Best Data Recovery Software: 2025 Comparison Guide

Data loss can happen unexpectedly from a simple accidental deletion to a complete system failure. In 2025, the need for dependable, efficient, and user friendly data recovery software is greater than ever, whether you’re an individual trying to retrieve important documents or a small business attempting to recover client files.

This guide explores the most reliable data recovery tools currently available, analyzing each based on usability, performance, operating system compatibility, and the types of data they recover. While professional recovery services are essential for physical drive damage or advanced RAID issues, these software solutions are suitable for many logical data loss scenarios.

Why You May Need Data Recovery Software

When files disappear, panic often sets in. But recovery is usually possible if you act quickly and choose the right tool.

Common Causes of Data Loss

• Accidental file deletion or formatting
• Malware or ransomware attacks
• Partition corruption
• System crashes
• Physical drive issues (limited software solutions here)

When to Use Software vs Professional Recovery Services

Software is ideal for logical (non physical) data loss. If your device makes clicking noises or isn’t recognized by your OS, consult a professional instead.

Top 7 Best Data Recovery Software in 2025 (Reviewed)

Credit: Stellar Data Recovery

1. Stellar Data Recovery

Stellar Data Recovery remains one of the most respected names in the data recovery industry. The software offers a wide range of recovery options, from lost documents and photos to formatted partitions and USB drives. It supports both Windows and macOS, and its interface is designed with simplicity in mind making it accessible for users with limited technical experience.

What sets Stellar apart is its robust file type support and the ability to recover from a variety of file systems including NTFS, exFAT, and FAT32. The software provides multiple scan modes: a quick scan for recently deleted files and a deep scan for more complex recovery cases. Stellar also includes advanced features in its higher tier plans, such as disk imaging, which helps in recovering data from failing drives.

The free version allows up to 1 GB of data recovery, which can be useful for minor incidents. However, serious recovery requires a paid plan, starting at a standard price point suitable for home users, with more advanced options available for technicians and business environments.

Best for: Overall performance

• Supports Windows & Mac
• Recovers documents, emails, videos, and more
• Easy 3 step recovery
• Free version limits recovery to 1GB

Pricing (2025):

• Free version: Up to 1 GB of recovery
• Standard: $49.99/year (Basic file recovery)
• Professional: $89.99/year (Advanced recovery including lost partitions)
• Premium: $99.99/year (Includes video/photo repair)
• Technician: $199/year (Multi device license for commercial use)

Is It Worth It?
+ Worth it for users needing easy recovery from personal storage devices, especially photos, documents, and formatted drives.
– Not ideal for Linux users or those looking for budget solutions with a permanent license (no lifetime option).

Credit: EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

2. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

EaseUS is known for producing consumer friendly software, and its data recovery tool is no exception. The interface follows a wizard style format, guiding users through the process step by step, which is ideal for individuals who have never used data recovery software before.

EaseUS supports recovery from various data loss situations, such as accidental deletions, formatted partitions, OS crashes, and even virus attacks. It also performs well across a wide range of devices, including HDDs, SSDs, USB drives, and memory cards.

The software is compatible with both Windows and macOS platforms and offers support for most common file systems. One of its most valuable features is the ability to preview files before recovery, helping users verify they are recovering the correct data. While the free version includes up to 2 GB of data recovery, more extensive recovery requires a paid license, which is priced competitively given the features offered.

Best for: Beginners

• Clean UI with wizard based interface
• Recovers from formatted drives and lost partitions
• Free version allows 2GB recovery
• Slightly pricier than competitors for Pro license

Pricing (2025):

• Free version: Recovers up to 2 GB of data
• Pro: $69.95/year
• Pro + Bootable Media: $99.90/year
• Technician license: Starts at $299/year for business use

Is It Worth It?

+ Worth it for beginners and home users who want a guided process and strong customer support.
– Not suitable for users who need Linux support or those looking for a one time lifetime license (subscription based model).

Credit: Disk Drill

3. Disk Drill

Disk Drill has gained popularity particularly among macOS users, though it also provides a solid Windows version. It is well regarded for its clean interface and comprehensive recovery capabilities. One of its distinguishing features is the ability to recover more than 400 file formats, making it a good option for users who need to retrieve less common file types.

In addition to recovery, Disk Drill includes useful extras such as disk health monitoring, duplicate file finding, and a data backup tool features that make it more of a full data protection suite rather than just recovery software. The scanning process is fast and intuitive, with clear indications of what can and cannot be recovered.

The free version provides a limited recovery capacity, but for users who want a lifetime license, Disk Drill offers a one time payment model rather than a recurring subscription, which can be attractive from a value standpoint.

Best for: Mac users

• Recovers 400+ file types
• Includes disk health monitoring and backup features
• Strong success rate on macOS
• Free version available for up to 500MB

Pricing (2025):

• Free: Up to 500 MB recovery on Windows
• Pro (Windows or macOS): $89 for a lifetime license
• Enterprise: $499 for unlimited commercial use

Is It Worth It?

+ Worth it for Mac users and those who prefer a lifetime license over a subscription.
– May not be ideal for Linux users or professionals needing RAID or server level recovery features.

Credit: Recuva

4. Recuva

Recuva is a lightweight data recovery tool developed by Piriform, the makers of CCleaner. It is designed specifically for Windows users and excels at recovering files that have been accidentally deleted, whether from a hard drive, USB, or memory card.

One of Recuva’s primary advantages is its simplicity. The interface is minimal and the software offers both a quick scan and a deep scan option, depending on the complexity of the data loss situation. While it may not offer the same range of advanced features as some of the premium options, it is extremely effective for basic file recovery, particularly for photos, documents, and archives.

