Top 10 Best external optical drives for pc in 2025
Introduction
Looking for a reliable external optical drives for pc in 2025? You’re not alone. With so many models available today, it’s easy to get lost—especially when descriptions are vague or customer reviews are all over the place. That’s why we decided to sort things out. Not by claiming to know everything, but by analyzing what sells well, what real users say, and what’s worth your attention both on paper and in practice. Our goal isn’t to drown you in technical details, but to guide you toward the best possible choices—without wasting hours comparing on your own. In short, a practical and hopefully useful guide.
【PLUG & PLAYP】Easy to use. Rioddas external DVD drive is powered by USB port.No external driver and power needed. Just plug it into your USB port and the DVD driver will be detected.
【TRENDY DESIGN】 Brushed texture shell brings trendy sight and touch enjoyment. Embedded cable design, worry- off cable missing any when and where
【HIGH SPEED】 Rioddas external CD drive floppy is compatible with USB3.0 and backwards compatible with USB2.0 USB1.0,bringing you faster data transmission speed (up to a maximum of 5Gbps) and stable performance with strong fault tolerance
【INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY】 This ultra slim CD/DVD player floppy for laptops comes standard with an eject button so that you never have to worry about your disc getting stuck inside this external CD/DVD drive. Thanks to the copper mesh technology of this external component, you can be rest assured of stable data transmission
【WIDE SUPPaORT】Rioddas external CD Drive supports to read CD,VCD,SVCD,CD-R/RW,DVD-R/RW and burn CD+/-RW,DVD+/-RW, etc. Advanced chip, DVD-/+RW burner supports playing music, movies or copying/burning movies and music to DVD or CD.ideal for various devices,Windows XP/2003/Vista/7/8.1/10, Linux, all version Mac OS system Laptop, Notebook, PC, Desktop Computer.
2-In-1 USB 3.0 & Type-C: Our External CD DVD drive for laptop has upgraded USB and Type-C ports, compatible with USB 3.0 and backwards compatible with USB 2.0 USB 1.0, provide up to 5 Gbps of data ransfer and reading speed, 10 times faster than USB 2.0. The data cable can be stored on the back of the drive, without need to worry about losing the data cable.
Plug and Play: CD burner is powered by USB port, no external driver and power needed. Simply plug it into your laptop or desktop computer and you're ready to go. Whether you need to listen to music, watch movies, install software, or burn files, external DVD drive for laptop practical enough to meet your burning and playback needs.
Dual Chip & High-Speed Performance: The external CD drive for laptop features a dual-chip design, which not only provides strong error correction and low power consumption, but also delivers impressive speeds, with a maximum DVD read speed of 8X and CD read speed of 24X. The non-slip rubber pad on the bottom of the external CD & DVD drives ensures stability, abrasion resistance and shock absorption.
Slim and Portable: Our lightweight DVD player for laptop is perfect for your laptop. The external CD drive features an eject button that allows you to insert and remove discs easily, you can say goodbye to the hassle of getting stuck inside the disc. You can easily carry this external disc drive with you - just put it in your bag and you can connect it anywhere.
Wide Compatibility: This CD drive supports CD, VCD, SVCD, CD-R/RW, DVD-R/RW, and burn CD+/- RW, DVD+/- RW, etc. externally. In addition, USB CD drive external is compatible with Windows XP, 7, 8, 10, Partial 11, 2003, Vista, Linux, all version Mac OS system, suitable for Laptop, Notebook, Mac, PC and Desktop.(Note: Incompatible with partial Windows 11; Do not support Chromebook and Ubuntu system, Blu-ray, 3D, 4K discs, TV, car, truck, iPad, iPhone, and Android phone.
【5 in 1 External CD Drive】BUNUD external CD DVD drive for laptop has an independent SD / TF card slot, 2 USB ports and micro USB ports. It can transfer photos and videos directly from SD / TF card into the computer, USB Hard Drive and flash drive. BUNUD external CD DVD drive has additional 2 USB ports which can be used to connect the U disk and charge your phone or other electronic devices.NOTE: SD card and TF card can't work together at the same time, only choose one each time.
