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Best USB sticks 2025
The best USB sticks, also known as flash drives or memory sticks, let you easily move files to and from your computer or laptop.
We've looked at USB memory sticks from Amazon, SanDisk, Verbatim and more.
We tested them for performance, durability, storage capacity and more to give you the best-rated USB flash drives. We found big differences between the best and worst.
USB sticks are usually type-A or type-C. Type-A is the classic rectangular-shape that means you have to plug it into your computer the right way up. Type-C can fit either way around and typically offers faster speeds.
The best USB sticks
Only logged-in Which? members can view the USB memory stick test results below.
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| USB stick | Price | Score | Read speed | Write speed | Type of connection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 91% | |||||
| 86% | |||||
| 64% | |||||
| 63% | |||||
| 63% | |||||
| 59% | |||||
| 59% |
Date tested: November 2024. Page last checked: December 2024. We are not able to show every retailer and cheaper prices may be available.
All products tested with 128GB USB stick models. Read speed is a measure of how quickly stored files can be accessed on the drive. Write speed is a measure of how quickly files can be saved on the drive.
Type of connection is the type of USB connection that plugs into the computer. Number in brackets is the version of USB tech the USB-A connection uses. The most recent is (3.2).
The USB sticks we tested
All the USB flash drives we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.
Only logged-in Which? members can view the best USB memory stick from our tests.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.
Amazon Basics USB 3.1 Memory Stick
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Type of connection USB-A (3.1)
Sizes available 128GB, 256GB
Need to know 128GB size tested, preformatted to FAT32, weight 8.8g (128GB model), dimensions (L x W x H) 5.8 x 2.2 x 1cm, no warranty information but has Amazon's 30-day right to return
Kingston DataTraveler Kyson USB 3.2 Memory Stick
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Type of connection USB-A (3.2)
Sizes available 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
Need to know 128GB size tested, preformatted to FAT32, weight 3.7g (128GB model), dimensions (L x W x H) 3.9 x 1.2 x 0.5cm, five-year warranty
Kingston DataTraveler SE9 Gen3 USB 3.2 Memory Stick
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Type of connection USB-A (3.2)
Sizes available 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
Need to know 128GB size tested, preformatted to FAT32, weight 5.4g (128GB model), dimensions (L x W x H) 4.9 x 1.2 x 0.5cm, five-year warranty
Netac USB 3.0 Swivel Memory Stick
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Type of connection USB-A (3.0)
Sizes available 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
Need to know 128GB size tested, preformatted to exFAT, weight 14.6g (128GB model), dimensions (L x W x H) 5.8 x 2.0 x 1cm, five-year warranty
Want a different way to store your files? Find out how to choose the best cloud storage service
Samsung USB Type-C Memory Stick
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Type of connection USB-C
Sizes available 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
Need to know 128GB size tested, preformatted to FAT32, weight 3.4g (128GB model), dimensions (L x W x H) 3.4 x 1.6 x 0.9cm, five-year warranty
SanDisk Cruzer Blade USB 2.0 Memory Stick
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Type of connection USB-A (2.0)
Sizes available 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB
Need to know 128GB size tested, preformatted to FAT32, weight 3.3g (128GB model), dimensions (L x W x H) 4.2 x 1.7 x 0.8cm, two-year warranty
SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Go USB Type A & C Memory Stick
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Type of connection USB-A (3.2) or USB-C
Sizes available 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB (some sizes only available in certain colours)
Need to know 128GB size tested, preformatted to FAT32, weight 3.8g (128GB model), dimensions (L x W x H) 4.5 x 1.1 x 0.8cm, other colours available, five-year warranty
SanDisk Ultra Flair USB 3.0 Memory Stick
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Type of connection USB-A (3.0)
Sizes available 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
Need to know 128GB size tested, preformatted to FAT32, weight 4.6g (128GB model), dimensions (L x W x H) 4.3 x 1.4 x 0.6cm, other colours available, five-year warranty
SanDisk Ultra USB 3.0 Memory Stick
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Type of connection USB-A (3.0)
Sizes available 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
Need to know 128GB size tested, preformatted to FAT32, weight 7.3g (128GB model), dimensions (L x W x H) 5.6 x 2.2 x 0.8cm, five-year warranty
Verbatim PinStripe USB 2.0 Memory Stick
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Type of connection USB-A (2.0)
Sizes available 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB
Need to know 128GB size tested, preformatted to FAT32, weight 7.8g (128GB model), dimensions (L x W x H) 5.2 x 1.9 x 0.8cm, two-year warranty
Which? Don't Buy USB sticks
Our tests uncover the best and the worst. If a product performs so poorly that we think you should avoid it, we call it a Don't Buy.
