Getting data from one computer to another has always been a challenge. For a long time, the standard was the floppy disk. While many people remember the main issue with floppy disks, which is that they didn’t actually hold that much, it wasn’t the only issue. As many users of computers in this era could attest, another big headache was compatibility. With several disk formats, choosing incorrectly meant that you were in for a world of hurt when plugging it in.

USB flash drives put these issues in the past by providing a universal format accepted by most computers and operating systems. Moving files between different computers have never been easier. Even better, it’s not expensive to find one that can carry enough to easily store whatever movies or photos you want on them. This guide will teach you everything you need to know about these handy devices.

What to Know Before Buying Cheap USB Flash Drives Under $10

You have seen the Best Cheap USB Flash Drives Under $10 available on the market right now. This will help you narrow down the plethora of options that you have. The choice thus becomes far easier.

In this section, you will see the top factors to consider when buying USB flash drives.

Reviews

When choosing a USB flash drive to buy, it can be constructive to consider what other users think of the USB. Both good and bad reviews will help you make an educated choice. 

Like this article, real reviews are usually an excellent way to judge if you will enjoy using a USB flash drive. This way, you can see the pros and cons of a USB flash from the firsthand experiences of those who have used the USB flash drive.

Storage

Depending on the type of work or the use you will put the USB through, you must consider the storage. After all, what is the use of having a USB flash drive if it cannot accommodate the data you want it to? Before making a purchase, you should weigh this factor carefully.

You can store files on your laptop or PC on these devices, and they can even serve as a backup. Thus, you need to consider the amount of storage the USB device has seriously. We have never encountered anyone who moaned about having too much space on their flash drive.

It is better to have a surplus of space than to have too little space. Therefore, when considering this factor, a general rule of thumb is that the bigger the storage space, the better.

The only downside bigger space has is that the price of the USB flash drive increases as the storage size increases.

If you opt to go for a USB drive with little storage space, say, for example, an 8GB USB flash drive, it will run out sooner rather than later, and you will have to buy another USB flash drive.

Speed

As pointed out earlier in the mini buying guide, USB flash drives have different speeds. Just like storage space, the faster, the better.

When it comes to speed, there are two major types of USB flash drives. On the one hand, you have the USB 2.0 flash drive, and on the other hand, there is the USB 3.0 flash drive.

Theoretically, the USB 3.0 transfers data at a speed of up to 4,800MBps. This is about ten times faster than the speed of USB 2.0 devices. These have a transfer speed of about 480MBps.

Therefore, if the main thing you want from your USB flash drive is speed, then you should opt for the USB 3.0.

Safety and Encryption

If you will be sending sensitive information through your flash drive, then security is a serious factor to consider.

If you are sending sensitive information, you need a USB flash drive that will protect your data even if it somehow falls into the wrong hands. Even if you are very careful with your flash drive, their small size makes them extremely easy to misplace.

The safest USB flash drives come with a numerical touchpad or a fingerprint sensor. Some are also encrypted to ensure that your data is unreadable to unauthorized elements.

Anyways, if you have sensitive information, the least you can do is get a flash drive with at least password protection.

Durability

No matter how much protection your flash drive has, it is utterly useless if it is not durable. If your flash drive cannot withstand stress and survive bumps, falls, and bruises, your information is in danger of becoming inaccessible. 

Thus, when buying a USB flash drive, go for USB flash drives with a protective housing. Some flash drives come with aluminum or metal casings. These are more durable than plastic flash drives.

Aside from falls, like all electronic gadgets, water is a bane. Therefore, it does not hurt to buy a flash drive that comes with a water-resistant covering.

However, with cheap USB flash drives, most of them come with a plastic casing. In this case, a flash drive with a dust cover is great. And the good news is that many of the cheap flash drives reviewed in this article feature water-resistant coverings.

Warranty and Support

Since you will likely be buying your next USB flash drive online, it is important that you note if it comes with a warranty. Having a warranty assures you of the quality of the USB flash drive.

Furthermore, if the USB flash drive has any issues during the warranty period, you can get a replacement.

Ease of Use

USB flash drives are generally very easy to use. However, some are more complicated than others. A good USB should quickly connect and display on your device and be easy to eject too.

Looks

Although looks or aesthetics is not a very important factor, it doesn’t hurt to have a USB flash drive that draws appreciative glances and murmurs when you pop it out of your pocket.

Benefits of Using a USB Flash Drive

USB drives come with many benefits. In this section, we will consider why they are significant despite the advent of cloud services.

They Are Portable

These nifty devices are very small. Therefore, they can be carried about with you. In cases where you need data offline and your laptop is not available, you can transfer the data to a USB flash drive and take it to wherever you are going.

Furthermore, they are easy to attach to key chains or hidden in the smallest pockets. You wouldn’t even notice you have them! Another reason why they are easy to use is the fact that they never run out of power. They do not require charging of any form.

They Are Cheap

These devices can contain up to 64GB of data. Yet, they come cheaper than other storage devices. If you have a lot of information to transfer, you can get a USB with larger storage space.

The cheap nature of these devices makes them readily available at retail stores. If you are running out of space or need a storage device on the fly, you can walk into any retail store and buy one.

Adaptable and Fast

These devices can connect with almost every device without any hassles. You can use them on different operating systems.

Most PCs and laptops have dedicated ports for USB flash drives. Furthermore, some USB flash drives can even be used on smartphones and tablets.

And some USBs have memory card readers too.

You can transfer data from one device to another at incredible speeds. The speed of transfer is not dependent on the availability or strength of your internet connection.

No Moving Parts

These devices do not have any moving parts. As a result, they consume far less power than other storage devices. They connect instantly and can be ejected with similar speed and ease.

Ease of Use

They are straightforward to use. All you have to do is connect them to your device. As mentioned earlier, you can use them across various platforms, from IOS to Android to Windows and Mac. 

Unlike cloud services, you do not require an internet connection before accessing the USB flash drive data.

They Are Secure

USB flash devices are very secure. Since they are not connected to any wireless networks, they cannot be hacked via the internet. When cloud services fail, even if that doesn’t happen often, you will be glad to have your important information on a USB flash drive somewhere.

They also come with a variety of security features. Some of them require passwords to access any files, while some sophisticated ones require fingerprint access to function.

All these safeguards do not require any internet connections. To make your information even safer, some of these nifty devices feature encryption. Therefore, before files can be accessed, private keys are required.

Final Words

There are many USB flash drive options available on the market. We are confident that by reading our review of those listed in this article, you have narrowed your choice to the ten best cheap USB flash drives under $10.

If for some reason, you do not find what you want among the cheap USB flash drives listed in the article, the factors to consider found in our buying guide will help you eventually choose an excellent USB flash drive.