9 Best 5TB External Hard Drives

What’s the best external portable hard drive that provides 5 terabytes of storage?

An external hard drive is a data-holding storage device that plugs into your computer. Not only is it an efficient way to hold much more space for your computer or gaming system, but it’s also fantastic for physically transferring storage data to different locations. External hard drives are an outstanding way to backup files, as well.

Each terabyte of storage is 1000 gigabytes. Therefore, each 5TB external hard drive can carry 5000 gigabytes of data. In most cases, 5TB of storage is enough space to efficiently hold enough high-quality videos, pictures, backup files, audio files, etc. for just about any application. 

Unfortunately, not all external hard drives were made equal. Some can be very slow at file transfers, break easily which can result in loss of files, compatibility with different software, and overpriced.

After extensive research, testing, and reviews; We formulated a list of the 9 best 5TB external hard drives. each one of these is very reliable and provides the best value.

In Short, Here Are The Best Portable External Hard Drives With 5 Terabytes Of Storage

• ADATA HD710 Pro
• Seagate STHP5000400
• WDBU6Y0050BBK-WESN
• G-Technology
• Seagate STGX5000400
• WDBPKJ0050BBK-WESN
• ADATA HD830
• Silicon Power
• WDBFTM0050BBL-WESN (USB-C)

1. ADATA HD710 Pro

First up, the ADATA HD710 Pro is an excellent 5TB hard drive. With its military-grade triple-layered build, it’s able to withstand unexpected damage. You’ll appreciate its IP68 water-resistant capabilities, as well. This hard drive is compatible with Linux Kernel 2.0 or later, Windows 10/8.1/8/7/XP/Vista, or Mac OS X 10.6 or later.

Coming in at 7 inches long, 5.2 inches wide, and 1.6 inches thick; It’s easily portable and can fit just about anywhere. You’ll also appreciate the lightweight of 13.8 ounces. Not to forget, this hard drive is resistant to shock, as well. 

Overall, the ADATA HD710 Pro is an exceptional choice for those who want a very durable hard drive with waterproof capabilities! We highly recommend it!

Users Say: “This HDD is very light and is powered directly from a USB port. It comes with a USB 3.x cable. It was formatted as FAT32, so I re-formatted it as NTSF so that I can use it to back up my desktop and keep the backup on 1 file, rather than a group of 4GB files. When used on a 3.x USB port, it writes data at close to 1GB/Sec!”

Tech Specs & Details

• Compatibility: Linux Kernel 2.0 or later, Windows 10/8.1/8/7/XP/Vista, or Mac OS X 10.6 or later
• Portable
• Weight: 0.86 pound
• Triple-layered build
• 5 Terabytes of storage
• IP68  Rating
• USB 3.0 compatible

2. Seagate STHP5000400

Just recently, the Seagate STHP5000400 had a significant price cut of 24% off the original amount. Although we’re unsure if this discount is permanent or temporary, we believe it’s either way, an outstanding value. You can get this 5 Terabyte hard drive in either black, light blue, or red.

With the purchase, you get a 2-year limited warranty. On top of that, it also comes with a 60-day complimentary membership to Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan and a 1-year free subscription to Mylio Create.

Primarily made of aluminum with a minuscule amount of brushed metal enclosure, it’s made of stylish but robust material. It’s compatible with both Windows and Mac for either PC or laptop. Amongst users, it’s very popular with incredible ratings. You’ll also appreciate the fast 120MB/s max speed. Overall, this hard drive is a dependable choice for any application. It’s well priced and very portable!

Users Say: “I bought a Wester Digital drive and the drive went out in 31 days and Western Digital would not provide a replacement without me returning the one that went bad and was full of personal and sensitive information. They ran me around in a circle for 2 weeks then decide not to replace the item. I offered to pay a fee to keep and destroy the old one. I bought a 5TB Seagate for less money from Amazon and got it the same day. I have had one for 10 years and got this one because of the 5TB storage. No more Wester Digital.”

Tech Specs & Details

• Compatible with Mac or Windows
• 5 Terabytes of storage
• Aluminum enclosure
• USB 3.0
• Portable
• Auto back-up
• 120 MB/s
• 3 color options
• 2 year limited warranty

3. WDBU6Y0050BBK-WESN

For many reasons, the WDBU6Y0050BBK-WESN is the most famous 5TB hard drive on the market with near-flawless reviews. To make things better, it’s currently on a hefty 19% discount, as well. This external hard drive is compatible with both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0.

You’ll also be very impressed with the amount of storage its compact design is able to handle. With a 4.35-inch length, 3.23-inch width, and weighing only half of a pound, you’ll have no issues fitting in a pocket or purse. 

Another tremendous benefit is its 2-year manufacturer’s limited warranty providing peace of mind. It’s compatible with both Mac and Windows. Whether you’re gaming or need it for PC storage, it’s a fantastic bang for the buck portable external hard drive. Be sure to check out the reviews below!

