10 Best USB Flash Drives UK 2024 | SanDisk, Patriot and More)

For our No. 1 choice we've gone for something simple, reliable, and affordable. The SanDisk Ultra might win any awards for innovation, but you'll get a great USB flash drive for your money whether opting for 32 GB or 512 GB.

We particularly like how the connector slides into the body of the device – it's a simple feature, but it removes the need for those little caps that can often get lost. It also comes with SanDisk SecureAccess software which offers a level of encryption if needed.

The Samsung Duo Plus is probably the most unique USB flash drive on the market and we think its ingenuity deserves a high place on our list. As well as having a traditional USB connection, it also has a USB-C connection which allows you to use it with other devices like tablets and smartphones.

Even without the 2-in-1 gimmick, it is a great USB drive in its own right, boasting enough memory for all kinds of documents and files and having a the most up-to-date technology available. This could be the way USB sticks look in the future.

If you're looking for a little extra space to hold your PC games, the Supersonic Rage Elite is the best on the market. It has ample space on the 128 GB version, but there are also 256 GB, 512 GB and even 1 TB options available if you're happy to spend the money. 

It's not just the large space that makes this great for gaming but the insane read speeds and USB 3.1 compatibility too, which mean that loading times will be cut down while playing compared to other USBs. This one is well worth the investment if you like to game on the go and don't quite have the hard drive space on a laptop.

Though not quite the military grade of the other encrypted USB flash drives on our list, this is still certified to FIPS 197 which is a high-level security standard approved by the U.S government; it is one level lower than FIPS 140-2.

The security you get for a fraction of the price is still incredible, and more than good enough for sensitive legal documents and important financial data. It is also waterproof and has a hardened inner case that's protected by a rubber outer layer to prevent damage.

If you're looking to spend the least amount of money possible, you can't go too far wrong with the Kingston DataTraveller G4; this is a slightly newer version than the previous item on our list. At such a low price point, it's hard to find faults with what you're getting for your money.

While the read speeds and storage space are great for the price, there are some reports of issues with manufacturing, with some models not quite reaching the advertised read speeds. Kingston are a great brand and you can't really argue at this price, but there may be some issues if you're unlucky.

Most people need just one USB drive for occasional use, but it can also be handy to have a few to hand – you'll be surprised how quickly they can fill up when working on the go and backing up files. When group projects pop up at work or university, it can be incredibly useful to be able to share USB sticks between members without having to worry.

Kingston are one of the most reliable brands when it comes to USB flash drives, and this three-piece bundle represents great value for money for the total memory it provides; it can be better to have your files spread out over multiple devices in some circumstances.

With this flash drive, you're getting something that is very small to hold yet with a whopping 128 GB of storage space. It's perfect for adding some extra space on a laptop as you'll barely notice it when it's plugged in, plus, it has some of the fastest read speeds around.

We have to say that while many are fans of the smaller form USB drives, we're not too sure that having something so small is a huge benefit. It may not protrude from the side of a laptop, but something this tiny can easily get lost in a bag or pocket.

If you're looking for the best price to gigabyte ratio, then the Verbatim Store n Go is the choice for you. It features a simple slide mechanism to protect the connector when not in use and is compatible with all operating systems.

While inexpensive, it does suffer from relatively low read speeds which can hinder quick file transfer; this is because it's a little older than other USB flash drives and still uses USB 2.0. A great option to back up your data, but it may take some time to do so.

Just edging out the previous entry, this encrypted drive from Apricorn also has military grade 256-bit AES hardware encryption but instead of setting up a password on a computer, the code is entered onto the USB stick itself.

It can only hold 2 GB, although there are larger options available at an increased cost. The read speed is also faster than the Kingston which can make a difference when using. Once again, don't let the low placing on this list deter you if you're looking for the best security, it's just that this level of encryption isn't needed by everyone.

Although it may be a bit confusing when first setting up your password for the first time, the Kingston IronKey is one of the most secure USB drives on the market and is a great choice for sensitive data. It is FIPS 140-2 Level 3 certified and all the decryption is done on the device itself, rather than the computer it's plugged into.

We've decided to place some of the encrypted drives on the lower end of our list purely due to their high price point for the storage space offered, but make no mistake, if you're happy to pay for piece of mind, the security on this device is exceptional with military grade 256-bit AES hardware encryption.