10 Best Flash Drives 2024 in the United States

Flash drives are very useful tools for storing your files, whether they’re photos, music, or documents, to take with you on the go. These drives, also called thumb drives or USB drives, come in a multitude of different capacities, shapes, and transfer speeds, so it could get complicated finding the right drive for your needs. To help search through your options and find the right match for you, we have put together this shopping guide.

USB flash drives usually come in capacities ranging from 1 GB to 128 GB. The amount you need depends on what files you’re looking to store. For documents made in Word or Excel, something on the lower end would be suitable, but for a lot of photos, videos, or music files, a larger capacity would be the better choice. To help you choose the right USB flash drive for you, we have broken down some types by your priority:

Generic: Standard USB drives are made for everyday use, and are generally not very fast. These are suitable for storing and transferring documents and perhaps a few photos. These drives are usually encased in plastic.

Secure: These are drives that come equipped with hardware encryption, and thus are used for protecting sensitive data. Files that are work-related, medical-related, or perhaps, financially-related, are better stored with secure drives. The files can be password protected, and in some cases biometrically protected.

High-Performance: With faster transfer speeds and USB 3.0 connections, these drives are for storing many files as quickly as possible. This is ideal for the user who needs to constantly run back and forth between workstations with a lot of data. These are typically not for the average user.

Ultra-Durable: These drives are better suited for harsh work environments, like construction sites or laboratories. Many come encased in rubber or some other protective shell, and some can even be water-resistant. Most people won’t need a USB flash drive of this caliber.

Novelty: If security, durability, or performance is not your priority (although a drive can be one of those and a novelty), then you may be in the market for a novelty drive. These drives can look like Batman, Darth Vader, a key, a Swiss Army knife, or can even be encased in jewelry. Whatever your imagination can think up, there’s probably a drive that looks like it.

• The choice of which drive to get should be based on what you will be putting on the drive. Larger files mean larger capacity.
• If you’ll be storing sensitive data, be sure to look into the security features of the drive. Hardware encryption is very useful.
• It might be a good idea to invest in 2 drives, and keep one as a backup just in case.
• Durability is something to consider if you’ll be using the flash drive in harsh conditions. Some drives can withstand a fall from the top of a building!
• If you’re going to buy a drive that’s shaped like superhero, that’s great! Just be sure to check the tech specs and confirm that they will be suitable for your needs.

1. Capacity: To get the most out of your flash drive, having one that has a lot of storage is key! You never know when you’ll need to store a bunch of large files.
2. Concealment: While USB drives are compact to begin with, some tiny ones are preferred for hiding in a wallet or pocket. These can be useful in emergency file recovery situations.
3. Speed: Pressed for time, having a very fast flash drive can make your life a lot easier. Sometimes you need to store 100 photos and transfer them quickly.
4. Price: Most USB drives are reasonably priced, but the higher-end ones can be a little expensive. Finding the balance between your needs and cost is the best way to go.

SanDisk: Founded in 1988 in Silicon Valley, SanDisk is a global company that designs, develops and manufactures flash memory storage solutions and software. SanDisk is the third-largest manufacturer of flash memory in the world.

Lexar: A spinoff of Cirrus Logic, Lexar was created in 1996 in Fremont, CA. Products include, SD cards, memory sticks, and card readers. 

Kingston: Arguably the second largest supplier of flash memory worldwide. Kingston was founded in California in 1987. 

ADATA: Founded in China in 2001, ADATA’s main product line consists of DRAM modules, USB drives, and memory cards.