Users Say: “I love this hard drive. It works great for all my docs that were cramming up my computer. I have uploaded a pic for Mac users to see how to reformat the hard drive to be able to use it. It takes only like 4 clicks. Type in your Mac search bar for “disk utility” app, select the new hard drive, and then in the popup box where you see “Format”, in that drop-down menu select “Mac OS Extended” then click “Erase”. That’s it, you can start dragging docs to the drive. Super easy. I’m glad I bought it cuz it’s affordable & has a lot of storage!”

Tech Specs & Details

• Portable
• Formatted NTFS for Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7
• 5 Terabytes of storage
• Compatible with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0
• 2-year manufacturer’s limited warranty

4. G-Technology

Next up, the G-Technology is a great portable external hard drive. Not only is it entirely compatible with both Windows and Mac, but it also works with USB-3, USB-C, and Thunderbolt 3. Another huge plus is it’s current 11% discount. However, this drive isn’t the most affordable on the list. 

Made of rugged construction, it’s extremely tough and able to last. It’s resistant to both dust and water with an IP54 enclosure. Along with that, this hard drive has a 1000lb crush rating and it’s also resistant to shocks. 

Although it’s remarkably durable, it does, however, have its downfalls. At times, the hard drive doesn’t get recognized on your computer. Many people have also had issues with it losing connection. Aside from that, most users are very satisfied with this hard drive and highly recommend it.

Users Say: “Yes it has a high capacity in a small size. But it has enough protective bumper to withstand a long fall onto a hard surface. The metal finish is really cool and almost glows in dim light. The biggest feature for me is the USB-C connector which is very easy to use. the connector is also protected by a silicone cover that’s very easy to put on and off.”

Tech Specs & Details

• 5 Terabytes of storage
• Portable
• Dust-resistant 
• Compatible with Windows and Mac
• Transfer speed: Up to 140MB/s
• IP54 water-resistant
• 1000lb crush rating
• Compatible with USB 3.0, USB-C, and Thunderbolt 3,

5. Seagate STGX5000400

Here is yet another one of the most popular 5TB external hard drives on the market. While it’s not as famous as WD, the Seagate STGX5000400 is a phenomenal choice for Xbox, PS4. You’ll love how it’s already preformatted for Windows and PC, as well. 

There are a plethora of reasons why we love it. For one, it’s remarkably dependable. If you want a hard drive with the highest customer satisfaction and the lowest amount of issues among users, this hard drive might be the one for you. The moment you attach it to your Mac or Windows, it automatically recognizes the device and makes it effortless to drag and drop storage. 

Of all the hard drives on this list, this is actually the brand I decided to keep and stick with. In my experience, I’ve never had a single issue with this hard drive since I got it 5 years ago. It provides a relatively quick 120 MB/s max speed, as well. Overall, it’s a very reliable choice and provides superb value for your money!

Users Say: “This is my second Seagate portable USB hard drive. The other one, a 1 TB drive, just wasn’t big enough for repeated backups of my computer. But this 4 TB drive has lots of room and works great. It was already formatted to work with my Windows 10 computer. All I had to do was just plug it into the USB port. There are no software utilities installed on this drive, but if you register it on the Seagate web site they allow you to download some handy utilities to use with your new drive, including a freeware lite version of Acronis True Image backup software (you also get a discount if you decide to purchase the full version). I use Acronis True Image to do regular backups, and this drive offers plenty of space for them. I’ve been using the drive for a while now, and so far I have not incurred any problems with it. It was well worth its purchase.”

Tech Specs & Details

• 1 year limited warranty
• Compatible with Windows or Mac 
• 2 color options
•  USB 3.0 for PS4, Xbox, PC, and Mac
• Portable
• 5 Terabytes of storage

6. WDBPKJ0050BBK-WESN

Coming in either black, red, or blue; The WDBPKJ0050BBK-WESN is another superb 5TB external hard drive for the money. The primary upgrade this hard drive offers is its +256 bit AES hardware encryption for security. In other words, if your planning on adding sensitive information to your hard drive and need added security, this one’s an excellent choice. You must initiate password protection for it to work. 

Aside from its essential security capabilities, it comes with an impressive 3-year limited warranty, as well. You’ll also appreciate its automatic backup. The primary downside with this hard drive is it’s only compatible with PC.

Unfortunately, Mac users must look elsewhere. Aside from that, it’s an amazing choice for PC users who need a portable 5TB external hard drive with AES encryption, backup, and storage!

Users Say: “After losing all my digital scrapbooking information from a broken USB I decided it was time to get with the real world and switch to an external hard drive. I can’t believe I waited so long to do this. I absolutely love having one hard drive to plug-in when I need to access my photos, scrapbooking materials, etc. instead of six different flash drives. It is nice and small and is as easy as dragging and dropping files into the window for this hard drive. I even bought two, one to store at home and one to store in a security deposit box just in case anything happens.”

