Data recovery is a process involving the retrieval of deleted files from a device’s hard drive. This can entail data that was stored on workstations, laptops, mobile devices, servers, cameras, flash drives — anything that stores data on either stand-alone or mirrored and arrayed drives, whether internal or external.
In some cases, the files may have been accidentally or deliberately removed; in others, the medium or partition it contains is damaged, failing or failed. This guide analyzes the best data recovery software to use if you are unable to recover your files from a backup or recycle bin.
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| Software | Best for | Supported platforms | Photo and video recovery | Data preview capability | Free plan | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard | Advanced features | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Yes | Yes | Yes | $69.95 per month |
| MiniTool Data Recovery Software | Deep scanning | Windows, macOS | Yes | Yes | Yes | $69 per month for one PC |
| AnyRecover | Extensive file type support | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS | Yes | Yes | Yes | $59.99 per month |
| Recuva | Affordability | Windows | Yes | Yes | Yes | $24.95 for one year premium subscription |
| Ontrack EasyRecovery | Flexibility | macOS, Windows, Linux | Yes | Yes | Yes | $59.99 per year |
| Disk Drill | Fast recovery process | Windows, macOS | Yes | Yes | Yes | $95.68 for 1 user and up to 3 simultaneous activations |
| Wondershare Recoverit | Media files recovery | Windows, macOS | Yes | Yes | Yes | $79.99 per year |
Stellar is probably one of the most popular options in our list, with a wide array of file recovery capabilities. There’s a free version with basic functionality and an array of paid versions that can recover files from formatted or encrypted drives and restore deleted emails, an ability that’s valuable and unique (Figure A). In addition, it can recover partitions, access unbootable or RAW drives, create disk images, recover data from CDs and DVDs, and repair photos and videos.
Figure A
The Stellar Data Recovery tool can be downloaded for free. Business users looking for advanced features can buy a one-year or lifetime license:
EaseUS can be considered another corporate data recovery tool. Its offerings include “Todo Backup,” which can back up data for enterprises, thereby reducing the need for file recovery strategies. Recovery Wizard allows users to scan and recover files, and users can save scan results to restore files later without having to undergo a brand new scan (Figure B).
Figure B
A nice additional feature includes the ability to recover data from RAW file systems, when the partition table is damaged or the master boot record corrupted such that the operating system itself cannot access any data on it.
EaseUS offers a free plan that can recover up to 2GB worth of data, but it lacks advanced recovery features. Its paid plans, Individual and Bundles, have subplans to choose from:
AnyRecover is a data recovery program that helps users recover deleted or lost data from various storage devices, such as hard drives, SSDs, USB drives, memory cards and more. The platform supports the recovery of various file types, including documents, photos, videos, audio files and emails. It can also recover data lost due to deletion, formatting, system crash and other data loss scenarios (Figure D).
Figure D
This vendor offers both individual and business plans.
Individuals:
Business:
The cost depends on the number of devices.
Recuva is a good, basic data recovery software program that is easy to use and can quickly tell users what their chances are of retrieving their file or set of files (Figure E). It works with just about any type of storage medium, including damaged CDs or DVDs, assuming these are in decent enough shape to pull files from. Recuva can perform quick scans or deep scans, the latter being more time consuming but also yielding a better shot at data recovery.
Figure E
Recuva offers a free version at no cost and a professional version for a one-time charge of $24.95. Users who want more advanced data recovery may want to take advantage of one of the CCleaner subscriptions that can be bundled with Recuva:
OnTrack is the first product in our roundup I would consider wholly business-based due to the efficacy and breadth of the software. There’s a free version with basic functionality and an array of paid versions that can recover files and create disk images and data from CDs and DVDs; monitor hard drive health; repair photos and videos and clone drives; work with RAID arrays; and recover entire volumes, whether corrupt, damaged or deleted (Figure F).
Figure F
OnTrack EasyRecovery is available in free and paid versions.
Disk Drill carries the standard array of versatile file recovery features, including restoring data from corrupted and compressed volumes, and adds a few new and unique concepts.