The main reason we would name a USB stick a Don't Buy would be because it's an exceptionally slow performer, particularly when transferring data from the computer to the stick – a critically important task.
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How we test USB sticks
We select the most searched for USB memory sticks. We buy every USB stick we test: brands can't buy their way into our testing. We don't expect freebies that could influence what we write.
We regularly revisit the products on sale to see if there are any more popular models that need testing and when we find them we do.
All USB memory sticks are tested with 128GB models, on a laptop running Windows 11.
Why you can trust us: at Which? we're free from manufacturer and retailer influence. Find out more about our impartiality and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent
Read and write speeds
- We run multiple read and write tests, including PassMark, CrystalDiskMark and BlackMagic disk speed test, on each USB stick.
- We run sequential read and write tests, which test each USB stick for how quickly you can open and save large files such as videos and photos.
- We also run random read and write tests, which test each USB memory stick for how quickly it can open and run applications, operating systems, games and saving lots of small files.
- The best USB sticks have fast read and write speeds. The worst were slow no matter what the task.
Folder transfer time
- We time how long it takes to copy 5.9GB of data (made up of big and small files) from the computer to the USB stick.
- We also time how long it takes to copy this from one location on the stick to another.
- The best USB sticks could do these tasks around six times faster than the slowest.
Thermal performance
- We attach multiple temperature sensors to the USB stick to measure how hot the outer casing gets while transferring files.
- The best remain cool to the touch, while some rise in temperature by over 10ºC while operating.
Durability
- We drop each USB stick multiple times, and spill water over them to simulate knocking over a drink on your desk.
- All USB sticks could still be used after these tests, but those with lids or cases to protect the USB connection will probably last longer.
After more storage or faster speed? Read our best external hard drive reviews to find the HDD and SSD
What is a USB stick?
A USB stick (also known as a thumb drive, pen drive, memory stick or flash drive) is a portable device to store files.
They connect to a USB port on your computer and use flash memory. Their small size means they're useful for transferring files between devices but are commonly used for storage and data backup.
They come in a variety of sizes. While often not as capacious for storage as an external hard drive, they tend to be more portable and cheaper to buy, and you can find some sticks that go up to 1TB (equivalent to 1,000 GB) in storage capacity.
How to reformat a USB stick
USB sticks are designed to be 'plug and play'. So you'll find they are often already preformatted in FAT32 or exFAT. They're compatible with all major operating systems, including Windows and Mac OS.
But you may need to reformat a USB stick when it gets damaged or corrupted, and your computer can no longer recognise the stick. You'll know this is the case because your computer will display a prompt asking you to format the USB stick.
Most operating systems have built-in disk formatting tools. On Windows, you can right-click the USB stick in File Explorer and select Format.
Formatting a USB stick wipes the drive clean, deleting all the data from it. So make sure you've backed up anything on it that you want to keep.
Here are some of the most common types of file system you can select when formatting:
- exFAT The file system most USB sticks of 64GB or more will be preformatted to. It's supported by Windows, Mac OS and Linux, and the best choice if you're going to use it across devices with different operating systems.
- FAT32 The file system USB sticks 32GB or less will be preformatted to. It is compatible across operating systems, but the largest file size you can store on it is 4GB.
- NTFS File system optimised to Windows. It can support more advanced features such as encryption and access permissions. The files are also easier to recover. However, they're read-only on Mac devices (so you cannot edit them). You probably don't need this format type, but it may be helpful if you want to use any of the advanced features and only use Windows.
- APFS File system for Mac OS 10.13 or later. It essentially has the same benefits as NTFS does for Windows computers, but is only compatible with Apple devices.
- Mac OS Extended File system for Mac OS 10.12 or earlier.
How to format a USB stick on Mac
If you just want to use your USB stick for long-term storage of files, photos and videos, then the exFAT format is all you'll need.
But if you're just using your USB stick exclusively on Apple devices and want some advanced features, you may want to reformat it to Apple's APFS. If your device runs an older version of macOS, formatting to macOS Extended will be the best option for you.
APFS lets you encrypt the drive, so you need to enter a password to access the files. It also shares data between files, so duplicating large files is very quick and doesn't take up more storage space on your hard drive.
To format your external hard drive on a Mac:
- Plug in your USB stick
- Open Disk Utility. You can get to it by clicking the magnifying glass and typing 'disk utility'
- Select your USB stick
- Click Erase on the top ribbon
- Rename the drive and select your chosen format
- Click Erase on the bottom-right of the window
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