If you own a PS4 and love downloading games, there’s a good chance you know the pain of uninstalling and reinstalling games to manage your 500GB storage better. There are two solutions for this problem: PS Now and external hard drive. The question is, which one is best for you?
Let’s explore what you can do and which one is better for your storage space problems.
PS Now vs. External Hard Drive
If you’re running out of space, you can do one of two things: get a PS Now subscription or purchase an external hard drive. PS Now lets you stream games without downloading them, while an external hard drive extends the amount of space you have at your disposal.
While getting both of them is an ideal situation, it’s not realistic for someone who’s tight on funds. As such, let’s break down where each one shines so you can better decide which is best for you.
Also read: How to Back Up and Restore PS4 Save Data
Cost: PS Now in the Short Term, External HDD in the Long Term
When it comes to cost, the problem gets a little complicated. PS Now is $9.99 a month with a free 30-day trial, while a 1TB hard drive goes for around $50 on Amazon.
PS Now is cheaper in the short term, but after you use up your one month trial and then stay subscribed for five more, you’ve paid the same amount as the hard drive.
As such, while a hard drive has a higher updrive cost, it will last you a few years and be a better investment overall than PS Now.
External Hard Drive Best for Existing Libraries
If you’re stuffing your PS4 full of games you have already bought, an external HDD is your best choice. PS Now lets you stream games, but not every game is on the service. As such, you may subscribe to play your favorite games on PS Now only to find they’re not on there.
An external hard drive, however, is compatible with every PS4 game. As such, you can happily load one up with all your games without needing to juggle them.
But PS Now Is Best for Explorers
However, if your PS4 is lacking space because you love exploring new games, PS Now may be the better option. This is because when you subscribe, you unlock the entire PS Now catalogue at no extra cost past the subscription fee.
As such, if you enjoy exploring the games PS4 has to offer, PS Now will give you a smorgasbord to sample, unlike an external hard drive, which doesn’t come with any additional games.
Poor Internet? Go with the Hard Drive
PS Now is great, but it depends on you having a good enough Internet connection to stream the games. If your Internet cuts out often, you’ll find PS Now to be a frustrating experience. Even if your Internet is only so-so, PS Now may force you off if it’s not good enough.
Which Is Best for You?
If your storage woes are due to your love of games, a PS Now subscription is the best option for you, especially if you love to play games from different regions. Not only do you get a whole new collection of games to play, but they can all be streamed, taking up no space on your PS4.
However, if you have a bad internet connection or already have a library of games you want to play, an external hard drive is a good idea. A terabyte hard drive doesn’t cost much these days, so it’s a cheap upgrade to give you more breathing room.
