How to recover all types of data? This article will introduce the 12 best data recovery software that is worth checking out in 2023.
Data loss is a frustrating experience, but what makes it even worse is the nerve-wracking problems that follow. For instance, how much data can you recover? What file types are able to be recovered? Is it going to be astronomically expensive to recover all the files with a professional service? How tricky can it be if you decide to recover files on your own?
If you are reading this, maybe you are already caught up in some similar dilemmas. Don’t worry, to save your time and money, this article will introduce the 12 best data recovery software that can help you handle data loss situations of all sorts. You can pick one that suits you the best!
Price |
Advantage |
Disadvantage |
Download Link |
Supported Operation System |
|
Windows File Recovery |
Free |
safe and free |
low success rate |
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/windows-file-recovery/9n26s50ln705#activetab=pivot:overviewtab |
Windows Only |
iTop Data Recovery |
$ 39.99-lifetime license |
auto scan/high success rate |
not for Mac |
https://www.itopvpn.com/data-recovery-software |
Windows 11/10/8/7 |
Disk Drill Data Recovery |
$89 for a pro license |
quick and deep scan |
pricey/cannot preview |
https://www.cleverfiles.com/data-recovery-software.html |
Windows and macOS |
CD Recovery Toolbox |
free |
lightweight |
for CD data loss mainly |
https://download.cnet.com/CD-Recovery-Toolbox-Free/3000-2352_4-10646814.html |
Windows Only |
FreeUndelete |
free |
totally free |
slow scan/data recovery |
http://www.officerecovery.com/freeundelete/ |
Windows Only |
Stellar Data Recovery |
$59 for a standard license |
versatile data recovery software |
slow in scanning |
https://www.stellarinfo.com/free-data-recovery.php |
Windows and macOS |
PhotoRec |
Free |
good for recovering photos |
difficult to operate |
https://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Download |
Windows Only |
OnTrack EasyRecovery |
$79 |
1GB trial version available |
manual data backup |
https://www.ontrack.com/en-us/data-recovery/software |
Windows and macOS |
Wise Data Recovery |
$59.96 |
mobile version available |
no preview before recovery |
https://www.wisecleaner.com/wise-data-recovery.html |
Windows and macOS |
Recuva |
$19.95 |
simple interface |
limited formats are supported |
https://www.ccleaner.com/recuva |
Windows Only |
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard |
$69.95 per month |
fast and deep scan |
no preview before recovery |
https://www.easeus.com/data-recovery-software/ |
Windows and macOS |
TestDisk |
Free |
recovery and partition |
command-line interface |
https://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Download |
Windows macOS, Linux |
Today you can find plenty of data recovery software to help you restore your important files quickly. Here we’ve collected the 12 best data recovery software in 2022, which can make the process of data recovery effective and hassle-free.
Windows File Recovery is a common choice for everyone who uses the Windows operating system. This best data recovery software free is available for Windows 10 version 2004 and above, Windows File recovery is a command-line tool that can help you recover files from hard drives(HDD), USB drives, memory cards, and solid-state drives(SSD*limited by TRIM).
Windows File Recovery has various recovery modes, for instance, regular or extensive modes based on your file system. You can narrow it down to use NTFS, Segment, or Signature modes. The software also allows you to specify and recover file types from FAT, exFAT(mainly found on external devices), and the ReFS file system.
Price/License: Free
Pros:
1. 100% free tool
2. Recover lost files from most storage devices
3. Safe to use
Cons:
1. Not user-friendly for inexperienced users
2. Low success rate
3. Average scan speed
Download Link: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/windows-file-recovery/9n26s50ln705#activetab=pivot:overviewtab
The editor’s verdict:
The Windows File Recovery can recover the lost files but with a low success rate. If you don’t have other recovery software at hand and hope to recover your files for free, then Windows File Recovery is worth a shot.
iTop Data Recovery is the best data recovery software for Windows 10/11/8/7. With a 95% success rate that is higher than most competitors, the software can help you get all your data back. You can quickly locate your lost files with its ultra-fast scan function, which is 120% faster than average tools.
What makes it outstanding is the ability to recover any data from any data loss situations, from formatting hard drives to crashing computers to accidental deletion. Supporting 1000+ file types and all storage media, iTop Recovery Software is the best all-in-one solution for data recovery on Windows OS.
Moreover, you can see the file status with previews before recovery, so you know if your files are recoverable. The software is quick to install, plus the neat interface, iTop Recovery Software actually requires no learning curves at all.
Price/License: $39.99 for lifetime license
Pros:
1. Suitable for all data loss situations
2. High success rate
4. Supports most storage media and file types
5. Easy to use
Cons:
1. Software installation
2. License fee is needed, but it’s affordable
The editor’s verdict:
iTop Data Recovery can handle all data loss situations. The affordable license fee with excellent service makes it the best data recovery software in 2022.
How to undelete your files with this best data recovery software?
Step 1. Free download and install iTop Data Recovery.
Step 2. Select locations and file types. Click the “Scan” button to start scanning.
Step 3. Preview the files and see if they are recoverable. Recover and save them later.
