Buying Guide
The Best External Drives with Cloud Backup
From the Seagate Portable 1TB to the X10 Pro: five external drives ranked on capacity and rated read speed, with who should skip each one.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
Some external drives bundle cloud backup or photo software. Every pick has bundled software or a cloud service.
This is a research roundup, not a lab test: drive type, capacity (as reviewed) and max read speed come from each maker's published specs; nothing here was tested in-house, and a missing max read speed is flagged, not filled in.
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Lowest Price Here
Seagate Portable 1TB External Hard DriveA lower price than the My Passport 2TB and the rest when we checked.
Best for: Keeping the cost under $150.
Check price for Seagate Portable 1TB External Hard Drive on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
WD My Passport 2TB Portable Hard DriveBackup software with ransomware defense.
Best for: Buyers who want backup software with ransomware defense.
Check price for WD My Passport 2TB Portable Hard Drive on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
Seagate One Touch 2TB Portable Hard Drive with PasswordA brushed-metal enclosure.
Best for: Buyers who want brushed-metal enclosure.
Check price for Seagate One Touch 2TB Portable Hard Drive with Password on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
Seagate One Touch SSD 1TBA lightweight textile design.
Best for: Buyers who want lightweight textile design.
Check price for Seagate One Touch SSD 1TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
Crucial X10 Pro Portable SSD 1TBThe top of this price range, adding 2,000MB/s rated writes.
Best for: Spending more than the One Touch SSD costs for the fullest feature set in this group.
Check price for Crucial X10 Pro Portable SSD 1TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
Seagate Portable 1TB External Hard Drive
The 1TB Seagate Portable lists PC, Mac, PlayStation and Xbox support and a year of Rescue data recovery.
Best for
- Keeping the cost under $150.
Skip if
- Pass on it if capacity of 1TB, behind the My Passport 2TB (2TB) rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
Mac users reformat it first. It matches the One Touch SSD and the X10 Pro on capacity (1TB). A USB 3.0 (USB-A) connection is unique to it among these picks, while the One Touch 2TB uses a USB 3.0 connection.
It also offers the lowest price tier among Seagate drives here. It connects by USB-A; a USB-C-only laptop such as a MacBook Air needs an adapter or a USB-C cable. It ships formatted for Windows, so a Mac user reformats it (exFAT for both systems, APFS for Time Machine).
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 My Passport 2TB was the next step up.
Key specs
- Drive type
- HDD
- Capacity (as reviewed)
- 1TB
- Connection
- USB 3.0 (USB-A)
- Durability claim
- Not stated
- Security
- None stated
Pros
- PC, Mac, PlayStation and Xbox compatibility
- One year of Rescue data recovery
- The lowest price tier among Seagate drives here
- USB 3.0 (USB-A) connection, the only one here
Cons
- Capacity of 1TB, behind the My Passport 2TB (2TB)
The catch
Buyers who need a confirmed rated read speed should compare it with the X10 Pro, which offers 2,100MB/s.
Also Consider2 of 5
WD My Passport 2TB Portable Hard Drive
WD's My Passport adds password protection, hardware encryption and backup software to a slim 2TB drive.
Best for
- Buyers who want backup software with ransomware defense.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the Seagate Portable 1TB was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
WD offers a three-year warranty. It matches the One Touch 2TB on capacity (2TB). It shares a USB 3.0 connection with the One Touch 2TB; the One Touch SSD goes with a USB-C connection.
It also offers backup software with ransomware defense. 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.
On price it sat second of 5, between the cheaper Seagate Portable 1TB and the pricier One Touch 2TB, at the time of writing. The maker doesn't give its rated read speed; if that figure matters, the X10 Pro offers 2,100MB/s.
Key specs
- Drive type
- HDD
- Capacity (as reviewed)
- 2TB
- Connection
- USB 3.0
- Durability claim
- Not stated
- Security
- Password, hardware encryption
Pros
- Backup software with ransomware defense
- Three-year limited warranty
- Slim enclosure
- Capacity of 2TB, ahead of the Seagate Portable 1TB
Cons
- Costs more than the Seagate Portable 1TB at the time of writing
Strong Alternative3 of 5
Seagate One Touch 2TB Portable Hard Drive with Password
Seagate's One Touch adds password-protected hardware encryption and a brushed-metal case to a 2TB hard drive.
Best for
- Buyers who want brushed-metal enclosure.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the Seagate Portable 1TB was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
Its warranty runs two years with Rescue data recovery. On capacity it ties with the My Passport 2TB at 2TB. Like the My Passport 2TB, it has a USB 3.0 connection, while the Seagate Portable 1TB uses a USB 3.0 (USB-A) connection.
