Best External CD & DVD Drives of 2025

"I purchased this drive to digitize my CD collection. It reads quickly and works perfectly with music management software. The compact design and included cords make it easy to use, and I can import CDs in under 5 minutes!"

"I got this external drive because my new laptop lacks a disc drive. Setting it up was a breeze, even for someone not tech-savvy like me. I plugged it into my Mac, and it worked immediately for uploading CDs."

"I bought this CD player during the pandemic, and it was incredibly helpful for hybrid learning. It has performed reliably, and I used it again today without any issues. Great value for the price!"

"I've used this LG Electronics External Drive countless times for copying CDs and burning files. It still performs like new after all this time. I would definitely recommend it and buy it again!"

"This drive has worked seamlessly with my new iMac. The only quirk is that I use a paper clip to eject discs since there's no button."

"I chose this LG DVD external drive over an adapter for my old player, and it was a great decision. It was plug-and-play and works perfectly with my existing software."

"I purchased this to connect to my laptop for watching DVDs. It was incredibly easy to set up. The compact size is impressive, almost like a DVD itself. The picture and sound quality are excellent, and it came with a handy carrying case. Great value for the price; I highly recommend it!"

"Initially, I hesitated to buy a DVD player in 2024, but my laptop doesn't support discs anymore. This player has become the unsung hero in retrieving my medical records from a disc. Setup was a breeze—just plug it into the TV, insert the disc, and it worked flawlessly. It even plays nostalgic DVDs effortlessly! I highly recommend this device for anyone needing to access old media."

"I took a chance on this drive and was pleasantly surprised by its performance. It worked perfectly for uploading CDs to my iTunes library, even though my Windows 11 laptop lacks a disc drive. The upload speed was decent, and I didn’t face any issues. While it’s a bit slow, it’s a great value for just $20!"

"I needed a DVD player for my laptop, and this Dell external drive was advertised as plug and play. It arrived quickly, and while the installation required some Googling, I managed to get it working. PowerDVD software has been great for reading DVDs. I highly recommend this drive."

"I chose this drive for my Dell Optiplex 7020 SSF desktop because of its long cord. It plays CDs and burned disks without any issues. However, I was disappointed that the Media Suite software wouldn't install on my system, but I can manage without it."

"I bought this DVD drive after seeing a YouTube video on archiving data. It's been perfect for backing up my PS2 games to ISO files using IMGBURN. If it ever fails, I would buy another one immediately."

“I love how fast this CD burner works! I use it for my trips out of town, and it connects instantly without any hassle. Compact design makes it easy to store, and it’s super lightweight, about the same as a DVD case.”

“My experience with the ROOFULL External CD DVD Drive has been nothing short of fantastic. Setting it up was a breeze, thanks to its plug-and-play functionality. It works with my Windows, Linux, and Mac systems, making it incredibly versatile.”

“I ordered this drive because my new laptops didn't come with one. It works great and is compact, but I did have to get an extension cord since the original one was quite short. After that, it’s been smooth sailing.”

"I needed to recover some old software and childhood files from CDs, and this CD player made that possible. It allowed me to retrieve valuable memories with ease. Overall, it's a worthwhile purchase."

"I got this to rip some CD tracks for a friend, and it worked great with Exact Audio Copy. The USB cable is handy but a bit short, making it best for use with a laptop on a desk."

"I was looking to play a special edition CD set from Japan and found this device. It plays my CDs without any skips, although it can get a little noisy. Overall, I really like it!"

"I've been using this external drive daily for several months since my new computer lacks a disc drive. It's a bit noisy, but the motor is strong and I haven't faced any issues."

"As a fan of HP, I find this external drive to be lightweight and well-designed. It works effortlessly, and I mainly use it for watching DVDs. I'm very pleased with my purchase."

"I have an HP Pavilion PC with a faulty optical drive. Instead of spending a fortune on repairs, I decided to try this HP external drive. Everything works perfectly—it synced instantly with my media player and handles all types of disc formats. Highly recommended!"

"I found ROOFULL's External CD/DVD Drive to be exactly what I needed. Installation was quick and easy, and I appreciated the great price, especially with the included carrying case. The only issue was the short USB cable; I had to get creative with my setup. Overall, the drive works perfectly for my needs!"

"After struggling with another external drive, I decided to try the ROOFULL optical drive because it promised compatibility with Windows 11. It worked immediately out of the box, and I was thrilled. The two-year guarantee is also a big plus for me at my age, as I value customer service highly!"

"I've been using the ROOFULL External CD DVD Drive Player for over a year on my public radio show. It’s affordable and easy to use, and the new case is lightweight yet sturdy. I was hesitant to replace my old unit, but I’m happy I did. I recommend it wholeheartedly!"

"I found this device to be a great value for the price. It’s a multi-size card reader and disk player that works flawlessly. The setup was self-explanatory, and it even included an additional C cable for my phone. I’m very pleased with my purchase!"

"This drive has been a wonderful surprise compared to others I've tried. It reads both CDs and DVDs without any issues, and the two USB ports are a fantastic addition. I appreciate that it feels more sturdy than other slim drives. I look forward to testing the burning function soon!"

"I was initially skeptical about this burner, but my experience has been amazing. It was so simple to use—just plug and play. I quickly burned a music CD and a video DVD, both turned out perfectly. Plus, there's a free extended warranty, which makes this a no-brainer for anyone needing a reliable burner!"

"I've used this DVD drive to load a couple of legacy programs on my new laptop and burn over a dozen CDs to my music library. It works like a charm and is very easy to use."

"I bought this for today's modern laptops that lack a CD drive. This external drive has a built-in USB-A cable that stores under the unit, making it convenient to transport. I've used it about five or six times already without any issues."

"I run Ubuntu, and this drive has worked perfectly as both a player and a burner for CDs so far. I just started testing it, so I'm only giving four stars for now, but I'm hopeful about its performance with DVDs as well."