The Best Flash Drives (2024) Top Flash Drives at budget

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With one or more of the Best Flash Drives, you can bring your most important files with you everywhere and move large files from one computer to another, as well as to printers, routers, or even a smart TV. It’s easy to store files in the cloud, but a USB flash drive can be a great backup, especially when the internet isn’t working.

With so many options, it can be hard to find the best USB flash drive. In a world where cloud storage is becoming more common, it might seem old-fashioned to store your media on a physical device.

However, having your files on something that isn’t dependent on your internet connection can be helpful. Now that USB flash drives are small enough to fit on a keychain, you can always get to your most important files, even when the network is down.

Best Flash Drives

SanDisk Cruzer CZ36

Specifications

Brand	SanDisk
Series	Cruzer
Model	SDCZ36-064G-B35
Color	Black / Red
Dimensions	0.40″ x 0.80″ x 2.31″
Weight	0.04 lb.

One of the most popular USB drives on the market is the SanDisk Cruzer CZ36. It has become so popular because it is well made, supports encryption, and, most importantly, costs very little.

The Cruzer CZ36 has a black finish and a red slider that lets you extend or retract the USB connector, so you don’t have to worry about it getting broken. The drive itself connects via USB 2.0, which is an older standard.

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Kingston DataTraveler Max 1TB

Specifications

Interface	USB 3.2 Gen 2
Speed1	Up to 1,000MB/s read, 900MB/s write
Dimensions	Type-C: 82.17 mm x 22.00 mm x 9.02 mm
Weight	Type-C: 12g
Warranty/support	5-year warranty with free technical support

The Kingston DataTraver Max is a USB flash drive that is incredibly fast and works like an external SSD in a small package. This flash drive should have very fast speeds because it has a high-speed USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C connector and fast TLC flash memory from Micron TLC.

It also has a keyring loop so you can carry it around with you, and the sliding cover means you won’t lose a cap. You can bring all of your most important files with you on the 1TB model, but Kingston also has 256GB and 512GB versions.

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SanDisk Extreme PRO 128 GB Drive

Specifications

Capacity	128GB
Compatibility	USB 3.1, USB 3.0 & USB 2.0
Dimensions (L x W x H)	0.43″ x 0.83″ x 2.8″
Weight	0.6 oz / 17 g
Host Connection	USB-A 3.0 / 3.1/3.2 Gen 1

Because of its size and how fast it can read and write, the SanDisk PRO is an easy top pick. Read/write speeds of 420/380 MB/s are about three times as fast as USB 3.0.

The drive has an aluminium case that makes it look high-end and durable. There is one LED light and a keyring loop to make it easy to carry. With 128-bit file encryption and USB 3.1 connectivity, this drive seems like a tool for professionals.

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SanDisk Extreme Go 64GB

Specifications

Brand	SanDisk
Series	Extreme Go
Model	SDCZ810-064G-G46
Dimensions	0.41″ x 0.71″ x 2.38″
Weight	0.02 lb.

The SanDisk Extreme Go 64GB showed a good balance between price and performance, and it was one of the fastest drives we tested. It quickly finishes many tasks, like moving a single large file or a big folder with a lot of small files in it.

Large media files moved even faster. A 5GB HD movie took only 31 seconds to write. The price is the cherry on top of this great performance. The Extreme Go 64GB sells for a lot less than many high-end drives.

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Patriot Supersonic Rage 2 USB flash drive

Specifications

Brand	Patriot Memory
Memory Storage	250 GB
Hardware Interface	USB 3.0
Dimensions	0.99cm x 5.3cm x 2.1cm (0.39″ x 2.08″ x 0.83″)
Weight	0.01lb (9g)

The Patriot Supersonic Rage 2’s aluminum-coated housing helps it get rid of heat better, which is why it can read and write at speeds of up to 400MB/s and 300MB/s, respectively.

