WD External Hard Drives & SSDs — Prices & Deals 2026
Reliable portable storage from Western Digital. Compare WD external drives sorted by $/TB.
Western Digital (WD) external drives are among the most popular portable storage solutions, known for reliability and value. From the budget-friendly WD Elements to the premium My Passport SSD, WD offers options for every use case and budget.
WD's external lineup includes portable HDDs for affordable backup, desktop HDDs for high-capacity storage, and portable SSDs for professional speed and durability. All drives feature plug-and-play USB connectivity compatible with Windows, Mac, and gaming consoles.
WD External Drive Lineup
| Product Line | Type | Capacities | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| WD Elements Portable | HDD | 1TB - 5TB | Budget backups, basic storage |
| WD Elements Desktop | HDD | 4TB - 18TB | Large capacity desktop backup |
| My Passport | HDD | 1TB - 5TB | Password protection, stylish design |
| My Passport SSD | External SSD | 500GB - 4TB | Professional portable storage |
| My Book | HDD | 4TB - 18TB | Desktop backup with encryption |
| My Book Duo | HDD (RAID) | 8TB - 44TB | High-capacity RAID desktop |
| WD_BLACK P10 | HDD | 2TB - 5TB | Gaming storage (PS/Xbox/PC) |
| WD_BLACK P40/P50 | External SSD | 500GB - 4TB | Gaming SSD with RGB |
| SanDisk Extreme Portable | External SSD | 500GB - 4TB | Rugged professional SSD |
Note: SanDisk is owned by Western Digital. SanDisk Extreme SSDs are part of the WD family.
WD External Drives by Category
Budget: WD Elements
The most affordable WD external drives. Simple, reliable, no-frills storage. Best $/TB for basic backup needs.
Best ValuePremium: My Passport
Sleek design with hardware encryption and password protection. Includes WD Backup software. Multiple colors available.
Style + SecurityDesktop: My Book
High-capacity desktop storage up to 18TB. Includes encryption and backup software. Ideal for Time Machine.
Maximum CapacityPortable SSD: My Passport SSD
Fast NVMe-based external SSD. Compact, durable, pocket-sized. Up to 1,050 MB/s transfer speeds.
Professional SpeedGaming: WD_BLACK
P10 Game Drive for console storage. P40/P50 SSDs for fast game loading with RGB lighting.
GamersRugged: SanDisk Extreme
IP55-rated dust/water resistance. Shock-resistant. Professional-grade durability for field work.
Outdoor/RuggedWD Elements vs My Passport
| Feature | WD Elements | My Passport |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Lower ✓ | Higher |
| Hardware Encryption | No | Yes (256-bit AES) ✓ |
| Password Protection | No | Yes ✓ |
| Design | Basic black | Multiple colors ✓ |
| Backup Software | Basic | Full WD Backup ✓ |
| Performance | Standard | Standard |
Bottom line: Choose Elements for pure value. Choose My Passport if you need encryption or prefer the design options.
All WD External Drives — Sorted by $/TB
Compare all Western Digital external hard drives and SSDs. Prices updated hourly from Amazon.
Frequently Asked Questions About WD External Drives
Are WD external hard drives reliable?
Yes, WD externals are generally reliable. Western Digital is one of the world's largest and most experienced drive manufacturers. Their external drives use quality components and have a good track record. Like any storage device, failures can occur — always maintain backups of important data in multiple locations.
WD Elements vs My Passport — which should I buy?
Elements for value, My Passport for features. WD Elements is the budget option — reliable basic storage at the lowest price. My Passport adds hardware encryption, password protection, stylish design options, and better backup software. If you don't need security features and just want affordable backup storage, Elements offers better value.
Do WD external drives work with Mac?
Yes, all WD external drives work with Mac. Most come formatted for Windows (NTFS) but can be reformatted using Disk Utility (APFS for Mac-only, exFAT for cross-platform). WD's software works on macOS, and the drives work with Time Machine. Simply connect via USB and reformat if needed.
Which WD external drive is best for PS5?
WD_BLACK P10 for PS4 game storage; internal NVMe for PS5 games. External USB drives cannot play PS5 games — they can only store them for transfer. For playing PS4 games on PS5, any WD external works well. For actual PS5 game playing, you need internal storage expansion — see our PS5 SSD guide.
WD external HDD vs SSD — which should I buy?
HDD for capacity/value; SSD for speed/durability. External HDDs offer 3-4x more storage per dollar — ideal for backups. External SSDs are 5-10x faster and shock-resistant — ideal for professionals and frequent file access. For pure backup, HDD is cost-effective. For working storage, SSD provides a better experience.
What's the warranty on WD external drives?
Most WD external drives have 2-3 year warranties. WD Elements typically has 2 years. My Passport and My Book usually have 3 years. WD_BLACK gaming drives have 3-5 years. My Passport SSD has 5 years. Check specific product warranty before purchasing.
WD vs Seagate external drives — which is better?
Both are excellent, reliable brands. WD and Seagate are the two largest hard drive manufacturers — their external drives are comparable in quality. Compare specific features, warranties, and current prices rather than brand alone. See our Seagate external drives page for comparison.
How do I use WD external drive with Time Machine?
Connect the drive and macOS will prompt you. Go to System Settings → Time Machine → Select Backup Disk → Choose your WD drive. The drive will be reformatted to APFS if needed. For Time Machine, Apple recommends at least 2x your Mac's storage. WD Elements Desktop or My Book drives offer great $/TB for Time Machine.