It also offers scheduled or one-click backups. 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 My Passport 2TB and cheaper picks cost less, and the One Touch SSD cost more. If you want a confirmed rated read speed, look to the X10 Pro instead: it offers 2,100MB/s, while this one gives no figure.
Key specs
- Drive type
- HDD
- Capacity (as reviewed)
- 2TB
- Connection
- USB 3.0
- Durability claim
- Not stated
- Security
- Password, hardware encryption
Pros
- Brushed-metal enclosure
- Scheduled or one-click backups
- Two-year warranty with Rescue data recovery
- Capacity of 2TB, ahead of the Seagate Portable 1TB
Cons
- Costs more than the Seagate Portable 1TB at the time of writing
Worth a Look4 of 5
Seagate One Touch SSD 1TB
The One Touch SSD offers 1,030MB/s in a light textile case, with a three-year warranty and Rescue data recovery.
Best for
- Buyers who want lightweight textile design.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the Seagate Portable 1TB was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
It is Seagate's fastest drive here. Its textile-covered shell is light enough for a commute, and a Mylio Photos+ subscription is included for organising photos. It connects over USB.
It includes a three-year limited warranty with Rescue Data Recovery Services, plus a Dropbox Backup trial. On capacity it ties with the Seagate Portable 1TB and the X10 Pro at 1TB. No other pick in this guide offers a USB-C connection; compare the One Touch 2TB, which has a USB 3.0 connection.
It also comes with a lightweight textile design. When we checked, only the One Touch 2TB and cheaper picks cost less, and the X10 Pro cost more.
Key specs
- Drive type
- SSD
- Capacity (as reviewed)
- 1TB
- Max read speed
- 1,030MB/s
- Connection
- USB-C
- Durability claim
- Not stated
- Security
- None stated
Pros
- Lightweight textile design
- Three-year warranty with Rescue data recovery
- Six-month Mylio Photos+ subscription
- USB-C connection, the only one here
Cons
- Costs more than the Seagate Portable 1TB at the time of writing
Premium Pick5 of 5
Crucial X10 Pro Portable SSD 1TB
Crucial's X10 Pro offers 2,100MB/s reads and 2,000MB/s writes with IP55 protection and a lanyard loop.
Best for
- Spending more than the One Touch SSD costs for the fullest feature set in this group.
Skip if
- Skip it if capacity matters most to you; the My Passport 2TB offers 2TB.
Why we like it
It suits creators with a 20Gbps port. It reads at up to 2,100MB/s and writes at 2,000MB/s, and it is rated IP55 with 7.5-foot drop resistance. Full speed needs a 20Gbps USB port.
It matches the Seagate Portable 1TB and the One Touch SSD on capacity (1TB). You get a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (USB-C) connection here, which sets it apart from the One Touch SSD and its a USB-C connection. It also offers Acronis True Image and Mylio Photos+ trials.
Its top speed needs a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20Gbps) port; most laptops and all Macs run it at 10Gbps speeds instead. It was the highest-priced of the 5 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the One Touch SSD and the rest.
Key specs
- Drive type
- SSD
- Capacity (as reviewed)
- 1TB
- Max read speed
- 2,100MB/s
- Connection
- USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (USB-C)
- Durability claim
- IP55, drops up to 7.5ft
- Security
- None stated
Pros
- rated reads up to 2,100MB/s
- 2,000MB/s rated writes
- Lanyard loop and activity light
- Acronis True Image and Mylio Photos+ trials
Cons
- Capacity trails the My Passport 2TB (2TB)
- Costs more than the Seagate Portable 1TB at the time of writing
The catch
The trade-off is capacity; for more, the My Passport 2TB is rated for 2TB.
How We Chose These External Drives with Cloud Backup
Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.
- How these picks were ranked
- We set side by side five drives on drive type, capacity, rated read speed and connection from manufacturer specifications. We did not test them in-house, and rated read speed is missing for at least one pick.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the Seagate Portable 1TB to the X10 Pro, state drive type, capacity and connection.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Seagate Portable 1TB, the My Passport 2TB and the One Touch 2TB give no rated read speed.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Seagate Portable 1TB ($100 to $150) to the X10 Pro ($150 to $250).
What to Look for in an External Drive with Cloud Backup
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Capacity across these picks
Across these 5 picks capacity spans 1TB (the X10 Pro) to 2TB (the My Passport 2TB). If capacity is your first filter, the My Passport 2TB sets the ceiling at 2TB.
Rated read speed
Here rated read speed runs from 1,030MB/s on the One Touch SSD to 2,100MB/s on the X10 Pro, a 104% spread. Start with the X10 Pro if rated read speed decides it. The Seagate Portable 1TB, the My Passport 2TB and the One Touch 2TB give no rated read speed figure, so 2 of 5 picks are compared here.
