The best PS4 external hard drives will allow you to boost the amount of storage available on your console. Yes, the PS5 is the newer kid on the block, and compatible with the best SSDs for PS5, but the PS4 still has a sizeable install base and sees games released for it often. If you still get frequent use out of the last-gen console, it may be worth looking at some of the hard drives in our list below.
Sony’s huge game library means that many people will have bought a large collection of titles over the years, which means more storage is necessary if you want them all to be accessible. The good news is that Sony is open about adding capacity to the console, with accessible internals as well as support for external drives for those who are less keen on cracking open their consoles.
Thankfully, there are loads of external storage options to choose from, and they fall into three categories: external desktop drives, external portable drives, and external SSDs.
We’ve rounded up ten of the best external PS4 hard drives across the three categories – they’ve all got something that's worth recommending, whether it’s speed, features, or price. All you’ve got to do is figure out which one you need – and then start downloading and installing your favorite games.
Best PS4 external hard drives 2024
Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
Best PS4 external hard drives
Seagate’s disk is the only product on this list to be officially licensed for the PS4, and that doesn’t just mean you get Sony’s logo plastered on its exterior – it also means it’s optimized to work smoothly with the console.
The Game Drive is available in a 2TB or 4TB capacity, so you have options when buying depending on how much you want to spend and how much storage you're after. However, we would generally recommend the 2TB option, which looks smart, with a robust aluminium exterior, while its 135g weight and 12mm thickness mean it’s the lightest and slimmest hard disk here.
It’s also available in exclusive The Last Of Us Part 2 and Marvel's Avengers designs. the Seagate Game Drive may not be the fastest or have the most features, but it’s overall a good-looking, capable, and decidedly official choice.
Toshiba’s Canvio Basics drive is available in capacities between 1TB and 4TB, with prices that range between $40 and $100 - making it cheaper than any disk-based rival. The matt chassis looks smart, the 149g weight is modest, and it’s just 14mm thick.
Of course, a low price does mean compromise. The Toshiba doesn’t have a metal exterior, so build quality is middling on the whole, and its performance is average – fine for the PS4, but not quick enough to break any speed records. Still, this is a great option if you want to expand your console without any frills or much expense.
The WD Black P10 Game Drive is at the opposite end of the scale when compared to the Toshiba, with the highest prices of any portable hard disk on this list. That said, the expense is easily justified by a rock-solid metal exterior that’ll handle frequent travel alongside eye-catching, military-style design.
The lack of USB-C connectivity isn’t a problem thanks to the PS4’s full-size USB ports, and the P10 is a solid performer – better than the Toshiba and able to keep up with the PS4’s internal hard disks. It’s slightly pricier than Seagate’s official drive, which offers similar speed, but the P10 has a more robust design and an extra year of warranty coverage.
WD My Passport drives have been around for years in all sorts of form factors, and its portable hard disk has capacities between 1TB and 5TB and prices that sit between the cheap Toshiba and pricy WD Black P10.
The mid-range price is joined by a slim, unfussy design in several colors. It’s got decent performance levels that won’t show themselves up when compared to the PS4’s internal drives, and it has a three-year warranty. The only disappointment is the 194g weight, which is more than most portable disks – but that’s a minor complaint. This is ideal if you don’t want to shell out for the pricier alternatives.
Best PS4 external SSDs
The X8 uses NVMe SSD hardware and its USB Type-C connection is packaged along with a Type-C to Type-A adapter, so it can be used instantly with the PS4. It’s good for use on the road and in busy homes thanks to a robust design that’s been tested to withstand vibrations, drops, and extreme temperatures.
On the inside it offers a similar pace to the FireCuda – so it’s fast enough to saturate the PS4’s USB ports while offering the speed needed to keep up with PCs and next-gen hardware. If the FireCuda is too ostentatious and the Samsung isn’t quick enough, this is a great middle-ground option.
Samsung’s storage devices have been at the top of the internal SSD market for years, and its T5 brings its superb pedigree to the external market. The T5 is tiny thanks to an 11mm thickness, it weighs just 51g, and it has a good-looking metal finish.
