If you've recently upgraded to a new iMac or MacBook Pro, you're probably going to need an optical drive if you want to continue importing your movies and music to iTunes, or just access the content on your discs.
If you think you'll need an external drive mostly for Blu-Ray discs, most of them will also play DVDs and CDs but are not readable/writable drives for CDs or DVDs.
If you're looking for a DVD/CD readable/writable drive, these are the best optical drives for Mac.
Apple USB SuperDrive
Apple's branded playable/burnable CD/DVD drive is the perfect compliment to your iMac or MacBook Pro (unless you have a late 2016 or newer MacBook Pro, in which case you'll need the USB-C to USB adapter). It is not much larger than the size of a CD case, so it fits snug in your computer bag without taking up a lot of room. All you have to do is plug it into your computer using the USB cable. No need for special software or external buttons that might get broken. It's solid, simple, and it looks great with your Mac products. It comes in at $79.
Confoly USB-C Superdrive
I have this model CD/DVD drive for my Mac computers for two reasons. 1. It's practically the same as Apple's SuperDrive in every way and 2. It's got a USB-C cable so I can connect it to my MacBook Pro without needing any additional adapters. Oh, there's a third reason, too. It comes with a USB-A adapter so I can connect it to any standard USB port, too.
This slot-in style drive has write speeds of up to 24X for CD-R discs and 8X for DVD-R discs so it's pretty darn fast. I can burn a 22-song music CD in just a few minutes.
It also comes with a protective case that fits the drive, can store at least a half-dozen discs, and has a mesh pocket for storing the USB-A adapter and anything else you might want to take with you.
The best part is, for an optical drive that is compatible with my MacBook Pro without needing an adapter, it's about $13 less than Apple's version at $66. Plus, it comes in silver, gold, space gray, rose gold, and black, so more options!
LG GP65NB60
LG makes a CD/DVD drive that is lightweight, fast, and doesn't cost much. It is made of a hardshell plastic material, so it isn't going to feel as sturdy as Apple's SuperDrive or Confoly's USB-C drive, but in exchange, you get something that's about as light as a CD in its case.
It's an open-tray style drive, so there are a couple of moving parts to be careful with, like the disc tray and eject buttons.
The price, however, is unbeatable at only $25. It doesn't require any additional software to run on Mac. Wirecutter calls it the best DVD drive on the market.
Its burning and ripping speeds are in line with those of other DVD drives, plus it's inexpensive, thin, and light.
It comes in black, gold, silver, and white and is priced at between $25 and $30, depending on your color option.
VersionTEch USB External DVD CD Drive
VersionTEch makes a CD/DVD drive that is very similar to Apple's SuperDrive but costs less than half the price. It's only slightly larger than a CD case and fits comfortably in the smallest of spaces.
It uses a USB-A cable, so it works with most standard Macs. If you're running a late 2016 MacBook Pro or newer, however, you'll need a USB-C to USB adapter. But for the cost of the adapter and the drive, you're still getting a great price.
This slot-in style drive has write speeds of up to 24X for CD-R discs and 8X for DVD-R discs. It costs just $30.
Your favorite drive?
Do you have an external optical drive for your Mac? Which did you decide on and why is it your pick?
