10 Best Data Recovery Software in 2024
Criteria to Select the Data Recovery Software
These are some of the crucial aspects that set apart superior data recovery software from others.
- Performance & Versatility: A versatile data recovery tool can handle multiple file types and various file systems. It should be able to recover data from both internal and external storage devices, which would enhance a high percentage of recovery for different types of files like photos, videos, music or document files.
2. Scanning Speed: Proficient data recovery software provides users with high-speed scanning options as well as scans which can be customized to target specific files hence saving time and increasing efficiency.
3. File Preview & Recovery Chances: Dependable data recovery apps permit users to view identified files as they were originally. Determining probabilities of recovering each file aids in decision making.
4. User-Friendly UI: Usability is enhanced by a simple and easy-to-use interface. The software must be accessible and operational without any prerequisite technical knowledge.
5. Price/Demo/Trial: We prefer software with good price-quality ratios. Free offers or those that have extensive demos or trial periods gain additional points in this category.
In this article, we’ll look at the 10 best data recovery software in 2024 and how they can help you recover lost data.Â
- Disk Drill Data Recovery (Windows & Mac)
- Pros: Supporting hundreds of formats, with powerful retrieval ability, lost partition search, data protection plus backup features, user-friendly interface, up to 500 MB free recovery (Windows), scan results can be mounted as a folder.
- Cons: No phone support; no boot disks creation option; no network retrieval mode available at all.
- User Experience: Disk Drill has an easy process that doesn’t require expertise in retrieving information. It supports over 400 formats and uses advanced scanning methods. Windows free version recovers up to 500 MB while enhancing security through drive backup plus recovery vault features Pro costs $89 with lifetime upgrades at $29 only.
- Versions / Licensing: Free ($89), Pro ($89), Enterprise ($499)
- Supported Systems: Windows 7 SP1+, Mac OS X 10.8.5+
- Supported File Systems: NTFS, NTFS5, FAT12, FAT16, FAT32, exFAT, EXT3/EXT4, HFS/HFS+, APFS
2. R-Studio (Windows, Mac, and Linux)
- Advantages: Offers plenty of features for power users, comes with bootable ISO image, includes disk sanitization features.
- Disadvantages: Not user-friendly, no display of results during scan, limited number of file preview formats.
- User Experience: R-Studio is meant for professionals and offers many options and powerful capabilities. It functions with all commonly known file systems as well as RAID layouts, even those that are partially damaged or deleted. Users can initiate numerous recovery tasks in distinct tabs and order the received files depending on a host of criteria.
- Versions / Licensing: FAT ($49.99), NTFS ($59.99), R-Studio ($79.99), Network ($179.99), Technician ($899.00)
- Supported Systems: Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP/2000, Mac OS X 10.5+, Linux kernel 2.6+
- Supported File Systems: NTFS/ReFS, FAT/exFAT, Ext2/Ext3/Ext4, HFS+/APFS/HFS/UFS
3. PhotoRec (Windows, Mac, and Linux)
Advantages: works with major OSs; over 300 file families are recovered.
Disadvantages: might scare off beginners; recovers all files automatically during scanning; does not restore names or structures to folders and files.
User Experience: PhotoRec is an open-source utility designed to recover lost data from various storage devices in a total of 480+ extensions supported by it. The software has an understandable text-based interface guaranteeing effective recovery that can handle fragmented files.
Versions / Licensing: Free and open-source
Supported Systems: Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP, macOS, Linux kernel 2.6.18+
Supported File Systems: FAT, NTFS exFAT ext2/ext3/ext4 HFS
4. Recuva (Windows)
Advantages: affordable prices, free version, preview screen.
Disadvantages: limits to file recovery, outdated appearance, limited support for keeping the original folder structure and names.
User Experience: The interface of Recuva is neat and easy to use but it significantly underperforms in deleted file recovery when compared with the leading names. It supports FAT, exFAT, and NTFS file systems.
Versions / Licensing: Free, Pro ($19.95)
Supported Systems: Windows 10, 8.1, 7, Vista, XP
Supported File Systems: FAT; exFAT; NTFS
5. Data Rescue (Windows & Mac)
Pros: The interface is clean and simple, there are options for duplicating disks, as well as automating RAID configuration discovery.
