-SOURCE-Simon-Hill.jpg "11 Best USB Flash Drives (2026): Pen Drives, Thumb Drives, Memory Sticks 2")
Photograph: Simon Hill
Other flash drives we like
We’ve tested several other USB flash drives with no shortcomings. Here are a few that may be worth considering for some people.
Photograph: Simon Hill
Kingston Dual Portable SSD (1TB) for $229.: With an attractive metallic red body, this SSD disguised as a flash drive is very fast, matching the 1,050 MB/s read and 950 MB/s write reported in my tests. It’s USB 3.2 Gen 2 with a C jack on one end and an A jack on the other, both with removable covers. As much as I like this drive, which comes in 512-GB, 1-TB, and 2-TB models, it’s also a little expensive.
Amazon Basics Flash Drive (128GB) for $18: I like the grip design on the slider of this drive as it is easy to open with one hand and locks securely into place. The loop at the top is perfect for a key ring, and it’s lightweight. Performance was limited, as you might expect at this price, but it was consistently higher than the stated 130 MB/s read and 30 MB/s write speeds for large files, although it only had 116 GB usable out of the box.
Buffalo External SSD-Put Stick (500GB) for $70: Another SSD in a flash drive body, this drive reached 450 MB/s in my tests and offers shock protection if dropped. It also has a sliding USB-A, and comes with a USB-C adapter. It’s quite thick for a flash drive, so you may find that it blocks adjacent ports. You can also get 1- and 2-TB versions of this drive at a reasonable price.
PNY Pro Elite V2 (256GB) for $60: This sliding drive has a plastic cover to protect the USB-A plug, and it was our compact choice for a while. It performed well in my tests (read and write speeds hovered around 415 MB/sec and 425 MB/sec), and it has a hole for a lanyard or keyring. I tested a 256-GB drive, but there are also 512-GB and 1-terabyte models.
SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Go (128GB) for $29: This convenient drive pivots to give you USB-C or USB-A, and comes in a variety of sizes and some fun colors, but the lower-capacity drive is slower (USB 3.1). You can get a 128GB drive and above in USB 3.2 Gen 1 for up to 400MB/sec reads and it’s a solid alternative to the PNY Duo above.
PNY Elite-X (128GB) for $16: This super-compact, sliding drive has a USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 jack and a loop on the end to fit on a keyring. It worked fine but proved unremarkable in my tests (about 200 MB/sec read and 130 MB/sec write).
Kingston IronKey Keypad 200 (16GB) for $112.: If you need a secure drive, Kingston’s IronKey boasts FIPS 140-3 certification, XTS-AES 256-bit encryption, and a special epoxy over its circuitry that makes it impossible to remove components. The downside is that it’s expensive, the keypad is crappy and 10 wrong entries wipes the drive.
Samsung Bar Plus (256GB) for $52: A beautiful, one-piece, curved design makes this drive easy to remove and has a loop so you can put it on a keyring. Test read speeds were a little under 400 MB/sec, write speeds were a little over 100 MB/sec, but the smaller drives (32 GB and 64 GB) are significantly slower. The Bar Plus is also a durable option, with Samsung claiming it is waterproof, shock-proof, temperature-proof, magnet-proof, and X-ray-proof.
Avoid these flash drives
Photograph: Simon Hill
Silicon Power DS72 Portable SSD (1 TB)USB 3.2 Gen 2 This is a reasonable price for a 1-TB drive with USB-A and USB-C connectors, and it consistently reached 450 MB/s read and write speeds in my tests (it can reach 1050 MB/s and 850 MB/s with the right gear). It got quite hot to the touch, but the reason I don’t recommend this drive is because of the clumsy plastic connector covers. You have to fold them back, and they get in the way when you’re trying to insert the drive.
Verbatim Dual (64GB): This little drive is inexpensive and has both USB-A and USB-C plugs, but I found that write speeds were variable (60 MB/s for USB-C and 90 MB/s for USB-A) and read speeds were around 150 MB/s for both. There’s a cover for USB-A and a V strap you can attach, but this drive is almost too small, and it proved awkward to insert and remove. It also comes in 16- or 32-gigabyte options.
