The PlayStation 5 comes with lots of storage space by default, but if you need more, you can always add in an extra SSD of your choice. You'll need to make sure it's compatible — it's got to be the right size and meet certain performance standards. But with any of the top SSDs below, you'll be able to upgrade your PS5's storage to make it much more expansive.
Best SSD for PS5
Samsung 990 Pro
- Blazing-fast performance
- Fully PS5 compatible
- Included heat sink keeps it cool
- 2TB capacity will give you all the space you need
- Expensive
| Specification: | |
| Capacity | 2TB |
| Sustained Read | 7,450MBps |
| Sustained Write | 6,900MBps |
| Heat sink | Included |
Why you should buy this: It's fast, cool, and has masses of storage space.
Who it’s for: People looking for an excellent storage solution with exceptionally fast speeds.
Why we chose the Samsung 990 Pro: The Samsung 990 Pro is one of the fastest drives available at the moment, offering reads speeds that surpass the 7,000MBps mark — more than you need for a great PS5 SSD. It comes in a 2TB configuration, giving you all the space you need, and its included heat sink will keep it cool, even in the PS5's SSD compartment.
You can buy it without a heat sink too, if you already have one and want to save a little money, and there are smaller capacities for those on tighter budgets. If you want an awesome SSD for your PS5, the Samsung 990 Pro is it — but it does have a steeper price than some alternatives.
Best large-capacity SSD for PS5
Acer Predator GM7000
- 4TB capacity
- Fast PCIe 4 performance
- Stays cool with included heat spreader
- Affordably priced for this size
- Lacks performance of the newest drives
| Specification: | |
| Capacity | 4TB |
| Sustained Read | 7,400MBps |
| Sustained Write | 6,300MBps |
| Heat sink | Graphene heat spreader |
Why you should buy this: It's fast and affordable for its size.
Who it’s for: People looking for lots of storage space for thier games.
Why we chose the Acer Predator GM7000: If you want lots of storage space for your PS5, then the Acer Predator GM7000 is an excellent pick. Its 4TB capacity is much bigger than most PS5 SSDs offer. It's enough space to store your entire game library and then some, with plenty of additional space for the future.
It's also very fast, rivaling some of the best PCIe4 drives on read and write speeds. It comes with a graphene heat spreader that will help keep it cool. It's not the absolute fastest drive around, but it's not far off and maxes out what the PS5 can make use of. This is an awesome all-around SSD for big game libraries.
Best value SSD for PS5
Teamgroup T-Forze Z440 Lite 1TB
- Very affordable price
- Great performance
- Big enough for a large game library
- Lacks performance of higher-end drives
| Specification: | |
| Capacity | 1TB |
| Sustained Read | 5,000MBps |
| Sustained Write | 4,200MBps |
| Heat sink | Graphene heat spreader |
Why you should buy this: It's fast and very affordable.
Who it’s for: Gamers who want more space without paying much for it.
Why we chose the T-Force Cardea Z440 Lite: It's a 1TB PS5-compatible SSD with great performance for just over $60. What's not to love? Sure, it's not as fast as some of the latest SSDs and it's slightly slower than Sony recommends, but it is fully compatible and will work just fine. You really won't notice the difference. While its capacity isn't enormous either, it's still 1TB — that's more than double the storage space of the base PS5 configuration.
There's no heat sink, but there's a graphene heat spreader, which is good enough. You can always add an aftermarket heat sink if you feel it needs it, too.
Best premium SSD for PS5
WD_Black SN850X 4TB
- Officially licensed PS5 SSD
- Large capacity
- Very fast
- Powerful heat sink
- PlayStation Plus Premium trial included
- Expensive
- No faster than other top drives
| Specification: | |
| Capacity | 2TB |
| Sustained Read | 7,300MBps |
| Sustained Write | 6,600MBps |
| Heat sink | Yes |
Why you should buy this: It's fast, massive, and built to a very high standard.
Who it’s for: Gamers who want a premium SSD for their PS5.
Why we chose the WD_Black SN850P 4TB: This is the drive if you want to buy an SSD for your PS5 and then never have to buy one again. With a 4TB capacity, you're unlikely to ever completely fill it, and it's fast enough that no game coming down the pipe is going to make it feel sluggish. It also has a thick heat sink, so it will remain cool and running at peak performance no matter how much you play.
It is expensive, but you can cut that price down a lot by going for a smaller capacity -- while enjoying most of the same benefits of the drive. But this 4TB capacity model is the king of the hill. This is arguably the best SSD for PS5, but with a higher price tag.
Best SSD for PS5 under $100
Crucial T500 1TB
- Fast performance
- Affordable, sub-$100 price tag
- Included graphene heat spreader
- Available with a heat sink
- Limited capacity at this price
| Specification: | |
| Capacity | 1TB |
| Sustained Read | 7,300MBps |
| Sustained Write | 6,800MBps |
| Heat sink | Graphene heat spreader |
**Why you should buy this: **It's fast, has a strong capacity, and is very affordable.
Who it’s for: Gamers who want a fast SSD at a great price.
Why we chose the Corsair T500: The Corsair T500 is an excellent SSD for PS5s, with a 1TB capacity and fast PCIe 4 performance. It's officially compatible, whether you buy it with or without the heat sink (though it's slightly cheaper without), meaning it'll fit no matter what you buy. It's not quite as fast as the fastest drives, but it's not far off, and its random read and write speeds are some of the most impressive of any SSD, making this one particularly good for gaming.
If you're a PC user, you can take advantage of a free one-month trial of Adobe's Creative Cloud app suite, too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Specifically, Sony recommends installing an NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD with a sequential read speed of 5,500MBps or faster. Capacity maxes out at 4TB, so don't try to install anything larger.
Sony says your SSDs need to have at least a 250GB capacity. However, drives larger than 4TB won't be compatible -- 1TB and 2TB drives are the most cost-effective for their size, although a 512GB drive will fit a number of games without running out of space.
All PS5-compatible SSDs with heatsinks will fit without trouble, but if you're adding an aftermarket cooler, you'll need to take into account its size and shape.
Your heat sink and SSD together should not exceed 110mm by 25mm by 11.25mm. Make sure you get these dimensions right. Some SSD heat sinks utilize rubber bands to hold the M.2 NVe SSD and the heat sinks together. Such SSD heat sinks are not recommended as they don't last long, and the silicon rubber bands can wear away.
These are the best SSDs for the PS5. Want more help picking an SSD? Check out our SSD buying guide.
