Having one or even a few of the best USB flash drives around your house lets you quickly move large files from one computer to another but also to printers, routers or even a smart TV.
If your USB drive has a lot of storage space, you can also use it for partial or even full system backups. In most cases, you’ll just need to plug the drive into a USB port and drag-and-drop the files you want to back up. (If you have too much data though, you can always check out our guide on the best cloud backup services.)
USB memory sticks can now hold much more data and as well as read and write data more quickly than they could just a few years ago, thanks to faster protocols and cheaper storage costs. In fact, for just a few dollars, you can keep all the personal files you’ll ever need right on your keychain.
Still, choosing the right USB drive isn’t always so simple. This is because there are at least four different USB connection protocols — USB 2.0, USB 3.0, USB 3.1 and USB 3.2 — and each is several times faster than the previous one. Fast read and write speeds can also save you quite a bit of time, especially when you need to copy large files.
Even if all your devices can’t handle the fastest data-transfer protocols, the devices you purchase in the future will be able to as each new protocol supports the earlier ones. Some USB drives even have built-in encryption which can come in handy if they get lost or stolen.
There are also different connectors. Most flash drives still feature a rectangular USB-A plug that will work on most Windows PCs and older Macs along with most printers, smart TVs, routers and other devices.
If you have a drive with a rounded USB-C connector though, you’ll be able to use it with newer Windows laptops and Android smartphones and tablets, plus recent Macs and even the latest iPads. Some USB flash drives also come with a secondary Lightning connector to plug into iPhones and older iPads.
To help you pick the best USB memory stick for your needs, these are 10 of our favorites. They vary by price, format, speed, physical size and storage size. Regardless of which USB drive you choose, it should hold every file you care about in a simple and easy-to-use package.
What are the best USB flash drives?
We tested and used a variety of USB flash drives, and we found the Samsung Fit Plus (opens in new tab) (MUF-128AB) to be the best. It offers an outstanding mix of features and affordability, with USB 3.1 support, data-read speeds up to 300 MB/s and a design so compact that you can leave the drive plugged into your laptop without worrying about damage.
We also found the SanDisk Cruzer CZ36 (opens in new tab) to be a great choice, as you get secure 128-bit AES encryption for a very low price. You just have to be willing to live with USB 2.0 compatibility. If you want zippy read/write speeds, you’ll be hard-pressed to find many USB storage devices better than the Kingston Digital DataTraveler G4 (opens in new tab).
The best USB flash drives you can buy today
If you’re looking for a flash drive that offers a good mix of features and affordability, the Samsung Fit Plus (MUF-128AB) is a great place to start.
The device’s tiny design makes it easy to carry around. It’s available in a variety of sizes, ranging from 32GB to 256GB, and supports USB 3.1 connectivity with data-transfer speeds up to 300 MBps. That’s significantly faster than other USB memory-stick options.
To keep your data safe, the Samsung Fit Plus is water-, shock-, magnet-, temperature- and X-ray-proof, which means you can bring it just about anywhere without fear of damaging your content. Because this memory stick is backward-compatible with USB 2.0, it’ll work in just about any device you have.
Be aware, however, that the Samsung USB flash drive is a bit on the pricey side, making it not the best option for those looking to save a few bucks.
For years, the SanDisk Cruzer CZ36 has proven to be one of the most popular USB drives on the market. It has earned that popularity with its solid design, support for encryption and, most important, an exceedingly affordable price.
The Cruzer CZ36 comes with a black finish and a red slider that lets you extend or retract the USB connector so you can keep your connector safe without worrying about damage.
The drive itself comes with USB 2.0 connectivity, which is on the older side. However, the SanDisk’s 128-bit AES encryption and included SanDisk SecureAccess Software make this one of the best flash drives for the money.
Overall, the SanDisk Cruzer CZ36 is a solid choice for transferring anything from music and photos to videos and business files.
For those who don’t want to spend a lot of cash, Kingston has one of the best USB flash drives regarding value.
