Best USB sticks: fast memory sticks and flash drives reviewed

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, finding big differences between the best and worst. We tested them for performance, durability and storage capacity to find the best-rated USB flash drives.

USB sticks are usually Type-A or Type-C. Type-A is the classic rectangular shape that you have to plug into your computer the right way up. Type-C can fit either way around and typically offers faster speeds.

The USB sticks we tested

The biggest brands and the 10 most popular USB sticks are listed below. 

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All the USB flash drives we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.

Only logged-in Which? members and free account owners can view our results for USB sticks.

Register for free to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.

Amazon Basics USB 3.1 Memory Stick

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

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

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

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

Samsung USB Type-C Memory Stick

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

Want a different way to store your files? Find out how to choose the best cloud storage service

SanDisk Cruzer Blade USB 2.0 Memory Stick

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

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

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

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

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. We've tested one USB stick that we've named a Don't Buy. 

The main reason we would name a USB stick a Don't Buy is because it's exceptionally slow, particularly when transferring data from the computer to the stick, which is a critically important task. This was the case with our Don't Buy USB stick – it's terribly slow regardless of the task.

 To find out which model it is, and which USB sticks earned our Best Buy recommendations, log in or join Which?. 

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 that measure how quickly you can open and save large files, such as videos and photos, on each USB stick.
• 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 save 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 10°C 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 for you

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 makes them useful for transferring files between devices, but they're 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 sticks that go up to 1TB (1,000 GB) in capacity.

Is there a difference between a flash drive and a USB stick?

USB sticks and flash drives are essentially the same thing. 

A flash drive is a storage device that uses flash memory to store data electronically. 

A USB stick is a flash drive that uses a USB connection (typically USB-A) to connect to a device.

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 macOS.

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 its data. 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 Most USB sticks of 64GB or more will be preformatted to this file format. It's supported by Windows, macOS and Linux, and is the best choice if you're going to use it across devices with different operating systems.
• FAT32 File system to which USB sticks 32GB or less will be preformatted. 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 can't 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 macOS 10.13 or later. It offers the same benefits as NTFS on Windows computers, but is only compatible with Apple devices.
• macOS Extended File system for macOS 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:

1. Plug in your USB stick
2. Open Disk Utility. You can get to it by clicking the magnifying glass and typing 'Disk Utility'
3. Select your USB stick
4. Click Erase on the top ribbon
5. Rename the drive and select your chosen format
6. Click Erase on the bottom-right of the window

Lost your files? How to recover deleted files from your PC or external drive – the easy way

Can I use a USB flash drive for long-term storage?

We would advise against it due to factors in a USB stick’s design that make them unsuitable for long-term storage.

The biggest issue is gradual data degradation, which all USB sticks eventually suffer. A lack of power leads to the stored data being lost over time. Typically, this degradation can occur after a few years of the USB stick being left idle. Although you may be lucky with some still working years later, this is the exception and not the rule. 

You can mitigate the risk of degradation by occasionally plugging the USB stick into a computer, but this can be a chore and increase the danger of data corruption, particularly if it's not disconnected properly. Instead, you would be better off investing in a more suitable long-term solution.

External hard drives (HDDs) are superb substitutes. Due to the use of magnetic storage rather than electrical, they can be more reliably used for long-term offline data storage. Cloud storage is another good choice. This method stores saved data in remote servers that you essentially rent through a subscription.

An often forgotten alternative is burning data onto an optical disc. There are lots of options, but a recordable Blu-ray disc (BD-R) is the best high-capacity choice, allowing you to store heaps of data, HD videos and audio files. For this option, in addition to the discs, you’ll also need a compatible writer (burner) disc drive.