【USB 3.0 & Type-C】The external DVD drive can easily connect to a computer with the Type-C or USB 3.0 interface. Just plug it into your USB port and the external DVD drive for laptop will be automatically recognized within seconds. Our CD DVD drive external makes it possible to cover all of your burning and playback needs, such as burning files, burning music and movies on CD or DVD, installing software and creating backup CDs, watching DVD / CD movies.
【High Quality】This BUNUD cd drive is made of Aviation Aluminum and original new core. It has perfect functions, such as noise reduction, shockproof, fast Speed, robust & durable, and error correction. The data cable is hidden in this external cd dvd drive for laptop. You’ll never have to worry about lost cables with this external CD drive at any time. You can put this DVD drive in your travel bag or on your desk.
【Wide Compatibility】 This external dvd drive for laptop is compatible with Windows XP / 2003 / Vista / 7 / 8.1 / 10/11, Linux, all versions Mac system, laptop , Notebook, pc, desktop computer. In addition, for the desktops, this external cd dvd drive must be connected to the USB port on the back of the computer host, otherwise it will result in insufficient power supply. (CD DVD Drive burner could not work with car, Chrome OS, smartphone, TV, projector, iPad, blu-ray disc.)
【Read and Write】External CD DVD drive supports play and burn both CDs and DVDs whether you're at the office or on the road. External CD DVD drive supports to read CD, VCD, SVCD, CD-R/RW, DVD-R/RW and burn CD+/-RW, DVD+/-RW, etc. Max DVD-ROM drive reading speed 8X; Max CD-ROM drive burning speed 24X and DVD drive reading speed 8X; Max CD drive reading speed 24X. "
How to choose a good external optical drives for pc?
On the surface, choosing a external optical drives for pc seems simple. But once you dig in, it gets more complicated. Between technical differences, unfamiliar brands, and unclear features, it’s better to ask the right questions:
Usage: Will you use it daily or only occasionally? That heavily influences the right model.
Budget: No need to go for the most expensive one right away. What matters is the value for money.
Key factors:
Durability, build quality, lifespan
Truly useful features (not just marketing buzz)
User reviews, especially after weeks or months
Availability of customer service in case of issues
We’ve cross-checked multiple sources: Amazon data, detailed reviews, search trends… and a bit of intuition too—because numbers don’t tell the whole story. This mix allows us to build our ranking, which we update regularly. The goal isn’t to just list names but to guide you toward what truly works.
【PLUG & PLAYP】Easy to use. Rioddas external DVD drive is powered by USB port.No external driver and power needed. Just plug it into your USB port and the DVD driver will be detected.
【TRENDY DESIGN】 Brushed texture shell brings trendy sight and touch enjoyment. Embedded cable design, worry- off cable missing any when and where
【HIGH SPEED】 Rioddas external CD drive floppy is compatible with USB3.0 and backwards compatible with USB2.0 USB1.0,bringing you faster data transmission speed (up to a maximum of 5Gbps) and stable performance with strong fault tolerance
【INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY】 This ultra slim CD/DVD player floppy for laptops comes standard with an eject button so that you never have to worry about your disc getting stuck inside this external CD/DVD drive. Thanks to the copper mesh technology of this external component, you can be rest assured of stable data transmission
【WIDE SUPPaORT】Rioddas external CD Drive supports to read CD,VCD,SVCD,CD-R/RW,DVD-R/RW and burn CD+/-RW,DVD+/-RW, etc. Advanced chip, DVD-/+RW burner supports playing music, movies or copying/burning movies and music to DVD or CD.ideal for various devices,Windows XP/2003/Vista/7/8.1/10, Linux, all version Mac OS system Laptop, Notebook, PC, Desktop Computer.
2-In-1 USB 3.0 & Type-C: Our External CD DVD drive for laptop has upgraded USB and Type-C ports, compatible with USB 3.0 and backwards compatible with USB 2.0 USB 1.0, provide up to 5 Gbps of data ransfer and reading speed, 10 times faster than USB 2.0. The data cable can be stored on the back of the drive, without need to worry about losing the data cable.