A small M.2 SSD next to an external drive enclosure Features beyond the spec table
The One Touch 2TB: scheduled or one-click backups. The One Touch SSD: a three-year warranty with Rescue data recovery. The X10 Pro: a lanyard loop and activity light.
How much to spend
$100 to $150 buys the Seagate Portable 1TB, the My Passport 2TB and the One Touch 2TB; $150 to $250 buys the One Touch SSD and the X10 Pro at our last check.
An M.2 2280 SSD held in a hand Match the pick to your priority
Keeping the cost under $150: the Seagate Portable 1TB. Spending more than the One Touch SSD costs for the fullest feature set in this group: the X10 Pro.
How to Choose an External Drive with Cloud Backup
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping the cost under $150 | Seagate Portable 1TB | A lower price than the My Passport 2TB and the rest when we checked |
| Buyers who want backup software with ransomware defense | My Passport 2TB | Backup software with ransomware defense |
| Buyers who want brushed-metal enclosure | One Touch 2TB | A brushed-metal enclosure |
| Buyers who want lightweight textile design | One Touch SSD | A lightweight textile design |
| Spending more than the One Touch SSD costs for the fullest feature set in this group | X10 Pro | The top of this price range, adding 2,000MB/s rated writes |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The My Passport 2TB leads on capacity at 2TB, ahead of the One Touch 2TB at 2TB. "Not listed" marks rated read speed where the Seagate Portable 1TB, the My Passport 2TB and the One Touch 2TB leave the figure out.
| Drive | Drive type | Capacity (as reviewed) | Max read speed | Connection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seagate Portable 1TB | HDD | 1TB | Not listed | USB 3.0 (USB-A) |
| My Passport 2TB | HDD | 2TB | Not listed | USB 3.0 |
| One Touch 2TB | HDD | 2TB | Not listed | USB 3.0 |
| One Touch SSD | SSD | 1TB | 1,030MB/s | USB-C |
| X10 Pro | SSD | 1TB | 2,100MB/s | USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (USB-C) |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
At our last check the cheapest pick, the Seagate Portable 1TB, sat in the $100 to $150 tier, 2 tiers in all up to the X10 Pro at $150 to $250; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | Drives |
|---|---|
| About $100 to $150 | Seagate Portable 1TB, My Passport 2TB, One Touch 2TB |
| About $150 to $250 | One Touch SSD, X10 Pro |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the X10 Pro ahead of the One Touch SSD on rated read speed?
The X10 Pro tops rated read speed at 2,100MB/s; the One Touch SSD follows at 1,030MB/s, 104% apart. The Seagate Portable 1TB, the My Passport 2TB and the One Touch 2TB don't state a rated read speed figure, so they sit outside this comparison; 2 of 5 picks are ranked.
What makes the Seagate Portable 1TB the Lowest Price Here?
The label rests on a lower price than the My Passport 2TB and the rest when we checked. It is aimed at keeping the cost under $150.
Do the Seagate Portable 1TB and the My Passport 2TB differ on connection?
The Seagate Portable 1TB uses USB 3.0 (USB-A); the My Passport 2TB and the One Touch 2TB use USB 3.0; the One Touch SSD uses USB-C; the X10 Pro uses USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (USB-C).
Beyond the specs, what sets the Seagate Portable 1TB and the My Passport 2TB apart?
The Seagate Portable 1TB: PC, Mac, PlayStation and Xbox compatibility. The My Passport 2TB: backup software with ransomware defense. The One Touch 2TB: a brushed-metal enclosure.
Who should choose the X10 Pro?
The X10 Pro carries our Premium Pick label for the top of this price range, adding 2,000MB/s rated writes. It ranks fifth of 5 here and sat in the $150 to $250 tier at our last price check; it suits spending more than the One Touch SSD costs for the fullest feature set in this group.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Seagate Portable 1TB, chosen for a lower price than the My Passport 2TB and the rest when we checked. Look at the My Passport 2TB for backup software with ransomware defense, the One Touch 2TB for a brushed-metal enclosure and the One Touch SSD for a lightweight textile design if those matter more to you.
Bundled subscriptions are often time-limited; check the term.
Related Guides
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- Lower budgetThe Best Budget External SSDs
- Similar guideThe Best External Hard Drive
- ExplainerPortable SSD vs external hard drive: which one for backups, games and carrying files
- ExplainerUSB speed names decoded for external SSDs: USB 3.2 Gen 2, USB4 and Thunderbolt
- Also see: ssds and storageHow to Choose a Game Drive for PC
- Similar guideThe Best External Storage for Mac
- Topic hubAll external storage guides
About the author
PC Hardware Editor
Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.
Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility
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