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Mac users can use any external drive after formatting; Mac-ready drives save a step.

This guide is built from Amazon product listings and maker specs, not our own testing, so confirm compatibility, capacity and current price on each product page.

Prices are approximate and were shown on Amazon.com on November 1, 2026; check the current price.

Last updated: November 1, 2026.

Quick Picks

Product Type Best for
WD My Passport for Mac 5TB Mac-formatted portable HDD Mac users
WD My Passport Ultra for Mac 5TB Mac-formatted portable HDD Mac users
Seagate Portable 2TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD, USB 3.0 Mac users
LaCie Rugged USB-C 4TB Rugged portable HDD Mac users
Samsung T7 Portable SSD 1TB Portable SSD (up to 1,050MB/s) Mac users
SanDisk 2TB Portable SSD (up to 1000MB/s) Portable SSD Mac users

Our Picks

1. WD My Passport for Mac 5TB

A WD My Passport for Mac 5TB (mac-formatted portable hdd), per the listing. It showed at about $249 on Amazon.com on November 1, 2026.

Good for: Mac users. Watch out: Check Mac format and port.

Check on Amazon

2. WD My Passport Ultra for Mac 5TB

A WD My Passport Ultra for Mac 5TB (mac-formatted portable hdd), per the listing. It showed at about $295 on Amazon.com on November 1, 2026.

Good for: Mac users. Watch out: Higher price.

Check on Amazon

3. Seagate Portable 2TB External Hard Drive

A Seagate Portable 2TB External Hard Drive (portable hdd, usb 3.0), per the listing. It showed at about $146 on Amazon.com on November 1, 2026.

Good for: Mac users. Watch out: Slow compared with an SSD.

Check on Amazon

4. LaCie Rugged USB-C 4TB

A LaCie Rugged USB-C 4TB (rugged portable hdd), per the listing. It showed at about $210 on Amazon.com on November 1, 2026.

Good for: Mac users. Watch out: Check cable and port.

Check on Amazon

5. Samsung T7 Portable SSD 1TB

A Samsung T7 Portable SSD 1TB (portable ssd (up to 1,050mb/s)), per the listing. It showed at about $230 on Amazon.com on November 1, 2026.

Good for: Mac users. Watch out: SSD is pricier per TB than HDD.

Check on Amazon

6. SanDisk 2TB Portable SSD (up to 1000MB/s)

A SanDisk 2TB Portable SSD (up to 1000MB/s) (portable ssd), per the listing. It showed at about $320 on Amazon.com on November 1, 2026.

Good for: Mac users. Watch out: High price.

Check on Amazon

How to Choose

HDD vs SSD

Hard drives cost less per terabyte; SSDs are faster and tougher.

Capacity

Pick 2TB to 5TB for backups and media.

Format

Windows drives may need reformatting for Mac. Back up before reformatting.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do hard drives last?

Often several years; replace and back up regularly.

Do I need external power?

Portable drives use USB power; desktop drives need an adapter.

Is one backup enough?

No. Keep another copy.

Bottom Line

For Mac, choose a Mac-formatted drive or reformat to APFS or exFAT.

More Storage Guides