The company’s DataTraveler G4 starts at under $10 for a USB drive with 32GB of storage and USB 3.0 support. For just a few bucks, you can get a device that stores your content, easily and quickly transfers it, and does it all without putting itself at risk of damaging your data.
A cap on the connector keeps the drive safe from damage when it’s not in use, and thanks to a loop at the end, you can connect the DataTraveler to a keychain to reduce your chances of losing it when you’re walking around town.
That said, because the Kingston DataTraveler G4 maxes out at 128GB, you’re not going to get as much storage as some of the other options available. Get this drive only if you’re not transferring a large amount of data.
PNY’s popular Turbo flash drive sports both a rugged design and ample storage, making it an ideal choice for someone who often travels and doesn’t want to risk losing their data.
The USB 3.0 device offers transfer speeds of up to 10 times what you get in a comparable USB 2.0 drive. Add that to Turbo’s maximum 256GB of storage, and you should be able to store nearly 48,000 songs on the device — and transfer them with ease.
The drive comes with a sliding-collar design that protects the connector when it’s not in use, which is especially important for road warriors. Thanks to the device’s integrated loop, you can attach the PNY Turbo to a keychain or backpack to reduce chances of misplacing it when you travel.
Overall, the PNY Turbo offers a nice mix of features, storage and travel-friendliness, which is why it’s one of the best USB flash drives.
SanDisk’s Extreme Pro is one of its most capable USB devices, but be ready to spend some serious cash to get your hands on it.
The drive comes with at least 128GB of storage, going all the way up to 1TB, and delivers USB 3.2 connectivity, ensuring fast data speeds. According to SanDisk, the memory stick can deliver read speeds of up to 420 MBps and write speeds of up to 380 MBps. That makes the Extreme Pro one of the best USB flash drives for pure performance.
Thanks to an aluminum finish, the Extreme Pro should be able to withstand shocks and other damage and keep working without causing you worry about your data. SanDisk’s drive, which is also compatible with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0, offers a lifetime limited warranty. And with 128-bit AES encryption, you can safeguard data you don’t want others to steal.
Corsair’s Flash Survivor Stealth is all about one thing: keeping your data safe regardless of where you are or where you are going. The device has a cylindrical design and an anodized, aircraft-grade aluminum housing to limit the risk of damage if you drop it.
This best USB flash drive pick also features a water seal to reduce chances of liquid intrusion. And it has a shock-damping collar around the ends to keep your data safe if you drop it.
Regarding connectivity, the Corsair Flash Survivor Stealth supports USB 3.0. And with a maximum 256GB of storage, the memory stick will store plenty of content without damage. But for all of that, you should be aware that this USB drive costs more than some competing devices.
You should also know that the device ships with a limited five-year warranty; that’s not bad, but it reduces your options for replacement several years down the road.
SanDisk’s Ultra Dual Drive USB-C is a slick-looking flash drive that offers plenty of storage and fast data transfers. This is easily the best USB drive for newer laptops, like the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro, that have only USB-C ports.
Since it has both USB-A and USB-C plugs — there’s a slide to expose one or the other — the SanDisk Ultra USB-C offers a nice mix of fast data transfers and future-proofing, so you can be sure it’ll work with a variety of devices going forward.
The memory stick comes with up to 256GB of storage and accommodates data transfers to and from a range of devices; for example, from your computer to an Android smartphone, as well as Apple’s latest Macs. SanDisk says that the drive achieves data-transfer speeds of up to 150 MBps.
When the USB flash drive is not in use, you can retract both connectors to limit chances of damage and keep your data away from harm and readily accessible. Just be aware that you’ll pay a bit more for this USB-C drive compared with other options.
Another favorite from Kingston Digital, the DataTraveler Elite G2 is a popular USB drive that has USB 3.1 connectivity, letting it deliver ultrafast read and write speeds and store your content with ease.
