The Best USB Flash Drives to Store Music in 2024

Keep your music library all in one place

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The best USB drives for storing music combine capacity and speed with a little design flare. Unlike traditional USB flash drives, the models on our list are designed with cool in mind; after all, your hottest playlists deserve a drive with style to match.

Best Overall

SanDisk Ultra 128GB Dual Drive

SanDisk Ultra 128GB Dual Drive

Amazon

Pros
  • Works with Type-C and Type-A ports

  • Retractable for safety

  • Very portable

Cons
  • Might not fit your phone if there's a case

  • Struggles to plug in; must hold the slider in place

While many of the flash drives on the market are designed for USB 2 or USB 3, the SanDisk Ultra 128GB Dual Drive is all about USB-C. And if you have a USB-C drive on your computer, this is a fine choice.

The flash drive has a rugged finish to keep your data safe even if you drop it on a hard surface. There’s a feature to eject the USB connector or retract it when it’s not in use to ensure it doesn’t come off, leaving your data inaccessible.

SanDisk’s device comes with 128GB of storage, which should allow it to hold 8,000 songs, and since it supports read speeds up to 150MB per second, you shouldn’t have any trouble accessing tracks on your devices.

In addition, to support USB-C, the SanDisk Ultra works with USB 2.0 and USB 3.0/3.1 ports, so it’s completely compatible with your chosen devices.

Best Design

Samsung 128GB Bar Plus

Samsung-128gb-bar-plus

Amazon

Pros
  • Awesome physical design

  • Connect it to your bag, etc., for easy retrieval

  • Rugged design to prevent data loss

  • 5-year limited warranty

Cons
  • Sharp edges can make it uncomfortable in a pocket

  • Users report that it gets quite hot at times

Samsung’s 128GB Bar Plus is all about design. And compared to most flash drives on the market, it’s beautiful.

The device has a champagne silver metal finish that hides the USB connector, keeping it safe when not in use. A loop at the end lets you connect it to a keyring, lanyard, or any other connector, so you can carry it around town without needing to drop it in your bag.

On the performance side, you can expect the Samsung 128GB Bar Plus to support up to 8,000 songs. It also comes with a water-, shock-, magnet-, temperature- and X-ray-proof design. And with a five-year warranty, the drive will hold up for the long haul.

According to Samsung, the 128GB Bar offers a read rate of up to 150MB per second.

Novelty

CHUYI Music Note

Chuyi-music-note

Amazon

Pros
  • Fun, unique design

  • Rubber body and cap make it hard to break

Cons
  • Users say the cap has trouble staying attached

  • Limited to USB 2.0

The flash drive market is not all serious. So why not consider getting a cool-looking music note that can double as a storage device for your music?

A company named CHUYI has designed a flash drive that comes with a musical note design. And while it looks nice, it also has a function: The note is made from PVC rubber, which helps to protect the drive inside if you drop it or it suffers a fall.

The drive is compatible with USB 2.0 or older and comes with just 32GB of storage, so it can only hold 2,000 songs. But by saving some space, you can also save some bucks: The CHUYI Music Note is one of the cheapest options on the market.

The device is compatible with just about any computer or device you plug it into and, for added protection, comes with a cover over its plug so it doesn’t get damaged when it’s not in use.

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