Data recovery tools list

Features Optimizes secure overwrite on Windows 10 Detects drives and partitions Recovers commonly-used file types Comes with an advanced deep scan mode to look for any traces. Pandora Recovery With a free version for recovering data from secondary drives, and a pay version you can put on a USB key to recover an operating system drive, Pandora Recovery has a versatile offering that can bring back most data without issue.

Features Scans and recovers all known file formats through a native scan. Comes with many advanced algorithms for quick scanning, deep scanning, and reconstructing lost partitions.

Supports all major file systems. Features Finds partitions automatically, even if the boot sector is erased or damaged. Saves recovered files on network drives. Recovers files with the original time and date stamp. Quickly and reliably reconstructs the lost data Comes with many digital cameras as well. FreeUndelete The name of this tool from OfficeRecovery says it all. Features Restores deleted files, even those removed from Windows recycle bin Saves the recovered files in a new user-defined location to avoid overwrites.

Supports most commonly-used filesystems. Features Supports many drives and file formats. Uses a simple GUI, thereby making it ideal for novices as well. Gives you complete control over all actions related to recovery. The set includes… 7. Active File Recovery This is probably the first tool to try, as it can handle undeletes, deletes that bypass the Recycle Bin, formatted or corrupted files, lost partitions, and more. Active Partition Recovery This tool can help you to recover a formatted or repartitioned drive in its entirety.

Features Restores lost partitions and disks. Its low-level scan detects reformatted and damaged partitions. Creates a sector-by-sector disk image for data backup and recovery. Features Supports all types of storage media. Recovers many file formats such as docs, videos, audios, ebooks, databases, emails, and more.

Restores deleted partitions. Features Comes in manual and automatic modes for added flexibility. Supports all prominent file systems Recovers data from memory cards that were accidentally formatted. Active UNERASER This tool can be used to recover data lost due to damaged, formatted, or deleted partitions and includes several other tools including a partition manager, a disk monitor, and more.

Features Recovers both bit and bit systems Restores most file extensions Supports all types of storage media. Features Starts even non-bootable PCs. WinHex A multitasker that includes a disk editor, imaging software, encryption and checksumming, format converter, and more. Features Provides native support for many file systems Imports all clipboard formats including ASCII hex values Edits data structures using templates to repair tables or boot sector.

TestDisk Software designed to recover lost partitions or repair drives that are no longer bootable. Features Fixes partition tables and recovers deleted partitions. Wise Data Recovery A freeware application to recover data from hard drives and removable media. Features Comes with advanced algorithms to finish scanning within the shortest time. Shows the possibility of recovering a file.

Compatible with all Windows versions. Data Recovery Wizard This tool can recover data that has been deleted, formatted, or from drives that have been corrupted. Features Recovers more than a file types Exports or imports scanning results Boots with a downloadable WinPE when your system fails to start Features Supports recovery from many storage devices Recovers deleted, formatted, or inaccessible data.

Supports compressed and encrypted volumes Puran Data Recovery This tool can read files from damaged physical media, like corrupted flash or scratched optical drives. Features Copies entire drives when needed Supports drag and drop functionality Comes with different speed levels.

Puran File Recovery Another tool that goes after deleted files and brings them back from the dead. Features Comes with a powerful recovery engine The user interface is simple and intuitive Supports quick scan, full scan, and deep scan. Detects a lack of free space on the drive. Utilize quick scan and deep scan to optimize your recovery. It also provides manual data recovery and repair with experts.

The cost depends on your data and the difficulty of the recovery process. It is a little hard to download. You need to give your email and personal information before you can download it. Recover My Files is a reliable data recovery software tool that is exclusive to Windows. Documents, photos, videos, audio files, and emails are all recoverable.

Recover My Files is a data recovery program that uses file carving to extract lost files from unallocated clusters. Recovery is based on the interpretation of file content, usually through the process of reverse engineering a file type. The recovery process is not that easy as explained. The old-fashioned interface makes it hard for common users. Unfortunately, the last version of Recover My Files was v6, and it's clear that its original developers have abandoned it.

You cannot get any updates. Photo Rec recovers images from all kinds of digital devices such as computers, digital cameras, cell phones, tablets, memory cards, external hard drives, and more. It has powerful file recovery capabilities and support for a wide range of platforms. This open-source data recovery software can recover more than file extensions.

PhotoRec is free and open-source. It uses text-based data recovery techniques to get the lost files from a system. It is designed for experienced users with its text-only user interface. PhotoRec can measure up to many paid data recovery software applications.

You don't need to worry about the price and limitations. TestDisk is also an open resource application that is used to recover lost partitions. It is able to recover deleted partitions from hard drives and fix the partition table, recover the boot sector, and more.