Plug and Play: CD burner is powered by USB port, no external driver and power needed. Simply plug it into your laptop or desktop computer and you're ready to go. Whether you need to listen to music, watch movies, install software, or burn files, external DVD drive for laptop practical enough to meet your burning and playback needs.
Dual Chip & High-Speed Performance: The external CD drive for laptop features a dual-chip design, which not only provides strong error correction and low power consumption, but also delivers impressive speeds, with a maximum DVD read speed of 8X and CD read speed of 24X. The non-slip rubber pad on the bottom of the external CD & DVD drives ensures stability, abrasion resistance and shock absorption.
Slim and Portable: Our lightweight DVD player for laptop is perfect for your laptop. The external CD drive features an eject button that allows you to insert and remove discs easily, you can say goodbye to the hassle of getting stuck inside the disc. You can easily carry this external disc drive with you - just put it in your bag and you can connect it anywhere.
Wide Compatibility: This CD drive supports CD, VCD, SVCD, CD-R/RW, DVD-R/RW, and burn CD+/- RW, DVD+/- RW, etc. externally. In addition, USB CD drive external is compatible with Windows XP, 7, 8, 10, Partial 11, 2003, Vista, Linux, all version Mac OS system, suitable for Laptop, Notebook, Mac, PC and Desktop.(Note: Incompatible with partial Windows 11; Do not support Chromebook and Ubuntu system, Blu-ray, 3D, 4K discs, TV, car, truck, iPad, iPhone, and Android phone.
【5 in 1 External CD Drive】BUNUD external CD DVD drive for laptop has an independent SD / TF card slot, 2 USB ports and micro USB ports. It can transfer photos and videos directly from SD / TF card into the computer, USB Hard Drive and flash drive. BUNUD external CD DVD drive has additional 2 USB ports which can be used to connect the U disk and charge your phone or other electronic devices.NOTE: SD card and TF card can't work together at the same time, only choose one each time.
【USB 3.0 & Type-C】The external DVD drive can easily connect to a computer with the Type-C or USB 3.0 interface. Just plug it into your USB port and the external DVD drive for laptop will be automatically recognized within seconds. Our CD DVD drive external makes it possible to cover all of your burning and playback needs, such as burning files, burning music and movies on CD or DVD, installing software and creating backup CDs, watching DVD / CD movies.
【High Quality】This BUNUD cd drive is made of Aviation Aluminum and original new core. It has perfect functions, such as noise reduction, shockproof, fast Speed, robust & durable, and error correction. The data cable is hidden in this external cd dvd drive for laptop. You’ll never have to worry about lost cables with this external CD drive at any time. You can put this DVD drive in your travel bag or on your desk.
【Wide Compatibility】 This external dvd drive for laptop is compatible with Windows XP / 2003 / Vista / 7 / 8.1 / 10/11, Linux, all versions Mac system, laptop , Notebook, pc, desktop computer. In addition, for the desktops, this external cd dvd drive must be connected to the USB port on the back of the computer host, otherwise it will result in insufficient power supply. (CD DVD Drive burner could not work with car, Chrome OS, smartphone, TV, projector, iPad, blu-ray disc.)
【Read and Write】External CD DVD drive supports play and burn both CDs and DVDs whether you're at the office or on the road. External CD DVD drive supports to read CD, VCD, SVCD, CD-R/RW, DVD-R/RW and burn CD+/-RW, DVD+/-RW, etc. Max DVD-ROM drive reading speed 8X; Max CD-ROM drive burning speed 24X and DVD drive reading speed 8X; Max CD drive reading speed 24X. "
【Portable External CD & DVD Drives】This ultra slim cd dvd player for laptop has a cool and stylish design, the USB data cable is integrated with the external optical drive, which is easy to use and easy to carry. This usb dvd drive external is the best choice for home, office, travel and gift giving.
【2 in 1 USB & Type-C】The external CD/DVD drive built-in data cable with USB and type-C dual interface, make it easier to plug the external DVD drive into different laptop and PC without any adapters. And no worries about losing data cables. We also considerately equipped with a power supply cable, so that some computers with insufficient power supply do not have to worry about not being able to use it.
