11 Best USB Flash Drives (2026): Pen Drives, Thumb Drives, Memory Sticks

The once ubiquitousUSB flash drive has declined in popularity with the rise of the cloud, but these portable storage devices still have a lot to offer.

Also known as thumb drives or memory sticks, flash drives provide storage forbacking up precious photos, playing movies on the big screen, or copying files from one phone or laptop to another.

They can also keep sensitive data off the internet altogether, which greatly diminishes the possibility of that data being hacked.

They are affordable, small enough to fit on a keychain, and boast ever-increasing capacities and data transfer speeds.

After testing many, we’ve selected these as the best USB flash drives for various purposes and budgets.

If you need more than 1 terabyte of storage, check out our guides to theBest Portable Storage Drivesor theBest Cloud Storage Services.

And don't forget toback up your digital life.

Updated March 2026: We've added the SanDisk Crayola as a new recommendation and the Kingston Dual Portable as a flash drive we like, removed a couple of older drives, and updated prices, which have risen significantly.

There seems to have been a surge in demand for flash drives lately, so watch out for predatory pricing from third-party sellers when drives go out of stock.

The SanDisk Extreme Pro is tough to beat as it strikes the right balance between speed, reliability, and price.

It has a sleek and durable aluminum case with a loop for attaching it to a key ring.

You can push the plastic slider with one hand to reveal or hide the USB-A plug.

In our tests, the speeds matched what SanDisk advertises (420 megabytes per second read, 380 MB/s write), making it suitable for anyone regularly copying small or midsize files between devices.

I have been using one of these drives regularly for almost three years, and it still works great.

You get a variety of storage capacity options (up to 1 terabyte) and a lifetime warranty.

This drive supplants thePNY Pro Elite V2as our pick for a compact drive because it’s a touch smaller, lighter, and cheaper.

It consistently managed read and write speeds around the 450 MB/s mark in my tests.

A red LED lights up when the drive is busy, which is a handy visual cue.

It’s plastic with a sliding cover to protect the USB-A plug, so there’s no cap to lose.

There is a tiny loop for a keyring, though it’s like threading the eye of a needle.

I tested the 500-GB drive, but you can go smaller or bigger.

The Kingston drive copied the entire camera folder from myPixel phoneto my laptop so quickly that I feared it must have failed.

But when I checked my laptop, everything was there.

It’s a very lightweight plastic drive with a ridged top that allows you to slide the USB-C plug in and out.

A tiny loop at the top means you can attach it to a key ring.

It’s a great choice if you want to back up or move files between smartphones, tablets, or laptops with USB-C ports.

It’s one of the speediest drives I have tested (1,000 MB/s read, 900 MB/s write), so it’s especially good for transferring large files.

We've linked to the 1-terabyte model, but there are 256- and 512-gigabyte options, too.

Kingston offers a limited five-year warranty on this drive.

The affordable Pinstripe from Verbatim will not win any races—my tests of the 256-GB drive saw variable write speeds of up to 80 MB/s and read speeds a little faster—but I like the simple design.

The USB-A slides into the lightweight plastic body for protection, so there’s no cap to lose, and the other end has a tiny loop for a keychain.

You can get various sizes, all at attractive prices for the capacity.

If you want to take files with you, and there is no hurry to transfer them, this is one of the cheapest ways to do it.

Just watch out, as the older model of Pinstripe is an even slower drive.

Verbatim offers a two-year limited warranty on its drives.

Designed to keep sensitive files safe from prying eyes, the Kingston IronKey Vault Privacy 50 has a snazzy blue finish with a simple cap top and a tiny optional strap.

It works with Windows or macOS computers and boasts several security features, but you must run Kingston’s software and set up a password or passphrase the first time you use it.

The virtual keyboard protects from keyloggers.

Anyone trying to access the drive will automatically erase the contents after 10 wrong attempts, but you can add a hint and an admin account that can reset user passwords.

(An ancestor to this drive playsa starring role in a WIRED featureabout an early Bitcoin adopter who has 7,002 bitcoins and only two password attempts left.)
This USB flash drive isFIPS Certified 197and has256-bit AES-XTS encryption.

It offers protection against brute-force attacks andBadUSB.

Manufactured in the US, this drive isTAA-compliant.

Kingston suggests read and write speeds around 250 MB/s and 180 MB/s, respectively, but it did a little better than that in our tests (around 300 MB/s and 220 MB/s for larger files).

Offered in USB-A or USB-C models, in sizes ranging from 8 to 512 gigabytes, this drive comes with a five-year warranty.

Many drives are not much bigger than the USB-A connector, but I find them a little too easy to lose.

If you need a teeny-tiny drive, they don’t come much smaller than this one.