Cons: Complex multi-stage recovery process, highly-priced.
User Experience: Data Rescue has a simple interface but at the cost of $399.00 per annum it is not for ordinary users. It has boosted scan and retrieval speeds, improved RAID recovery and extra disk tools.
Versions / Licensing: Demo (Free), Standard ($19), Pro ($399/year)
Supported Systems: Windows 7+, macOS 10.12+
Supported File Systems: FAT, FAT32, exFAT, ext2, ext3, HFS+, APFS, NTFS
6. Wondershare Recoverit (Windows & Mac)
Pros: It supports lots of file formats; its design is stylish while usability is high.
Cons: There is no free version beyond 100 MB; there exists an incomplete preview feature coupled with a lot of redundancy in the scan results.
User Experience: Wondershare Recoverit supports over 1k file formats and can be used even by children who only need to follow three steps. However, the recovered data limit in the free version is very low.
Versions / Licensing: Essential ($59.95/year), Standard ($69.95/year), Advanced ($79.95/year)
Supported Systems: Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP; WINDOWS SERVER –2016+, macOS
Supported File Systems: NTFS,FAT32,FAT16 ,exFAT ,APFS,HFS+
7. DiskGenius (Windows)
Pros: A combination of data recovery and partition management systems; disk cloning function available; money-back guarantee for those who return their product within thirty days after purchase; freeware edition provided.
Cons: The most intuitive GUI may not be found here because this tool tries to be everything to everybody.
User Experience: DiskGenius combines data recovery and partition management in one software. It can recover lost data from various situations, and it also comes with advanced features such as virtualization and hex editor.
Versions / Licensing: Free, Standard ($69.90), Professional ($99.90)
Supported Systems: Windows 2000+, Small Business Server 2011+, Windows Server 2003+
Supported File Systems: NTFS, FAT32, FAT16, exFAT, EXT2, EXT3, EXT4
8. Stellar Data Recovery (Windows & Mac)
Pros: Broad range of supported storage devices; user-friendly interface; preview feature that helps identifying which file is actually needed for recovery.
Cons: Relatively high price; scanning and recovering process can be quite slow and device selection glitches from time to time.
User Experience: Stellar Data Recovery is professional grade software that supports various file systems and storage devices. It has easy-to-use recovery features including file sorting options or tree view.
Versions / Licensing: Free, Standard ($49.99), Professional ($79.99), Premium ($99.99), Technician ($199), Toolkit ($299)
Supported Systems: Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP; MAC OS X -14+;
Supported File Systems: NTFS ,exFAT,FAT16/FAT32,HFS,HFS+,ext2 ,ext3 ,ext4
9. TestDisk (Windows, Mac, and Linux)
Pros: Many different file systems can be retrieved; it has broad support for many operating systems and it is free and open-source.
Cons: It is a command-line interface which means that it does not focus on individual files but rather repairs partition.
User Experience: TestDisk was developed to retrieve lost partitions and make non-booting disks bootable again. For advanced users comfortable using a command line interface, this is an ideal solution.
Versions / Licensing: Free and open-source
Supported Systems: Windows 10+, macOS, Linux
Supported File Systems: FAT, NTFS, ext2/ext3/ext4, HFS
10. MiniTool Power Data Recovery (Windows)
Pro: Simple interface, Numerous file types supported, Preview before recovery.
Con: Free version has a 1 GB recovery limit and relatively slow scan speed.
User Experience: MiniTool Power Data Recovery offers an easy-to-use interface; it has supports for various file types and systems. The free version provides recovery of 1GB with previews available before recovery.
Versions / Licensing : Free, Personal ($69), Business ($99)
Supported Systems : Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP
Supported File Systems: NTFS, FAT16, FAT32, exFAT
Conclusion
The right choice of data recovery software depends on what you want to do with it – your requirements vary depending on the level of technical expertize and financial resources you have. In this regard Disk Drill is perfect for the average users who engage in simple tasks. R-Studio and Data Rescue are more suitable solutions for professionals due to their great variety of features and capabilities. Economical or open source-oriented people may like PhotoRec and TestDisk more because Google Earth satellite imagery is kind of dark budget-conscious users or those who prefer open-source options will appreciate PhotoRec as well as TestDisk tools most of all.