【External CD/DVD Drive for Laptop】Since most new laptops and desktop computers no longer come with built-in CD/DVD drives for reading/writing CDs and DVDs, the Custom Catch external cd drive is a great solution. No extra drivers are required. The external dvd drive is ideal for listen to music, watch movies, back up data or install systems.
【Plug and Play】External cd dvd drive for laptop No need to instal driver, Just plug in the computer, it will be recognized automatically within seconds. You can easily use our CD/DVD driver to watch movies, burn files, install software or create a backup CD that covers all your burning and playback needs.
【Universal Compatibility】This is a full-featured external CD/DVD player/reader/writer/rewriter/burner. It supports CD±R/RW, CD-ROM, DVD±R/RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, VCD. This external disc drive supports different devices such as Macbook, iMac, Notebook, Desktop, PC and Laptop etc. It's compatible with Windows 11/10/8/7/XP , Vista 7/8, Linux, Mac OS 10.6 or above.
💿【USB 3.0 & Type-C】:The built-in data cable (on the device back) with USB 3.0 type-A and type-C two kinds of connectors that make it easier to plug this device into different Mac and Windows computers without an adapter required and also no worries about losing the data cable.
💿【Great Performance】: It features strong error-correcting ability, anti-shock and noise reduction technology, low power consumption, and powered by the USB 3.0 Type-C port, no external AC adapter needed.
💿【Plug and Play】: DVD drive No need to instal driver, Just plug in the computer, it will be recognized automatically within seconds. You can easily use our CD/DVD driver to watch movies, burn files, install software or create a backup CD that covers all your burning and playback needs.
💿【Ultra-slim portable】: Ultra-slim portable DVD drive, lightweight, which is convenient to use and carry whether at home or travelling. The data cable adapt the design of embedding into product, the impedance of pure copper mesh technology is low, Shield is strong, data transmission is more stable.
💿【Wide Compatibility】: The CD Drive Perfectly Compatible with Windows 98, XP, 7, 8, 10, 11, Vista, Mac OS 8.6, Mac10 OS, Linux. You can use it for Laptop, Notebook, Mac, Desktop.
✦【USB 3.0 & Type-C High-Speed Data Transfer 】:The built-in data cable (on the device back) with USB 3.0 type-A and type-C two kinds of connectors that make it easier to plug this device into different Mac and Windows computers without an adapter required and also no worries about losing the data cab.
✦【Plug and Play】: This portable DVD drive No need to instal driver, and is easy to use, Just plug in the computer, it will be recognized automatically within seconds. You can easily use our CD/DVD driver to watch movies, burn files, install software or create a backup CD that covers all your burning and playback needs.
✦【Wide Compatible】: External CD Drive supports reading CD, VCD, SVCD, CD-R/RW, DVD-R/RW and burning CD+/-RW, DVD+/-RW, etc. The external DVD drive is suitable for all kinds of devices, The CD Drive perfectly compatible with Windows 98, XP, 7, 8, 10, 11, Vista, Mac OS 8.6, Mac10 OS and Linux.You can use it for laptop, notebook, Mac, desktop.
✦【Ultra Slim Portable Design】: This USB CD/DVD player for laptops with embedded cable design, no worry cable lossing ,lightweight, which is convenient to use and carry whether at home or travelling. Lightweight body makes it easy to carry in your laptop bag.This external CD drive/ DVD burner/player/reader is ideal for home, office, or anywhere you go.
✦【Great Performance】It features strong error-correcting ability, anti-shock and noise reduction technology, low power consumption, Ultra Slim Portable DVD drive, lightweight, with embedded design of the data cable, Pure Copper Mesh technology with low impedance and strong shielding for more stable data transmission, you can easily put it into your bag and bring it anywhere. and take it anywhere. Suitable for office, home and travelling.
【Great Compatibility】External DVD Drive ideals for various devices,Windows 11/10/8.1/7/XP/2003/Vista, Linux, all version Mac OS system Laptop, Macbook, PC, Desktop Computer. (Not support: m1 chip ,m2 chip,m3 chip and m4 chip) (Windows 11 requires media player )
【PLUG & PLAYP】: Easy to use, external cd drive is powered by USB port. No extra driver and power needed. Just hook up the dvd drive to the direct USB port on your computer and the DVD driver will be detected. (Notice: Making sure that your computer has a normal driver program, suitable media player and burn software before using this external cd drive to work.)