Tech Specs & Details

• 5 Terabytes of storage
• + 256 bit AES hardware encryption
• Auto backup
• 3 color options
• 3-year manufacturer’s limited warranty
• Portable

7. ADATA HD830

The ADATA HD830 is an exceptionally robust 5TB hard drive that comes in either black or blue. Constructed with military-grade material, it’s able to withstand vigorous traveling and shortfalls. It’s also able to resist 6.5 feet below water.

In other words, if you spill water or coffee on this hard drive, it won’t feel a thing. If all of that wasn’t enough, it’s also resistant to shock. Overall, it’s an outstanding choice for people who extensively travel with their hard drive. We highly recommend it!

Users Say: “5 TB of storage?!? Amazing! So far, so good for this external hard drive that I am using to keep backups of all of my digital photos. There have been no problems with copying files on or off. This is a very rugged (and thus heavy) drive, so if you are looking for small and lightweight then this is not the drive for you.”

Tech Specs & Details

• Weight: 1.32 pounds
• Portable
• Military-Grade Build quality
• Resists 3000kg of downward pressure
• 5 Terabytes of storage
• Compatible with USB 3.0

8. Silicon Power

Designed for Mac, PC, PS4, and Xbox; The Silicon Power is yet another excellent portable external hard drive. It too provides a durable construction with IPX4 water resistance and shockproof capabilities. With a 3-year warranty, you’ll enjoy peace of mind. 

This hard drive is has a stylish design with a scratch-resistant surface. With impressive transfer speed, it saves a lot of your time, as well. Overall, this hard drive is a fantastic choice that won’t let you down. It’s compact, portable, has great build quality with silicone construction, and very dependable for gaming or PC. Be sure to check out the reviews below!

Users Say: “Perfect storage capacity for your everyday needs! Movies, photos, your working files. You’ll fit everything. The only thing I would suggest for PC users: since it comes formatted FAT 32 it will not accept extra-large video files. As soon as you get it, format it NTSF and you’ll be all set. For Mac users just leave it the way how it is. Mac doesn’t support NTSF however can work with it in read-only mode. If you format it NTSF you will not be able to edit any kind of document on your storage connected to Mac computer.”

Tech Specs & Details

• Compatible with USB 3.0 
• 5 Terabytes of storage
• Shockproof
• 2 color options
• Portable
• 3-year manufacturer warranty
• Pre-formatted for Windows

9. WDBFTM0050BBL-WESN (USB-C)

Last but not least, the WDBFTM0050BBL-WESN is another incredible external hard drive with 5 terabytes of storage. It’s compatible with USB-C and formatted for Windows 10. Coming with a 3-year warranty, it’s an outstanding choice to ease your worries.

Another useful attribute is its 256-but AES hardware encryption which enabled password protection. It’s a great choice for those who want to keep their storage on this hard drive safe.

This external hard drive offers WD backup for PC. Coming in at 4.3 inches long, 3.2 inches wide, and under 1-inch of thickness; It’s extremely portable. It’s compatible with both USB and USB 3.

Unfortunately, it’s not compatible with Mac and isn’t resistant to shock. Overall, it’s an awesome choice for PC!

Users Say: “I am very pleased to have this 5TB external hard drive to back up my Apple Computer. I am a senior citizen and am not tech-savvy so when I received this external hard drive, I just plugged it in and prayed that it would work effectively/appropriately for my Apple MacBook Pro. All I had to do was plug it in and I got a message if I wanted to use this external hard drive as a backup for my computer. I clicked YES and I was thrilled that it could be so simple to use. So happy to be able to back up my computer so easily. Thank you!”

Tech Specs & Details

• Compatible with USB-c and USB 3.0
• 256-bit AES hardware encryption
• Formatted for Windows 10
• 3-Year manufacturer’s limited warranty 
• Portable
• 5 Terabytes of storage

Quick Recap

Here Are The Best External Hard Drives With 5 Terabytes Of Storage

• ADATA HD710 Pro
• Seagate STHP5000400
• WDBU6Y0050BBK-WESN
• G-Technology
• Seagate STGX5000400
• WDBPKJ0050BBK-WESN
• ADATA HD830
• Silicon Power
• WDBFTM0050BBL-WESN (USB-C)

What’s an external hard drive?

An external hard drive is basically a drive that provides storage space. While a computer’s internal hard drive delivers storage within the computer, an external hard drive is portable and comes in various amounts of storage space. 

How much does an external hard drive cost?

While it primarily depends upon the provided space, $47 all the way up to $850. However, most popular external hard drives run between $47 to $200’s. 

How many terabytes of storage do external hard drives offer?

External hard drives come in various storage space amounts any from 1 terabyte all the way up to 24 terabytes and almost everything between.

What does an external hard drive do?

An external hard drive provides storage space within a square-like portable object.