Verbatim’s 32 GB Nano did slightly better than the stated 80 MB/s read and 25 MB/s write speeds in my testing, but it’s still quite slow.

I like the curved indent that makes it easier to extract, since some of these tiny drives are hard to pull out.

The blue finish lacks style, but it is easy to spot if you drop it, and it is very affordable.

There are also 16- and 64-gigabyte models.

Verbatim offers a two-year limited warranty on its drives.

Machined from aluminum, with a spinning USB-A connector at one end and a rubber loop attached cap on the USB-C at the other, this drive looks and stays cool.

A USB flash drive with both connectors is handy nowadays.

This is quite a long drive, but I like the design, which doubles as a fidget toy).

There’s a tiny hole for the included lanyard strap.

I tested the 250-gigabyte model (500 GB or 1 TB are options).

OWC suggests speeds of up to 946 MB/s (based on Thunderbolt USB-C with a MacBook).

Testing with Windows and a USB 3.2 Gen 1 port, I only got around 420 MB/s read and write (you need Gen 2 or Thunderbolt to get the faster speeds).

This drive also works with Chromebooks, Android, or iOS devices.

The superfluous software is annoying, but you can format the drive.

OWC offers a limited three-year warranty.

Whether moving files from anAndroid phoneto a PC or backing up from multiple devices, a flash drive that can cope with different ports is handy.

The PNY Duo Link is compact, made of solid metal, and has a loop for attaching to a keyring.

The plug section rotates to reveal both USB-C and USB-A connectors.

I tested with my PC and a couple of Android phones, and I found that it worked well, though the USB-C might be too short if you have a thick case on your phone.

My tests revealed write speeds around 110 MB/s and consistent read speeds of 225 MB/s.

I tested the 64-GB version, but you can also get 128- or 256-gigabyte models.

Folks with an older iPhone can also use thePNY Duo Link with Lightning and USB-A ($35).

PNY offers a limited one-year warranty on its drives.

Flash drive design can be deadly dull, so this Crayola crossover from SanDisk is fresh and fun.

It’s a USB-C drive that resembles a crayon with a pop-off tip cap.

It comes with SanDisk’s Memory Zone app onboard for Windows, Mac, or iPad, but you don’t have to use it.

I got better read speeds than the advertised 300 MB/s (as high as 375 MB/s), but write speeds were always 150 MB/s or below.

It comes in four fun colors (Cerulean Blue, Electric Lime, Mango Tango, or Vivid Violet).

You also get a three-month trial of Crayola’s subscription Create and Play app.

On the downside, the cap can be tricky to remove and will be easy to lose, and the drive is quite thick, so you might struggle to insert it if adjacent ports are in use.

This dinky drive is perfect for slipping on a keyring, with a metal enclosure that includes a handy loop.

There’s a textured plastic slider on the underside for extending the USB-C jack, and it stays in place securely.

Test read and write speeds hovered around the stated 400 MB/s.

The lower capacity drive (64 GB) is slightly slower at up to 300 MB/s.

SanDisk offers a limited five-year warranty on this drive.

Seeking a flash drive with a durable enclosure?

The Survivor Stealth from Corsair is tough to beat.

It has a ridged, cylindrical, anodized aluminum housing with ridged rubber covers at each side.

One end has an opening for a keychain, and the screws open to reveal the drive, which has a standard USB-A plug.

When screwed shut properly, this drive is waterproof to a depth of 200 meters, and the enclosure is vibration- and shock-resistant.

I dropped it in a glass of water and let the cat chase it around, and it still works fine.

Its performance is fairly average (85 MB/s read, 70 MB/s write), so it takes a while to complete a big backup or transfer large files.

Speeds likely vary with different storage capacities.

Corsair offers a five-year limited warranty on this drive.

We have tested many other USB flash drives that did not make the cut.

Here are a few that might be worth considering for some folks.

Kingston Dual Portable SSD (1 TB) for $229: With a snazzy metallic red body, this SSD disguised as a flash drive is very speedy, matching the stated 1,050 MB/s read and 950 MB/s write in my tests.

It is USB 3.2 Gen 2 with a C jack at one end and an A jack at 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 is on the pricey side.

Amazon Basics Flash Drive (128 GB) for $18: I like the grippy texture on the slider of this drive because it’s easy to open one-handed and locks in place securely.

The loop at the top is perfect for a key ring, and it is lightweight.

Performance was limited, as you might expect at this price, but it consistently exceeded the stated 130 MB/s read and 30 MB/s write speeds for larger files, though it only had 116 GB usable out of the box.