Since TestDisk is open source software, you can inspect, modify, and enhance it provided you know how to do it. This freeware solution is only applicable to partition recovery. It is a command-line tool that supports many operating systems and filesystems. The app is still supported by its developer and is available in a bootable version. If you lost your partition, you can run this software. Otherwise, you can try other free data recovery software.

Orion File Recovery can undelete files from Windows computers and Windows-compatible storage devices. In addition to data recovery features, Orion File Recovery is also equipped with exclusive features that permanently erase data from your hard drive to protect your privacy. One of the features that makes Orion File Recovery Software so user-friendly is that every time you open the program, it starts a recovery wizard.

Specifying the criteria that the app will use to search for your files couldn't be easier. For instance, Orion File Recovery Software will search for videos, music, pictures, documents, and other file types, whether or not you can remember the file name. The bad news is that there are many configurable options.

The scanning result and recovery rate are not so reliable. Windows File Recovery is a command-line software utility from Microsoft to recover deleted files.

Areas of focus include the cloud, data recovery, artificial intelligence, and industrial automation. Andrey is a software engineer expert with extensive expertise in data recovery, computer forensics, and data litigation. Andrey brings over 12 years of experience in software development, database administration, and hardware repair to the team.

Press ESC to close. Table of Contents. Data Recovery Software Picker. Data Recovery Software Picker New The purpose of this form is to help you select the best data recovery software for your specific data loss situation. Please answer all questions as best as you can. The recommended software will be automatically displayed at the bottom after you check all the mandatory fields. What kind of device do you need to recover? External storage device USB flash drive, memory card, etc.

What is your mobile operating system? Which operating system do you use? How tech-savvy are you? How much money would you like to spend? As little as possible. My budget is flexible. Money isn't an issue for me. How did you lose your data? Accidental deletion. Malware attack. Software error. Hardware failure. Power outage. Physical damage. We recommend:. Disk Drill Data Recovery. Disk Drill is a data recovery software application for Windows and macOS that delivers professional results while being easy to use.

Disk Drill for Mac. Disk Drill for Mac is an Android data recovery software application capable of retrieving lost files from your device's internal memory root required or the SD card. All devices running Android 2. PhotoRec is an open-source data recovery application that runs on just about any operating system. Just know that it doesn't have a graphical user interface.

R-Studio is an multi-platform data recovery application geared toward IT professionals and data recovery centers. FoneLab Android Data Recovery. FoneLab Android Data Recovery is an easy-to-use application that can recover lost photos, videos, music, contacts, and other data from all mobile devices running Android 4. FoneLab iPhone Data Recovery. FoneLab iPhone Data Recovery is an easy-to-use application that can recover lost photos, videos, music, contacts, and other data from all iOS devices and iOS versions, including iOS 14 and earlier.

Professional Data Decovery Services. BPlan Data Recovery is a file recovery program like the others in this list. It may not look as nice as similar software, but it can recover many types of deleted files.

We found BPlan Data Recovery to be a bit difficult to navigate around. It was hard to know what we were doing because of the layout of the results. That said, it still managed to find and recover images, documents, videos, and other file types.

This program officially works in Windows 8, 7, and XP. We tested the latest version in Windows XP. While testing this program, the desktop shortcut the installer created was incorrect, and therefore didn't open BPlan Data Recovery.

You might need to open bplan. This free data recovery tool from Stellar is easy to use because it walks you through a simple wizard where you select what and where to search for deleted files. A unique feature in this program is the preview option you have while the scan is taking place. You can watch, in real time, which files the program finds before the scan completes. Something else we like about Stellar's free file recovery program is that when you exit the results screen, you're given the option to save the list of deleted files so that you can resume recovering them later.

It's available for Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7, as well as macOS 12 and older versions. The free PhotoRec file recovery tool does the job, but it isn't nearly as easy to use as other programs in this list.

It's limited by its command-line interface and multiple step recovery process. However, our greatest problem with PhotoRec is that it's very difficult to avoid recovering all deleted files at once, not just the one or two you're after. It can recover files from hard drives, optical drives, and memory cards.

PhotoRec should be able to undelete files from any storage device on your PC. If another data recovery program hasn't worked, give this one a try.

We just don't recommend making it your first pick. We tested it in Windows 7, but since the minimum OS requirement is Vista, it should work equally well in Windows 11, 10, and 8. It also runs on Mac and Linux. True, there are many more file recovery programs than those listed above, but we've only included true freeware file recovery programs that also undelete wide ranges of files.

Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products.

List of Partners vendors. By Tim Fisher. Tim Fisher. Tim Fisher has more than 30 years' of professional technology experience.

He's been writing about tech for more than two decades and serves as the VP and General Manager of Lifewire. Tweet Share Email. Apps Best Apps Payment Services. What We Like. What We Don't Like. Our Review of Recuva.

Our Review of Puran File Recovery. Our Review of Disk Drill. Our Review of Restoration.