Recuva offers a free version with full recovery capabilities, and a Pro version that includes automatic updates and virtual hard drive support. It is a solid option for budget conscious users who need straightforward, no frills recovery.

Best for: Free recovery on Windows

• Lightweight, easy to use
• Excellent for recovering photos and small files
• Portable version available
• Limited support for deep scan or modern formats

Pricing (2025):

• Free: Full recovery capabilities (no technical support)
• Recuva Pro: $24.95 (includes support and automatic updates)

Is It Worth It?

• Worth it for Windows users who want a simple, low cost solution to recover deleted files from USB drives, cameras, and desktops.
• Not recommended for Mac users, deep system recovery, or recovery from failing drives.

Credit: Wondershare Recoverit

5. Wondershare Recoverit

Recoverit is Wondershare’s flagship recovery solution and is especially known for its effectiveness in recovering media files such as photos, videos, and audio which are often lost due to accidental deletions or formatting errors. The software supports over 1,000 file formats and is available for both Windows and macOS.

Recoverit’s interface is visually clean and intuitive, offering a smooth user experience. One of its standout features is its advanced video repair tool, which can reconstruct damaged or fragmented video files, a rare and valuable capability in the consumer data recovery space. It also allows for full previews of recoverable files, helping users to verify data before restoration.

Pricing is on the higher side compared to basic recovery tools, but the software’s reliability, speed, and ability to handle large multimedia files justify the cost for users who need these specialized features.

Best for: Video and media recovery

• Specialized video repair tool
• Clean interface with preview options
• High success rate with camera/media files
• Pricier than similar software

Pricing (2025):

• Free: Limited preview of files
• Essential Plan: $59.99/year (for one PC)
• Standard Plan: $69.99/year (bootable recovery media)
• Premium Plan: $79.99/year (includes advanced video repair)

Is It Worth It?

+ Excellent for content creators, photographers, and videographers who often need to recover or repair video content.
– Not suitable for users looking for free or open source tools, or those needing enterprise grade recovery options.

Credit: R-Studio

6. R-Studio

R-Studio is a professional grade data recovery software primarily used by IT experts, system administrators, and forensic investigators. Unlike the other tools listed, R-Studio is designed with advanced data structures and repair capabilities in mind, offering support for complex RAID arrays, networked environments, and multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux.

The user interface may appear intimidating to non technical users, as it lacks the friendly design of more mainstream tools. However, its capabilities are powerful. R-Studio can recover data from virtually any file system, and it includes tools for hex editing, S.M.A.R.T. monitoring, and disk imaging.

Its licensing is priced higher due to its enterprise level features, but for technicians and advanced users, R-Studio offers one of the most comprehensive toolsets available in the market today.

Best for: IT professionals

• Advanced data recovery features
• RAID recovery, hex editor, S.M.A.R.T. monitoring
• Not user friendly for casual users
• Supports Windows, macOS, Linux

Pricing (2025):

• R-Studio for Windows: $79.99 (single license)
• R-Studio Network: $179.99
• Technician/Corporate licenses: Up to $899 depending on features

Is It Worth It?
+ Ideal for IT professionals, system administrators, and forensic analysts.
– Not appropriate for casual users due to its technical complexity and lack of user friendly UI.

Credit: PhotoRec

7. PhotoRec

PhotoRec is an open source recovery program created by the same developers behind TestDisk. While it is free to use, it’s best suited for technically inclined users due to its command line interface and lack of graphical UI. Despite this, it is incredibly powerful when used correctly.

PhotoRec is capable of recovering a vast array of file types  including documents, images, videos, and archives from hard drives, memory cards, and even CD ROMs. It ignores the file system structure entirely and searches for file signatures, allowing it to recover data even from severely corrupted drives.

Because it’s completely free and open source, PhotoRec is a valuable tool for users who are comfortable with command line tools and need to recover data without any cost. However, it lacks features like file previews or a user friendly interface, which are standard in commercial software.

Best for: Tech savvy users on a budget

• Free and open source
• CLI based interface
• Excellent recovery rate for images and documents
• No preview or modern UI

Pricing (2025):

• Completely free and open source

Is It Worth It?

+ Excellent for experienced users who want a no cost solution for raw data recovery.
– Not recommended for beginners or users uncomfortable with command line interfaces.

How to Choose the Right Data Recovery Tool

OS Compatibility

Always check whether the software works with your system, Windows, macOS, or Linux. Some tools are cross platform; others are OS specific.

File System Support

Make sure the tool supports the drive’s file system: NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, HFS+, APFS, etc.

Speed, Success Rate & User Experience

Prioritize tools with:

• Fast scanning speed
• High recovery success rates
• Intuitive UI (especially for non technical users)

Free vs Paid: What’s Worth the Cost?

Free versions often limit how much data you can recover. For important files or full disk recovery, a premium license is usually worth it.

Conclusion: Which One Should You Pick?

Choosing the right data recovery software depends on the type of data loss, your technical skill level, and the value of the lost files. Here’s a quick recap:

• Stellar and EaseUS are reliable, user friendly, and good for personal or small business use.
• Disk Drill is best for macOS users seeking a lifetime license.
• Recuva offers a basic but effective solution for budget conscious Windows users.
• Recoverit is strong for video/photo recovery and creative professionals.
• R-Studio is best suited for technicians and corporate environments.
• PhotoRec is an advanced but completely free option for technically skilled users.

Disclaimer: If your data is mission critical, time sensitive, or the device shows physical signs of failure, professional recovery services remain the most secure option. Software can be incredibly helpful but only when the data loss scenario fits its scope. Contact Volta PC Upgrade Repair should you need professional data recovery service