It’s a reasonable performer, with reading and writing speeds that easily exceed the PS4’s internal disks but are unable to match the NVMe-based Crucial and Seagate SSDs. And, with prices ranging between $80 and $300, it’s a little cheaper than rivals, albeit without some of their features or speed. It’s a great option if you want a small, relatively affordable SSD for your PS4.
The Seagate FireCuda Gaming SSD combines customizable RGB LEDs with bold, monolithic design – it’s unmistakeably a gaming product. Build quality and weight are both good, and performance levels are great – it’s about twice as quick as the Samsung. The PS4 doesn’t have the bandwidth to take advantage of all that speed, but the console will still run really quickly using this drive – and the extra speed means the FireCuda will perform well with your gaming PC, PS5, or Xbox Series X. Also bear in mind that you’ll need a USB-C to USB-A cable with this drive, but they’re easy to acquire.
The FireCuda is an impressive option, and Seagate also produces the FireCuda Gaming Dock – a 4TB alternative that has Thunderbolt 3, USB-C, and USB-A ports and an upgradeable NVMe slot.
Seagate’s SSD hardware is fast and attractive, and it’ll saturate the PS4 ports to the point where it’s overkill. If you want hardware that’ll work today and with future hardware, though, the FireCuda range ticks the box. It has a five-year warranty too, which is two years more than many rivals.
Best PS4 external desktop hard drives
The Seagate Expansion prizes simplicity and effectiveness over flashier features. Once the power cable and USB 3.0 cable are plugged in, you’re ready to go – the PS4 will pick up the drive and you can start storing.
The Expansion has a subtle exterior that’s admittedly made from plastic, and there’s a little give in the material – but it’s strong enough to be plonked next to your PS4. On the inside, it uses hard disks with speeds that closely match those in PS4 consoles – so you won’t get much improvement, but it won’t slow you down.
It isn’t quick or packed with features, but it’s capable and its various capacities are a little cheaper than the equivalents in the WD Elements range. It’s an affordable, unfussy option.
The WD Elements is available in a broad range of capacities, from 2TB to 14TB, and on the inside there’s little to choose between this unit and the Seagate Expansion. They both offer similar performance levels to the PS4, and so this unit will add a huge amount of space without slowing the console down.
Elements drives tend to be a little more expensive than Seagate’s products because its exterior is better – sleeker and stronger. If you’re willing to pay extra for that, then the WD is a good mid-range option, but be aware that the Seagate offers similar speed for a little less.
The WD Black D10 is a markedly different product than other full-size desktop options. The 8TB capacity is the only one available, so this unit will clearly appeal to hardcore users, and the D10’s bold-looking metal chassis stands out when compared to subtler alternatives. Build quality is great, and the D10 also has a couple of USB ports that can be used for charging controllers and peripherals.
The metal chassis means better cooling, so the D10 can use a 7,200rpm hard disk. That’s quicker than the disks used in rivals, and it helps the D10 outpace both competitors and the PS4’s internal drives. It’s more expensive, but the D10 is a great option if you want loads of space and good speed.
FAQs
How do I choose a PS4 external hard drive?
One of the simplest ways to choose a PS4 external hard drive is to start by searching for drives in your desired capacity. If you're after a huge 8TB model, then that's going to narrow down your options considerably. You should also try to pick products that match or exceed the speed of the PS4's internal storage. This ensures that you won't have any performance issues with your new drive.
For the easiest possible purchasing decision, choose a drive that has been officially licensed by Sony such as the one offered by Seagate. Just bear in mind that licensed models often come in a little more expensive than their unlicensed counterparts.
Will a PS4 external hard drive work with PS5?
If you're thinking about upgrading to Sony's latest console in the near future, then it's worth bearing in mind that any PS4 external hard drive will also work with the PS5. There are some important new limitations to bear in mind, though. The drive can still be used to play PS4 games on your PS5, but it will not offer the ability to play any PS5 titles natively. If you want that functionality, you need to pick up a compatible SSD instead.