Disk Drill is one of the best data recovery software for Windows and macOS. Supporting a good variety of major storage devices and file types, Disk Drill allows you to recover any deleted files from any disk-based storage media quickly and easily. Even Android and iOS device recovery are supported(Mac version only).
The upgraded version lets you preview files before recovery and you can have free data recovery of up to 500MB with the free trial version. With Disk Drill, You don’t have to be a data recovery expert. The software is a do-it-yourself recovery tool to help you get things done in a few clicks.
Price/License: Pro: $89; Enterprise: $499
Pros:
1. Supports all major devices and file formats
2. Lost partition search
3. Data protection and backup available
4. 500MB of data recovery for free
5. Quick & deep scan
Cons:
1. Average scan speed
2. A bit pricey
3. 500MB of free data is just not enough
4. Can’t see if a file is recoverable before restoration
Download Link: https://www.cleverfiles.com/data-recovery-software.html
The editor’s verdict:
With its powerful recovery capabilities, Disk Drill is a reliable data recovery service for businesses and home users. However, the license fee is a bit pricey for most users.
Judging by its name, the CD Recovery Toolbox is developed specifically for data recovery on discs, including CD, DVD, HD DVD, and Blu-ray discs. CD Recovery Toolbox can be used to restore corrupted files due to mechanical damages, for instance, scratches, chips, spots, or as a result of program errors.
CD Recovery Toolbox allows you to recover files larger than 4GB. Moreover, it doesn’t take up much of the hardware resources or affect the overall computer performance. With a step-by-step interface, the software is straightforward to use.
Price/License: Free
Pros:
1. Free software
2. Quick, light, user-friendly
Cons:
1. Can’t save files severely damaged
2. Address CD data loss cases mostly
3. Slow scan speed
Download Link: https://download.cnet.com/CD-Recovery-Toolbox-Free/3000-2352_4-10646814.html
The editor’s verdict:
CD Recovery Toolbox is the best data recovery software If you want to fix your CD/DVD for free.
FreeUndelete is one of the best data recovery software free to use on Windows. Supporting file systems like NTFS 1.0, NTFS 2.0, FAT12, FAT16, and FAT32, FreeUndelete can recover files from hard drives, memory cards, or similar external storage media.
The major feature of FreeUndelete is that it presents files in a folder structure, which allows you to locate your lost files easily. FreeUndelte supports Windows 7, Windows XP, Windows 2000, and other Windows server versions, which is great if you want to recover files from older operating systems.
Price/License: Free
Pros:
1. 100% freeware
2. Easy to use
-Windows 7 supported
Cons:
1. For home/individual users only
2. Slow scan & data recovery
Download Link: http://www.officerecovery.com/freeundelete/
The editor’s verdict:
FreeUndelete shows its worth when it comes to NTFS drives, but the software is a bit slow and aging, which might not be ideal for many data loss situations.
Stellar Data Recovery is a powerful data recovery tool compatible with Windows and macOS. The software is capable of retrieving all file formats from almost all storage devices, including hard drives, external hard drives, USB, and optical media like CDS and DVDs. Whether your files are corrupted, deleted, or unavailable, Stellar Data Recovery can help you get them back.
With various scan options, users can tailor the scan for the different data loss scenarios to recover files efficiently. The software also comes with a search capability that lets you identify and extract data easily. Moreover, Stellar Data Recovery allows you to preview recoverable files before restoration.
Price/License: Standard: $59; Professional: $89; Premium: $99 Technician: $149
Pros:
1. Various deep scan options
2. Recover all file formats from a full range of devices
3. Powerful advanced tools
Cons:
1. Quite expensive
2. Slow deep scan
3. 25MB of free data is too little
Download Link: https://www.stellarinfo.com/free-data-recovery.php
The editor’s verdict:
With powerful features, Stellar Data Recovery is undeniably one of the best data recovery software on the market. Putting aside its outdated interface, and the pricey plan it still gets one of the most impressive performances users have ever seen in this market.
PhotoRec is an open-source data recovery software package working on Windows, macOS, and Linux. With PhotoRec, you can recover more than 480 file types from a full range of storage media, for instance, hard drives, memory cards, CD-ROMs, USB flash drives, and more. PhotoRec is mainly used to recover photos from digital cameras with all major brands supported.
As a command-line recovery tool, PhotoRec has a text-based interface to help users recover lost data. Inexperienced users might have to spend some time figuring it out. Besides, adopting a non-destructive data recovery method, PhotoRec can even successfully recover fragmented data scattered all over the storage place.
Price/License: Free
Pros:
1. Recover 400+ file types on many devices
2. Good at recovering photos
3. Free and open-source software
4. Compatible with all major systems
Cons:
1. Not user-friendly for beginner
2. All files are automatically recovered without preview
3. Can’t restore file names and folder structure
4. No live support
Download Link: https://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Download
The editor’s verdict:
PhotoRec offers excellent data recovery services that can rival most paid tools. It’s the best data recovery software that is free for everyone and you can give it a try if you are adept at command-line programs.