【High Writing and Reading Speed】Max 8x DVD Write Speed and Max 24x CD Write Speed provide high writing and reading speed. External CD Drive supports playing music, movies or copying/burning movies and music to DVD or CD.
【USB 3.0 & Type C】External CD/DVD Drive for Laptop with USB 3.0 and Type-C dual interface. Backwards compatible with USB2.0 USB1.0, bringing you faster data transmission speed (up to a maximum of 5Gbps) and stable performance with strong fault tolerance.
【Ultra Slim Portable Design】: This ultra slim CD/DVD player for laptops with embedded cable design, worry- off cable missing any when and where. Lightweight body makes it easy to carry anywhere. You can put this external CD drive/ DVD burner/ player in your travel bag or on your desk.
【External CD/DVD Drive】 CD player comes with USB 3.0 and USB-C interface, more stable and faster data transmission speed (maximum of 5Gbps). Stronger fault tolerance.No driver program or extra power supply required,fully powered by USB ports(If computer’s USB port has low power, then need external power source supported).Backwards compatible with USB 2.0 and USB 1.0.
【Plug and Play】 External CD burner is powered by USB/USB-C port, no external driver and power needed. Simply plug it into your laptop or desktop computer and you're ready to go. Whether you need to listen to music, watch movies, install software, or burn files, Slim Optical DVD Drive for laptop practical enough to meet your burning and playback needs. Maximum DVD-ROM reading and burning speed of 8x; maximum CD-ROM reading and burning speed of 24x.
【CD burner with RGB】 RGB 7 gradient modes and 7 normal colours: The external DVD drive is equipped with enhanced RGB LED lights. RGB light features red, green, blue, yellow, purple, cyan and white light and offers 15 dynamic, breathing and illusory colour modes.
【Wide compatibility 】External cd drive for laptops is compatible with 11/10/8.1/7/XP/Vista, Linux, all versions of MacOS and serves as a perfect complement for MacBook Air/ MacBook Pro / DELL / Lenovo / HP / SAMSUNG / ASUS / ACER, notebooks, ultrabooks, desktops. (not compatible with Windows98) Not suitable for iPad/Chrom Os/TV/Auto/Tablet.
【Ultra Slim & Portable】CD-ROM drive has a sleek and sophisticated look. The DVD drive has an integrated data cable for easy use and organisation, and a non-slip rubber pad prevents it from sliding around on your desk. Portable DVD player fits in your travel bag so you can take it with you, stow it away easily and plug it in whenever you want.
✔【High-Speed USB 3.0 & USB-C 2-In-1 Data Cable】:The built-in data cable (on the device back) with USB 3.0 type-A and type-C two kinds of connectors that make it easier to plug this device into different Mac and Windows computers without an adapter required and also no worries about losing the data cable.
✔【Plug and Play】: DVD drive No need to instal driver, Just plug in the computer, it will be recognized automatically within seconds. You can easily use our CD/DVD driver to watch movies, burn files, install software or create a backup CD that covers all your burning and playback needs.
✔【Ultra-slim portable】: Ultra-slim portable DVD drive, lightweight, which is convenient to use and carry whether at home or travelling. The data cable adapt the design of embedding into product, the impedance of pure copper mesh technology is low, Shield is strong, data transmission is more stable.
✔【Great Performance】: It features strong error-correcting ability, anti-shock and noise reduction technology, low power consumption, and powered by the USB Type-C port, no external AC adapter needed.
✔【Wide Compatibility】: The CD Drive Perfectly Compatible with Windows 98, XP, 7, 8, 10, 11, Vista, Mac OS 8.6, Mac10 OS, Linux. You can use it for Laptop, Notebook, Mac, Desktop.
【Plug & Play External CD/DVD Drive for Laptop】This DVD drive No need to instal driver, Just plug in the computer, it will be recognized automatically within seconds. has powerful error correction, anti-slip and silent functions,You can easily use our CD/DVD driver to watch movies, burn files, install software or create a backup CD that covers all your burning and playback needs, Built-in data cable for easy storage, no need to worry about losing the cable.which is easy to use and easy to carry.
