Collection: Back Up & Storage

Portable storage devices hold your files and, more importantly, protect them — because every drive eventually fails, and the only real protection is having a copy somewhere else. External hard drives give capacity cheaply; portable SSDs are faster and more shock-resistant; USB sticks and memory cards suit transferring files and camera storage. Think about whether you need bulk backup capacity, fast working storage, or something small to carry files.

What type of storage do you need?

Each type suits a different job:

• External hard drive: the cheapest way to get large capacity, best for backups and archives. Mechanical, so it's slower and more vulnerable to knocks.
• External SSD (portable): much faster and with no moving parts, so it survives being carried around. Better for working files and video.
• USB flash drive: small and pocketable for moving files between machines.
• Memory card: for cameras, drones and devices with a card slot.

How should you back up your files?

A widely used approach is the 3-2-1 rule: keep three copies of your data, on two different types of media, with one copy stored somewhere else. In practice that might mean your computer, an external drive at home, and a cloud backup. The reason for the offsite copy is that a fire, flood or theft takes out everything in one location at once, no matter how many drives you own. Automate the backup if you can, since manual backups get forgotten. Tip: test that you can actually restore a file occasionally — an untested backup isn't a backup.

SSD or hard drive?

The trade-off is speed and durability against cost per gigabyte. An SSD has no moving parts, so it reads and writes far faster, starts instantly, and survives being knocked or dropped while running — which matters for anything you carry. A mechanical hard drive costs considerably less per terabyte, making it the better value for bulk backup and archive storage that sits on a desk. For working files, video editing and anything portable, choose an SSD. For large backups that stay put, a hard drive gives more capacity for the money.

Common questions

What is the 3-2-1 backup rule?
Three copies of your data, on two different types of media, with one copy offsite. The offsite copy protects against fire, flood or theft taking out everything in one place.

SSD or hard drive for backups?
A hard drive gives far more capacity per dollar for bulk backups that stay on a desk. An SSD is faster and survives knocks, making it better for portable and working storage.

How long do external drives last?
There's no fixed lifespan and any drive can fail without warning, which is exactly why a single copy isn't a backup. Keep at least two copies of anything you can't afford to lose.

What memory card do I need for my camera?
Check your camera's supported card type and speed class, since video recording needs a minimum sustained write speed. A card that's too slow causes dropped frames and recording errors.

Can I pay for storage with Afterpay?
Yes. You can split it with Afterpay, Zip, Klarna or PayPal Pay in 4. Our backup and storage starts from $20, which is four fortnightly payments of $5.

Complete your setup

Storage works with the rest of your electronics. Add a computer, USB cables, and accessories for your desk.

A $20 external drive splits into four fortnightly payments of $5.0 with Afterpay, and Zip, Klarna and PayPal Pay in 4 do the same. Every order ships from our Australian warehouse, dispatched within 1–2 business days, with a 12-month warranty and 30 days to return it. We're a family-run Australian store, going since 2016, rated 4.66 out of 5 across 5,363 reviews.