Best of all, it comes with an LED light that tells you when it’s connected and data is transferring, so you don’t need to guess at what’s happening during use.
The memory stick, which comes in versions ranging from 8GB to 256GB, allows for data-transfer speeds of 180 MBps. If you don’t have USB 3.1 ports, you can also rely on this drive to transfer data at USB 2.0 speeds.
The model that ships with 64GB of storage, a solid amount for most uses, is very affordable. But prices will vary depending on the version you choose. The limited five-year manufacturer’s warranty isn’t the best, but overall, this is one of the best USB flash drives available.
Samsung has delivered one of the better-looking USB drives with the 32GB Bar. And if it’s a head-turning device you’re after, Samsung’s option might be the best flash drive, period.
The device, which is made from high-quality metal, has a ring that you can use to attach the drive to so you don’t lose it. Better yet, not only is it waterproof but also shock-, magnet-, temperature and X-ray-proof, limiting the chances of damage.
Thanks to this flash drive’s USB 3.1 support, you should expect fast data transfers. You also get USB 2.0 compatibility, which means it’ll work with just about any device. The Samsung Bar started off as a bit pricey compared with many other USB flash drives, but its price has dropped. This is a device that will let you easily bring your data wherever you go, and will look darn good doing it.
If you’re in the market for one of the very best USB drives available, and you’re just fine spending some cash to get it, check out the SanDisk iXpand flash drive. The device starts at 32GB of storage, though you can configure the iXpand to have up to 256GB of space. It has a metal finish to improve its durability, and thanks to its USB 3.0 connectivity, the device will deliver fast data transfers.
The iXpand flash drive’s most important feature is its Lightning connector, which lets you connect to an iPhone or iPad and transfer data to and from that device. Considering how difficult it can be to transfer data from those devices without Apple’s help, that feature alone could be a major selling point for the iXpand. But to get all that, be ready to shell out: The SanDisk iXpand USB flash drive is on the expensive side.
How to choose the best USB drive for you
When buying USB flash drives, you’ll want to focus first on storage. If you have a large number of files, videos, or songs you want to carry around with you on a device, getting a USB drive with at least 64GB is critical. Most varieties go up to 256GB, and a few now have 1TB versions in stock.
But if you’re more concerned about getting a cheap memory stick for carrying fewer files, you can probably get by with 16GB or 32GB of storage space.
Aside from that, you’ll want to consider other critical features, such as read/write speeds. The faster the speed, the more data you can write to the drive and access what you’re trying to see. That’s why we would look for USB 3.1 support or, at the least, USB 3.0 support if you care about performance.
You can tell if a USB-A drive supports USB 3.0 or higher if the inside of the plug is colored blue. Most USB-C drives support USB 3.0 by default.
Another factor to consider is design. Flash drives aren’t the sexiest of devices, but they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. In terms of durability, look for USB drives that have shock-proof designs, waterproof-designs, and other features that limit chances of your drive being damaged.
Last but least, check the warranty on that USB flash drive; a lifetime warranty is preferred but 5 years is a decent fallback option.
USB types explained
As mentioned earlier in this buying guide, there are a number of USB types and protocols that you should know before buying a USB drive.
USB-A vs. USB-C
The first you need to know about is USB-A vs. USB-C. Our USB-C vs. USB-A explainer goes into more detail, but in short, USB-A is the older variety with a larger, rectangular connection plug that can only fit into a port one way. USB-C is newer, and has a much smaller, oval-shaped plug that is reversible. (You’ll also want to check out our Thunderbolt vs. USB4 guide.)
USB 2.0, USB 3.0, USB 3.1, USB 3.2, and USB 4.0
The number after USB (such as 3.0) indicates the version of USB used by that device. The lower the number, the older the generation, and the slower the transfer speed.
USB 3.0: Up to 5 Gbps
USB 3.1: Up to 10 Gbps
USB 3.2: Up to 20 Gpbs
USB 4.0: Up to 40 Gbps (only available on USB-C devices)