Compatible with Windows and macOS, OnTrack EasyRecovery is a comprehensive data recovery solution that lets you recover lost files from every type of common data loss situation, for instance, virus infection, hard drive crash, accidental deletion, etc. The software supports a wide range of storage devices, including SSD, conventional hard drives, USB drives, and optical media.
With its quick and in-depth scan, you can restore deleted files that are hard to recover. OnTrack Easy Recovery even allows you to start, stop and resume your file recovery as you see fit. The software offers a 1GB recovery trial and you will need to upgrade to paid service to enjoy more core features.
Price/License: Home: $79; Professional: $109; Premium: $149; Technician: $299
Pros:
1. An all-round solution for all types of data loss situations
2. Easy data management
Cons:
1. High-tier plans are quite expensive
2. The backup needs to be manually configured
Download Link: https://www.ontrack.com/en-us/data-recovery/software
The editor’s verdict:
OnTrack EasyRecovery is an all-around winner in the data recovery space. Whether you are a home user, business, or corporation, the software can help you solve all data loss problems. However, the paid plans are competitively priced.
Wise Data Recovery is also one of the best data recovery software compatible with Windows and macOS. Packed with a fast scanning speed, Wise Data Recovery allows you to recover files for different data loss situations. The software supports 1000+ file types and a variety of devices like HDD, SSD, external hard disks, floppy disks, USB, memory cards, digital cameras, and more.
The software also has a portable version that allows you to avoid data overwriting, which means there is no software installation, and you can use it on your computer or portable devices without writing to the hard drive. Wise Data Recovery is quick to install and easy to use with a neat interface.
Price/License: Pro: $59.96 for 1PC; $74.98 for 3PCs
Pros:
1. Quick scan for deleted files
2. Portable version available
3. Free version available
Cons:
1. No preview before file restoration
2. Can’t retain original file structure
Download Link: https://www.wisecleaner.com/wise-data-recovery.html
The editor’s verdict:
Wise Data Recovery is a solid choice for data recovery, especially for recovering data from older versions of Windows.
When it comes to the best data recovery software free to use on Windows, Recuva is the one that can not be neglected. For instance, deep scanning for buried files to find any traces you have deleted; retrieval of all types of files from most storage devices; data recovery from damaged or newly formatted drives, etc.
Perhaps the most interesting feature is the ability to securely delete files, which is contrary to its main aim. With Recuva’s military-standard deletion techniques, your sensitive data will be wiped out completely by overwriting each of their bits repeatedly.
Price/License: Pro: $19.95; CCleaner Professional Bundle: $49.95 for up to 3PCs
Pros:
1. Affordable pricing
2. Free version available
3. Fast scan speed
4. Simple interface
Cons:
1. Can’t recover as many file types as competitors
Download Link: https://www.ccleaner.com/recuva
The editor’s verdict:
Recuva is not the most comprehensive tool, but it is certainly powerful enough for data recovery in daily use.
EaseUs Data Recovery is a robust data recovery tool. Supporting a wide range of storage media and file formats, EaseUs Data Recovery is a tailor-made utility that can resurrect just about everything after data loss, from accidental deletion to system error to virus attack.
One major feature of EaseUs is the first exclusive NAS(Network-attached storage) Data recovery, which allows you to recover all types of content of your NAS easily. With an intuitive interface, the software will walk you through the recovery process step by step, offering a smooth user experience.
Price/License: $69.95/Month; $99.95/Annual; Lifetime:$149.95
Pros:
1. Excellent data recovery service
2. Intuitive to use
3. Fast and deep scan
4. Free version available with 2GB data
Cons:
1. Paid plans are still somehow very pricey
2. Different versions for macOS and Windows
3. No preview before file restoration
Download Link: https://www.easeus.com/data-recovery-software/
The editor’s verdict:
EaseUs Data Recovery is fast, clean, and simple. With a vast number of powerful features, the software represents great value for money.
TestDisk is one of the best data recovery software that is free and open source. The command-line software doesn’t focus on the retrieval of individual files, instead, it’s designed to recover entire file systems and lost partitions by fixing partition tables, repairing boot sectors, and restoring access to lost files.
TestDisk can help you recover a wide range of file systems, including HFS, exFAT, ext2, ext3, ext4, HFS, JFS, FAT32, NTFS, and many more. It’s a practical tool to read and recover a vast array of files when your data can’t be retrieved by traditional methods due to a corrupt partition.
Price/License: Free
Pros:
1. Free and open source
2. The capability of recovering many file systems and partitions
3. Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux
Cons:
1. No intuitive UI, a command-line interface only
Download Link: https://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Download
The editor’s verdict:
TestDisk might be scaring inexperienced users with the command-line interface, but it’s a great tool to help people recover files from corrupted partitions and make non-booting disks bootable again.
This article has introduced the 12 best data recovery software in 2022. They have dedicated data recovery services and are capable of retrieving all kinds of data. You can just pick one based on your needs. While freeware is something you can’t beat, paid tools can offer more powerful features to help you handle data loss situations of all sorts. With affordable pricing and excellent service quality, iTop Data Recovery is certainly the best data recovery software you don’t want to miss out on. Just get it now and recover your missing files with ease!