---
id: external-drives.thunderbolt-or-usb-c-for-an-external-ssd
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/thunderbolt-or-usb-c-for-an-external-ssd
category: "External drives"
subcategory: "Choosing a drive"
question: "Should I get a Thunderbolt or a USB-C external SSD?"
alt_questions:
  - "Thunderbolt vs USB-C SSD for Mac"
  - "Does connection type matter for the fast drive?"
  - "Is USB-C fast enough to run apps from an external SSD?"
  - "usb 3 vs thunderbolt external drive mac"
  - "Which connection should my external drive use?"
  - "Does Storage Studio prefer Thunderbolt drives?"
short_answer: "Both work. Thunderbolt or USB4 enclosures are usually fastest, but a good USB-C SSD is plenty for running apps. Storage Studio's speed test in Choose Drive measures the real speed of your drive and cable."
tags: ["thunderbolt", "usb-c", "speed", "ssd"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/what-kind-of-external-drive-should-i-use-with-storage-studio", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/can-i-use-a-spinning-hard-drive-as-my-fast-drive", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/can-i-use-a-usb-flash-drive-or-sd-card"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Should I get a Thunderbolt or a USB-C external SSD?

Either works with Storage Studio — what counts is the speed you actually get, which the built-in speed test measures. Thunderbolt and USB4 enclosures are generally the fastest option for an NVMe SSD; a good USB-C (USB 3) SSD is still plenty for running apps and opening large folders.

In **Choose Drive**, each drive shows its connection type (a bolt icon for Thunderbolt, a plain external icon for USB). Select the drive and click **Run benchmark** to see real read and write speeds before you decide.

Tip: plug the drive straight into the Mac rather than through a hub, and use the cable that came with it — both affect the speed you'll see.