The product offers a Recovery Vault that is an index referencing all deleted files, which can help attempt to undelete them (Figure G). It also uses a Guaranteed Recovery mechanism (Apple only) that is a “recycle bin for the recycle bin,” meaning it can retrieve files emptied from the initial recycle bin location. In addition, Disk Drill lets users create .ISO, .IMG or .DMG image files of recoverable data that create a copy they can work with to restore information.
Figure G
Data recovery software analyzes a hard drive, whether fully operational or in a deprecated state, to determine what data it can salvage and then do so if the information remains intact. The software must be able to access the drive in order to perform, and the drive must be at least semi-functional.
SEE: Stay prepared with this resource and data recovery policy from TechRepublic Premium.
When a file is deleted under normal conditions, as opposed to intentionally wiped or otherwise securely deleted using tools or special software, the operating system doesn’t actually delete it. Rather, it removes the file’s icon or appearance in a directory display listing and marks the space on the drive as reusable. That data effectively becomes a tenant in a residence that can be evicted without warning at any moment.
Data recovery software uses various techniques, such as scanning, file signature matching, reassembly and extraction, to analyze the data structures on the device and retrieve lost data. In some cases, data recovery may be impossible if the files have been overwritten or the storage device has suffered physical damage.
Data recovery software is generally safe to use as long as users download or buy from verified and well-known software vendors, as reputable providers invest in security measures and regularly update their software to protect against cyber threats.
While data recovery software offers many helpful features, below are the key capabilities to look for when shopping for the best data recovery tool for you or your business. It’s also important to follow best practices when recovering data from company-owned or company-purchased resources.
Important data can come in many forms — it could be a video, image, document or audio file. Choose an all-in-one tool that offers the capability to help you recover data regardless of file type. The best tool can recover various document types such as docx, doc, rtf, xls, and more; photo files such as jpg, png, bmp, gif, svg and more; video files such as mov, mp4, 3gpp, amv and more; audio files such as aac, aa3, mp3, wav and more; email and achieve files such as emlx, ost, cab, jar and more.
Having multiple file type support in a data recovery tool gives you the flexibility to recover data from different sources and ensures that no matter what type of file you’ve lost, you have a high chance of recovering it.
The preview function enables you to view the recoverable files before commencing the recovery process. This feature allows you to verify each data restoration and ensures the right files are restored. Preview functionality is especially helpful if you have limited storage and want to avoid data duplication — individuals with files with similar names, sizes or attributes will find this feature beneficial.
Employees often use different devices to access and store data. These include USB flash drives, SD memory cards, SDD, HDD, NAS devices and other storage media. It’s essential to opt for data recovery software that offers the capability to restore data from all types of storage devices.
The best data recovery tools feature quick scans, which allow you to scan and recover recently deleted or lost files easily without impacting the state of the storage device. Alternatively, if the quick scan option is unable to recover your files as a result of a system crash, formatted disks, or corrupted file system, a deep scan can thoroughly scan your drive folder, subfolder and directory to find lost or damaged files. Deep scans increase your chance of data recovery success.
Not all data recovery software support all operating systems. Buying a tool that’s compatible with different operating systems is a huge plus, as it gives you the flexibility to recover data from various devices running on different operating systems such as Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS. Keep in mind that not all systems support all file types. Hence, the need to check your chosen tool’s compatibility — ensure it supports file systems such as NTFS, FAT, exFAT, HFS, HFS+, APFS and ReFS, among others.
Keep in mind that the best data recovery software for you depends on your unique needs. Here are some pointers to remember when shopping for a data recovery tool:
All in all, the eight products listed here are well-suited to help rescue precious data. The availability of portable, free versions that can easily help users evaluate the products and a plain and simple cost structure to set cost expectations are both welcome elements.
We analyzed the best data recovery tool by conducting extensive research about the top tools in the market. We tested the tools to learn about their recovery capabilities and other features and functionalities. We also gathered usability data from user feedback on review sites to learn about current and past customers’ experiences.
