10 Best Time Machine Backup Drive For Mac 2026 in the United States

The LaCie d2 Professional offers a massive 14TB storage capacity, which is excellent if you have a large amount of data or want to back up multiple Mac devices. It uses a 3.5-inch mechanical hard drive with enterprise-class BarraCuda Pro drives spinning at 7200 RPM, balancing fast data access with reliable performance. Connection-wise, it supports Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C, making it fully compatible with modern Macs and allowing fast transfer speeds up to 240MB/s—ideal for quick backups and working with large files. The aluminum build helps reduce noise and vibration, which is a plus for a desktop setup.

While it's labeled as portable, its size and weight (over 2 pounds) make it better suited for a stationary desk environment rather than frequent travel. It comes with a one-month Adobe Creative Cloud subscription, which is a nice bonus for creatives but unrelated to backup function. It includes a five-year warranty and data recovery services, offering peace of mind in case something goes wrong.

This drive is a strong choice for Time Machine backups if you want a large, fast, and durable desktop solution. If you need something more portable or budget-friendly, smaller SSD options might be better. It is a powerful and robust desktop backup drive that fits well for Mac users needing high capacity and speed in a fixed workspace.

The G-Technology 10TB G-DRIVE USB-C is a solid choice for anyone looking to back up their Mac using Time Machine. It offers a large 10TB storage capacity, which is plenty of space to store years of files, photos, and videos. The drive uses a mechanical 3.5-inch hard disk, which generally means slower speeds than SSDs but offers reliable long-term storage at a better price. The USB-C connection with USB 3.1 Gen 1 ensures fast, universal data transfer and easy connection to modern Macs.

Its aluminum enclosure adds durability, and the drive is designed to be plug-and-play on Mac systems, so setup with Time Machine is straightforward. It also supports USB Power Delivery, meaning it can charge compatible laptops while backing up, which is convenient. On the downside, this is a desktop-sized drive, so it's not very portable compared to smaller external drives or SSDs. It weighs about 2.3 pounds and requires external power.

Since it uses a mechanical hard drive, it’s more vulnerable to physical shocks and runs a bit louder than solid-state options. While it can be reformatted for Windows, it’s primarily designed for Mac users. If you want a high-capacity, reliable backup solution for your Mac that integrates smoothly with Time Machine and don’t need to carry it around often, this drive is worth considering.

The SanDisk 8TB Desk Drive SSD is a strong choice if you want a large and fast external backup drive for your Mac. With a generous 8TB capacity, it can easily hold your entire photo, video, music, and document libraries, which is great for Time Machine backups that need ample space. Being a solid state drive (SSD), it offers much faster read speeds—up to 1000 MB/s—compared to traditional hard drives. This means quicker backups and faster access to your files.

It connects via USB-C with USB 3.2 Gen 2, a modern interface that ensures good transfer speeds and wide compatibility with recent Macs. The compact desktop design won’t take up much desk space, although it's not meant for on-the-go portability like smaller portable drives. Reliability is generally high for SSDs, and this model includes data recovery service, which adds peace of mind in case of drive issues. It comes preformatted with exFAT, so it works easily with Mac out of the box. You can use Apple’s Time Machine software for seamless backups, or opt for Acronis True Image if you want more backup features.

As a desktop-style SSD, it’s slightly less portable than smaller, bus-powered drives if you need to carry it around often. While 1000 MB/s is fast for external drives, some newer SSDs can be even faster, but this speed is quite good for most backup tasks. This SanDisk SSD offers large capacity, fast performance, and solid Mac compatibility, making it a reliable and convenient choice for Mac users looking to protect their data with Time Machine.