How to eject and format a drive
It’s a good idea to format your USB flash drive before you start using it. You will usually be asked which format you want to use. Almost every device will recognize the FAT32 format, but it limits individual file sizes to 4 GB. Choose exFAT if you have large files. If you format a flash drive, it will completely erase everything stored on it. Here’s how to do it manually:
- On a Windows computer: Open File Explorer and see your drive below This PC. Right-click on it, and select Format.
- On Mac: Type disk Utility Go to search, or search through Applications > Utilities. Select your drive from the list and click erase At the top. You can then change the name and choose a format.
- On Chromebook: Open Files and right-click on your drive to select Format the device.
You’re probably familiar with the warnings about removing a drive without ejecting it first. But there is a real risk that your data will get corrupted, so here’s how to do it properly:
- On a Windows computer: you can click safely remove Hardware Notification icon in the system tray and select remove Option. If you don’t want to have to exit, type device Manager Click in the search bar to open more. Increase disk drive And right-click on your USB flash drive, select Property, policiesand set quick removal.
- On Mac: You’ll see an eject icon listed next to the drive name in Finder, or you can simply drag the flash drive image on your desktop to the Trash.
- On Chromebook: Open Files and right-click on your drive, then select take out equipment.
- On Android devices: You can open and expand the USB notification to find remove Option.
- On iPhone or iPad: There is no removal option. Make sure there is no data transfer in progress before you drag it. It’s a good idea to close the Files app or whatever app you were using to transfer the files.
How to Get the Most Out of Your USB Flash Drive
There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re shopping for a USB flash drive, and we also have some tips for using them.
Capacity: To decide the capacity of the storage device you need, first check the size of the folders or files you want to copy. Each USB drive in our guide has a stated capacity, but the usable storage will be slightly less than that, as the device’s firmware requires the space.
pace: USB standards are upgrading all the time, and we recommend a minimum of USB 3.0, although higher is better. While USB standards have different theoretical maximum speeds, it is important to check the manufacturer’s stated read and write speeds for each drive. If you’re primarily transferring data, you’ll want to look for a drive with a higher Write motion. If you plan to launch software on the computer via the drive (such as video games), you’ll want a higher quality model. Reading motion. Manufacturers will state the average speed, but most drives are very fast at transferring large files and very slow at transferring small files.
compatibility: Many flash drives will work with any device with a corresponding USB port, but check compatibility to avoid disappointment. If you want to use the drive with an Android device or iPhone 16 range or later, it will require USB on-the-go (OTG) support. Most Android devices support USB OTG. When you insert the flash drive you will get a notification which should include options file transfer. If you are unsure you can try the USB OTG Checker app to confirm support. Apple’s older iPhones and iPads don’t support USB OTG, but you can install a companion app for the drive, like SanDisk’s iXpand series.
connectors:Most flash drives have USB-A connectors, but you can also get drives with USB-C, microUSB, and Lightning connectors. If you plan to use the flash drive with your smartphone and computer, get a flash drive with both the required types of connectors. You can also purchase a USB hub with multiple USB ports or adapters, but pay close attention to the standard supported or it may limit your data transfer speeds. For example, this Anker USB-A to USB-C adapter, USB 3.0.
Security: Remember that USB drives can pose security issues, especially for businesses, and you should Never Plug in whatever random drives you find lying around. If you plan on keeping sensitive data on your flash drive, consider biometric or passcode security, and look into the level of encryption it offers. There are software services that offer encryption and allow you to password protect your files on any USB flash drive.
I run read and write speed tests on each drive using USB Flash Benchmark and CrystalDiskMark. I also load HD and 4K movies onto each drive and play them on an LG OLED TV, make photo backups from the phone and laptop, and copy files to supported devices. I’ve tested a few drives as a security camera backup, as a NAS (network attached storage) in a router, to play MP3 music files, and to load games and saves on various retro consoles. Our top picks are regularly used for file backup for months, so we can be confident that performance won’t degrade.
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