Unlike external hard drives, these compact devices are better suited for short-term use and portability. A cap on the connector keeps the drive safe from damage when it's not in use, and thanks to a loop at the end, you can connect the DataTraveler to a keychain to reduce your chances of losing it when you're walking around town.

Overall, the SanDisk Cruzer CZ36 is a solid choice for transferring anything from music and photos to videos and business files. That said, because the Kingston DataTraveler G4 maxes out at 128GB, you're not going to get as much storage as some of the other options available. But for all of that, you should be aware that this USB drive costs more than some competing devices.Note that it is much bigger than a traditional flash drive and it does cost about five times a traditional hard drive of a similar capacity. Most USB flash drives sport a standard, rectangular USB-A connector, though the popularity of USB-C in laptops and tablets means that dual-interface and USB-C only drives are becoming more and more popular.

If you are looking in the premium territory of the best USB flash drives, then the Samsung T3 is worth taking a look at. And, when it's plugged into your laptop, it doesn't stick out much from the body, making it more secure when you’re using it on the go. As some businesses have learned to their cost, a USB drive isn’t always the safest place to hold sensitive data, particularly if it’s being carried around from work to home and back again or it slips out of a bag or pocket. It also comes with 128GB of storage space, which is a phenomenal amount to carry around in your pocket.Overall, the PNY Turbo offers a nice mix of features, storage and travel-friendliness, which is why it's one of the best USB flash drives.