Buffalo External SSD-PUT Stick (500 GB) for $70: Another SSD in a flash drive body, this drive hit 450 MB/s in my tests and offers shock protection for falls.

There’s also a sliding USB-A, and it comes with a USB-C adapter.

It is pretty chunky for a flash drive, so you may find it blocks adjacent ports.

You can also get reasonably priced 1- and 2-TB versions of this drive.

PNY Pro Elite V2 (256 GB) for $60: This sliding drive has a plastic cover to protect the USB-A plug, and was our compact pick for a while.

It performed well (read and write speeds hovered around 415 MB/s and 425 MB/s) in my tests, and has an opening for a lanyard or keyring.

I tested the 256-GB drive, but there are 512-GB and 1-terabyte models.

SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Go (128 GB) for $29: This handy drive swivels to give you USB-C or USB-A, and comes in various sizes and some fun colors, but the lower capacity drives are slow (USB 3.1).

You can get the 128 GB drive and up in USB 3.2 Gen 1 for up to 400 MB/s read and it’s a solid alternative to the PNY Duo above.

PNY Elite-X (128 GB) 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 (around 200 MB/s read, and 130 MB/s write).

Kingston IronKey Keypad 200 (16 GB) 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 on its circuitry to make it impossible to remove components.

On the downside, it is expensive, the keypad is fiddly, and 10 wrong entries wipe the drive.

Samsung Bar Plus (256 GB) for $52: An elegant, one-piece, curved design makes this drive easy to withdraw and there's a loop so you can slip it onto a keyring.

Test read speeds were just shy of 400 MB/s, with write speeds just over 100 MB/s, 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.

Silicon Power DS72 Portable SSD (1 TB): This is a reasonable price for a 1-TB drive with USB 3.2 Gen 2 USB-A and USB-C connectors, and it consistently hit 450 MB/s read and write speeds in my tests (it can hit 1050 MB/s and 850 MB/s with the right gear).

It got quite warm to the touch, but the reason I don’t recommend this drive is the stupid plastic connector covers.

You have to bend them back, and they get in the way when you’re trying to insert the drive.

Verbatim Dual (64 GB): This teeny drive is cheap and has both USB-A and USB-C plugs, but I found 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 is a cover for the USB-A and a wee 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.

It's a good idea to format your USB flash drive before you start using it.

You'll usually be asked what format you want to use.

Almost every device will recognize the FAT32 format, but it limits the individual file size to 4 GB.

Go for exFAT if you have larger files.

If you format a flash drive, it will completely wipe everything stored on it.

Here’s how to do it manually:
You're probably familiar with warnings about removing a drive without ejecting it first.

But there’s a genuine risk your data will be corrupted, so here's how to do it properly:
How to Get the Most From Your USB Flash Drive
There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re shopping for USB flash drives, and we also have some tips for using them.

Capacity: To decide on 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, because the device’s firmware requires space.

Speed: USB standards are advancing all the time, andwe recommend USB 3.0as a minimum, though higher is better.

While USB standards have different theoretical maximum speeds, it’s crucial 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 highwritespeeds.

If you're planning on launching software on a computer through the drive (like a video game), then you'll want a model with highreadspeeds.

Manufacturers will state average speeds, but most drives are much faster at transferring large files and tend to be far slower at transferring small files.

Compatibility: Many flash drives will work with any device with the relevant USB port, but check compatibility to avoid disappointment.

If you want to use a drive with an Android device or something from theiPhone 16 rangeor later, it will require USB on-the-go (OTG) support.

Most Android devices do support USB OTG.

You will get a notification when you insert a flash drive with options that should includeFile Transfer.

You can try theUSB OTG Checker appto confirm support if you’re unsure.

Apple’s earlier iPhones and iPads don’t support USB OTG, but you can install a companion app for drives, 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 on using a flash drive with your smartphone and computer, snag one with both of the required types of connectors.

You can also buyUSB hubswith multiple USB ports or adapters, but pay close attention to the supported standard or it may limit your data transfer speeds.

ThisAnker USB-A to USB-C adapter, for example, is USB 3.0.

Security: Remember thatUSB drives can cause security issues, particularly for businesses, and you shouldneverplug in random drives you find lying around.

If you plan to keep sensitive data on your flash drive, then consider biometric or passcode protection, 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 every drive usingUSB Flash BenchmarkandCrystalDiskMark.

I also load HD and 4K movies onto each drive and play them on an LG OLED TV, makephoto backupsfrom phones and laptops, and copy files across supported devices.

I have tested some drives as security camera backups, as NAS (network attached storage) in routers, for playing MP3 music files, and to load games and saves onto variousretro consoles.

Our top picks continue to be used regularly for file backups over months, so we can be confident that the performance does not degrade.

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