【7 in 1 External CD/DVD Drive】The External CD DVD drive for laptop has 4*USB port, 1*SD card slot, 1*TF card slot, DVD reading function,It can transfer photos and videos directly from SD / TF card into the computer, USB Hard Drive and flash drive. The disc drive also has 4 USB ports compatible with usb hard drive, flash drive, mouse, keyboard and charging mobile phones or other electronic devices. (NOTE: SD card and TF card can't work together at the same time, only choose one each time).
【USB 3.0 & TYPE-C Connector】The external DVD drive features Hi-Speed USB 3.0 technology, which is backward compatible with USB 2.0 / 1.0. providing higher data transfer rates of up to 5 Gigabits/S (625MB/S). You can easily use our CD/DVD driver to watch movies, burn files, install software or create a backup CD that covers all your burning and playback needs,In addition, CD drives offer up to 8x DVDR read speeds and up to 24x CD write/read speeds, which is faster than you'd expect.
【Wide Compatibility】The external DVD drive interface supports Type C and Type-A, The portable external CD Drive supports to read CD,VCD,SVCD,CD-R/RW,DVD-R/RW and burn CD+/-RW,DVD+/-RW, etc. The external CD drive is compatible with Windows 11/10/8.1/7/XP, Linux and all versions of Mac OS. you can use the external CD/DVD drive on almost all computers. (Note: Tablets, iPads, mobile phones, Chromebooks, TVs, projectors, cars and Blu-ray discs are not supported)
【Portable External CD DVD Drives/Color Gradient Light】This ultra slim cd dvd player for laptop has a cool and stylish design, the USB data cable is integrated with the external optical drive, which is easy to use and easy to carry. Cool indicator light that can cycle and gradually change colors. It makes an ordinary external usb cd dvd drive cool and fashionabl. This dvd drive external is the best choice for home, office, travel and gift giving.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best external optical drives for pc? It depends on your needs, but the top 3 products are generally the most balanced options.
How do I maintain it properly? It varies by model. The best approach is to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations (yes, reading the manual is worth it).
Where to buy it with confidence? Amazon remains a solid choice: wide selection, easy returns, and tons of user reviews—hard to beat.
Do I need a big-name brand? Not necessarily. Lesser-known brands can be surprisingly good, with well-designed products that rival top names—at a lower cost. Don’t overlook them just because the name is unfamiliar.
What are the most common pitfalls? A super low price might be tempting but could signal major compromises (build quality, reliability, nonexistent support…). Also beware of product pages with no reviews or vague comments. Spend a few minutes reading real feedback—this is often where the most valuable info is.
How is our ranking built?
We don’t claim to have a magic formula. In reality, it’s a blend of data—ratings, sales volume, review frequency—and observation. We watch for recurring themes in reviews, compare search trends, and yes, sometimes rely on our gut feeling. A great product isn’t just numbers. Our ranking aims to balance all of that: data, common sense, and a lot of time spent checking.
We analyze scores, sales frequency, genuine reviews (not just stars), and current search trends. Each model is rated using a consistent set of criteria. While it’s not perfect, it helps us stay fair and consistent. And we update our lists often, because products evolve—and so do we.
Why trust Topelio?
Topelio is an independent website—we don’t sell these products and we’re not tied to any brand. What drives us is clarity and usefulness. We aim to produce practical, readable, honest content. Our rankings are based on public data, complemented by our own experience. No shady partnerships or biased recommendations—just a genuine effort to save you time, and maybe money too.
Thanks for taking the time to read this guide. Choosing a external optical drives for pc might seem trivial, but it’s often more complicated than expected. Too many options, unclear product pages, and marketing promises that don’t help… That’s why we aimed to create a simple but solid comparison. With practical info, useful tips, and most importantly—a ranking based on reality. Take time to compare, read more reviews if needed, and choose based on your own priorities. What works for someone else might not be ideal for you. If this guide helped you, feel free to explore our other articles. We always try to add real value—without wasting your time. See you soon on Topelio.