It’s great for travelling and commuting because it doesn’t have a cap, can be folded back up, is durable, and weighs only 9g. It also has a five-year warranty and an LED Light Indicator. It can hold up to 1TB of data. But it’s a little on the expensive side.

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Kingston DataTraveler Max Type-A

Specifications

Host Connection	USB-A 3.1/3.2 Gen 2
Storage Capacity	256 GB Flash-Based
Dimensions	3.6 x 0.9 x 0.4″ / 91.1 x 22 x 9 mm
Weight	0.5 oz / 14 g

This USB-C flash drive has up to 1TB of storage space and works with USB 3.2 Gen 2 for speeds of up to 1,000Mbps for reading and 900Mbps for writing. It’s perfect for people who move large files like video projects around often.

The Kingston DataTraveler Max might not be for everyone because it can’t stand up to water and doesn’t have any extra security features. Storage is also expensive, costing a lot more than the other things on our list.

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Samsung BAR Plus

Specifications

Series	BAR Plus
Performance	300MB/s read
Dimensions	1.6 x 0.6 x 0.5 inches
Weight	1.2g
Warranty	5-year limited

The BAR Plus is a durable flash drive that can hold up to 256GB of data. It has read speeds of up to 400MB/s for larger drives, up to 300MB/s for the 64GB model, and up to 200MB/s for the 32GB model. The write speeds for this drive are not given by Samsung, but they are said to be slow.

Samsung’s BAR Plus drive is very reliable and has a beautiful, sleek design. The BAR Plus is actually waterproof for up to 72 hours in seawater, temperature-proof down to -40 degrees Fahrenheit and up to 185 degrees, shock-proof, magnet-proof, and X-ray-proof.

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SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive m3.0

Specifications

Capacity	16GB
Interface	USB 3.0
Dimensions (L x W x H)	0.46″ x 1″ x 1.19″
Package Weight	0.05 lb
Read Speed	Maximum: 150 MB/s

With the SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive m3.0, it’s easy to free up space on an Android phone or tablet that has an OTG port. The drive has a micro-USB connector on one end and a USB 3.0 connector on the other.

You can quickly move content between all of your devices, like your Android phone or tablet and your laptop, PC, or Mac computer. It is compatible with USB 2.0 ports and lets you transfer a full-length movie to the drive faster than with a USB 2.0 drive.

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What is Flash Drive?

A flash drive is a small, very portable storage device that doesn’t have any moving parts like an optical drive or a traditional hard drive.

Flash drives have a built-in USB Type-A or USB-C plug that lets them connect to computers and other devices. This makes them a kind of USB device and cable all in one.

People often call flash drives “pen drives,” “thumb drives,” or “jump drives.” Some people also use the terms “USB drive” and “solid-state drive” (SSD), but they usually mean larger, less portable USB storage devices like external hard drives.

What Does USB Flash Drive Mean?

A USB flash drive is a storage device with a flash memory and a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface built in. Most USB flash drives can be taken out and written to again. They are small, tough, and reliable in how they look.

The more storage space they have, the faster they tend to work. Because there are no moving parts, USB flash drives are very strong. They get their power from the device (usually a computer) to which they are connected through a USB port.

FAQs

Is there a difference in quality of flash drives?

Do they all work the same? No, that’s not the case. Not every USB flash drive is made the same way. They are different in many ways, like how they look, how they are used, how much storage space they have, how fast they are, what ports they have, and so on.

How many GB is good for a flash drive?

You can get by with a 64 or 128 MB card if you only want to store a few photos and smaller files. If you want to share a lot of high-definition photos, we always suggest getting 256 or 512 MB or 1 GB or more. We recommend starting with at least 1 GB if you want to store and send high-resolution videos.

What is the best tips to store data long term?

The most reliable way to store data for a long time is with cloud backup. Many ways to store things on-site, like floppy discs, are no longer used. The cloud doesn’t have this problem, and its growth doesn’t seem to be slowing down.