the Seagate Portable 2TB on price when we checked. | Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build. | Check price for YOTUO 1TB Portable External Hard Drive (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Largest Capacity1 of 3
WD My Passport Ultra for Mac 5TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
WD's My Passport Ultra for Mac arrives formatted for macOS and connects by USB-C.
Best for
- Buyers who put capacity first.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the YOTUO 1TB was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
It adds 256-bit AES hardware encryption and the largest capacity here, 5TB. On capacity it leads this guide at 5TB, ahead of the Seagate Portable 2TB (2TB). No other pick in this guide offers a USB-C (USB 3.1) connection; compare the Seagate Portable 2TB, which has a USB 3.0 (USB-A) connection.
It also offers formatting for Mac out of the box, a metal cover and a USB-C connection. As a spinning hard drive it is slower than an SSD and less tolerant of knocks while running. At our last price check it topped the group, with the Seagate Portable 2TB the nearest cheaper option.
Key dimensions & specs
- Drive type: HDD
- Capacity (as reviewed): 5TB
- Connection: USB-C (USB 3.1)
- Durability claim: Not stated
- Security: Password, 256-bit AES hardware encryption
Pros
- Formatting for Mac out of the box
- Metal cover
- USB-C connection
- Largest capacity of the picks (5TB)
Cons
- Costs more than the YOTUO 1TB at the time of writing
Also Consider2 of 3
Seagate Portable 2TB External Hard Drive on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Seagate's Portable 2TB is a plain USB 3.0 hard drive with an 18in cable.
Best for
- Buyers who want 18in USB 3.0 cable.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the YOTUO 1TB cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It is the low-cost way to add backup space to any laptop. On capacity it sits mid-pack at 2TB: the Passport Ultra for Mac is rated for 5TB, and the YOTUO 1TB comes in at 1TB. No other pick in this guide offers a USB 3.0 (USB-A) connection; compare the Passport Ultra for Mac, which has a USB-C (USB 3.1) connection.
It also offers drag-and-drop file saving on Windows and Mac and a low price per terabyte. It connects by USB-A; a USB-C-only laptop such as a MacBook Air needs an adapter or a USB-C cable. As a spinning hard drive it is slower than an SSD and less tolerant of knocks while running. When we checked, only the YOTUO 1TB cost less, and the Passport Ultra for Mac cost more.
Key dimensions & specs
- Drive type: HDD
- Capacity (as reviewed): 2TB
- Connection: USB 3.0 (USB-A)
- Durability claim: Not stated
- Security: None stated
Pros
- 18in USB 3.0 cable
- Drag-and-drop file saving on Windows and Mac
- Low price per terabyte
- Capacity of 2TB, ahead of the YOTUO 1TB
Cons
- Costs more than the YOTUO 1TB at the time of writing
Lowest Price Here3 of 3
YOTUO 1TB Portable External Hard Drive on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
YOTUO's 1TB drive ships with both USB 3.0 and USB-C connections and a silicone sleeve.
Best for
- Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build.
Skip if
- Skip it if capacity matters most to you; the Passport Ultra for Mac offers 5TB.
Why we like it
It weighs 0.16kg. It stores and plays PS4 and Xbox One games directly, and a silicone sleeve cushions drops. It works with Windows, Mac and Linux.
Its 1TB capacity is the smallest in this group; the Passport Ultra for Mac leads at 5TB. A USB 3.0 and USB-C connection is unique to it among these picks, while the Seagate Portable 2TB uses a USB 3.0 (USB-A) connection. As a spinning hard drive it is slower than an SSD and less tolerant of knocks while running. It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the Seagate Portable 2TB was the next step up.
Key dimensions & specs
- Drive type: HDD
- Capacity (as reviewed): 1TB
- Connection: USB 3.0 and USB-C
- Durability claim: Silicone sleeve
- Security: None stated
Pros
- Both USB 3.0 and USB-C connections
- Silicone sleeve
- 0.16kg weight
- Undercutting the Seagate Portable 2TB on price when we checked
Cons
- Capacity trails the Passport Ultra for Mac (5TB)
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- Connection
- We checked the USB standard and connector each maker names.
- Durability
- We noted listed drop, water and dust claims.
- Security and extras
- We checked for password protection, encryption and backup software.
- Drive type and speed
- We recorded whether each drive is an SSD or hard drive and its read speed.
What to Look for in an External Hard Drive for Mac Backup
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
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.
Size for what you store
1TB suits documents and a few games. 2TB or more suits photo libraries, video and large game libraries. Hard drives reach larger sizes for the money.
SSD or hard drive
A portable hard drive gives the most terabytes per dollar and suits backups. A portable SSD is several times faster, lighter and more tolerant of drops, which suits working files and games.
How to Choose an External Hard Drive for Mac Backup
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who put capacity first | Passport Ultra for Mac | The largest capacity here (5TB) |
| Buyers who want 18in USB 3.0 cable | Seagate Portable 2TB | An 18in USB 3.0 cable |
| Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build | YOTUO 1TB | Undercutting the Seagate Portable 2TB on price when we checked |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
Figures as each maker states them.
| Drive | Drive type | Capacity (as reviewed) | Connection | Durability claim |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passport Ultra for Mac | HDD | 5TB | USB-C (USB 3.1) | Not stated |
| Seagate Portable 2TB | HDD | 2TB | USB 3.0 (USB-A) | Not stated |
| YOTUO 1TB | HDD | 1TB | USB 3.0 and USB-C | Silicone sleeve |
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 | YOTUO 1TB |
| About $100 to $150 | Seagate Portable 2TB |
| About $250 to $500 | Passport Ultra for Mac |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which of these external drives has the largest capacity?
The Passport Ultra for Mac, at 5TB. The Seagate Portable 2TB follows at 2TB, while the YOTUO 1TB has 1TB.
What is the least I can spend on one of these external drives?
That was the YOTUO 1TB at our last check; if you can stretch, the Seagate Portable 2TB is the next step up and the Passport Ultra for Mac the priciest.
Is a portable SSD good for backups?
It works, but a hard drive gives more capacity per dollar for backups. Keep a second copy somewhere else for anything irreplaceable.
Will these work with PS5 or Xbox?
Consoles can store and play older-generation games from USB drives. Current-generation games usually must run from internal storage; check the console's own rules.
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 Passport Ultra for Mac, chosen for the largest capacity here (5TB). Look at the Seagate Portable 2TB for an 18in USB 3.0 cable and the YOTUO 1TB for undercutting the Seagate Portable 2TB on price when we checked if those matter more to you.
Reformat to APFS before the first backup.