The best SD cards for photographers and creators

Different speed ratings for data transfers, storage capacities, and reliability mean that not all SD cards are created equal. Some are built as general-purpose storage devices, while others are more suited for photography and videography.

Here are some of the best SD cards we've found, but a quick note first. Try to buy from a reputable vendor — it's relatively easy to forge cards, and trick operating systems into telling you that you have more storage than you do.

OWC Atlas Pro SD V60

Designed for everyday photography uses, including high-resolution photos and 4K video rendering, the Atlas Pro card has up to 130MB/s of write speed and up to 250MB/s of read speeds for RAW images, moderate burst photo sequences, and recording up to 4K video.

It's fully compatible with various DSLR and mirrorless cameras, resistant to bends, shocks, and X-rays, and has an IP67 rating for resistance to dust and water.

The Atlas Pro is available at different prices and capacities that include 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB.

Lexar Professional SD Card

Lexar's high-speed performance card can transfer data up to 300MB/s read and 260MB/s write speeds. It can capture high-quality images and extended lengths of full HD and cinema-quality 8K videos.

The company designed the card to be durable, heat-proof, shock-proof, vibration-proof, and resistant to X-rays. It uses UHS-II technology for high-speed performance and is backward compatible with UHS-I speeds.

The card is available on Amazon in several capacities, and the 256GB version is currently on sale for $189.99, down from the original price of $299.99.

Sony UHS-II M TOUGH series

Sony's Tough SD card has a design that can withstand crushes and shock and has an IP68 rating for resistance to dust and water. Its rib-less and write-protect switch-less design enhances reliability and reduces the risk of breakage.

The card has read speeds of up to 277MB/s and write speeds of up to 150MB/s. It's capable of handling 4K video along with high-quality photos.

Sony is offering the Tough SD card at various capacities on sale, starting at $39.99 for 64GB, down from $44.99, up to a 256GB version at $114.99, down from $129.99.

The card is also available for sale on Amazon, just slightly cheaper than the cards at Sony.

SanDisk Extreme Pro CFexpress Card

With read speeds up to 1,700MB/s and write speeds up to 1,400MB/s, the Extreme Pro card is blazing fast to enhance a photographer's workflow. It enables RAW 4K video capture with sustainable performance and is backward compatible with specific XQD cameras with firmware enabling CFexpress.

The card comes with a RescuePRO Deluxe data recovery software download offer. This software makes it easy to recover files that have been accidentally deleted.

The 64GB and 128GB are currently available on sale through SanDisk and Amazon for $89.99 and $125.99, respectively. The company also offers 256GB and 512GB versions.

Samsung EVO Plus for Creators

Samsung's EVO Plus SD card is an affordable option for content creators. It offers data transfer speeds up to 130Mb/s for full HD, 1080p video, or 4K UHD video support with the 128GB and 256GB storage options.

It has seven-proof protection against water, temperature, X-rays, magnets, shock, drop, and wearing out. Plus, Samsung offers a 10-year limited warranty.

Available in four capacities from 64GB to 256GB, the EVO Plus starts at just $10.99, down from its regular price of $11.99.

ProGrade Digital SDXC Memory Card

ProGrade's SDXC UHS-II V60 250R card has read speeds up to 250MB/s and writes up to 130MB/s. It offers low power consumption for extended battery life when recording continuous video.

This card has also been designed with the V60 Video Speed Class rating, which guarantees minimum write speeds of at least 60MB/s. It lets the card be used in DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, camcorders, and digital cinema cameras to produce 4K, UHD 4K, 3D, Full HD, and high bit rate MPEG-4 video.

It's also well suited for RAW photos and rapid-fire burst photography. The card is available from ProGrade and Amazon in three capacities, starting at $54.99 for 128GB.

Kingston Canvas React Plus

The Canvas React Plus has ultimate speeds to support professional camera use and lets photographers capture 4K or 8K UHD high-speed video without dropping frames.

It also supports burst-mode shots with recording speeds up to 260MB/s and transfer speeds up to 300MB/s. The card also has performance ratings of U3 and V90.

Kingston sells the card in various capacities, starting at $27.99 for 32GB. Unfortunately, Amazon only sells the 256GB version, but it's currently available on sale for $208.47, down from the regular price of $249.99.