How to Choose the Best Data Recovery Software in 2025

Data loss is like getting a flat tire on a rainy night; we all know that the risk exists, but we are rarely prepared to deal with it. It could be a corrupted hard drive, an accidental deletion, or even a formatting mishap; the fact remains that losing your valuable files is a real nightmare.

If restoring the contents of your Recycle Bin isn’t enough, you need a more powerful alternative to retrieve your lost data—a data recovery software. These tools are built to retrieve lost data from hard drives and other storage media and help you avoid downtime and permanent loss of your favorite videos, images, and important documents.

In this guide, we’re going to cut through the fluff and help you choose the best data recovery software in 2025 (whether you need a free data recovery tool or a full-featured professional-grade solution). Let’s start with the basics and briefly understand more about data recovery software first.

What Is Data Recovery Software and Why Does It Matter?

Simply put, data recovery software refers to tools that you can use to retrieve your lost, deleted, formatted, or inaccessible files from storage devices like hard drives, SSDs, USB drives, SD cards, and others. They’re good for DIY recovery attempts because of their versatility and can help in cases where you accidentally deleted a file, your system crashed, or your drive got corrupted.

But why does it really matter? The value of your digital data is obvious, and the files contained in your hard drive can range from precious memories to critical business files. Data recovery software gives you the ability to try and recover this invaluable data from the comfort of your own home, both quickly and reliably. That’s why we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of the best file recovery software currently available, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Before we dive in, let’s quickly look at how we selected the best data recovery software.

Don’t worry, we didn’t just pick names out of a hat. Our ranking of the best data recovery software in 2025 is based on:

• ✅ Real-world performance across different devices and recovery scenarios
• ⚔️ Compatibility with both Windows and macOS
• 📁 Support for modern file systems (NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, APFS, HFS+, etc.)
• 💲 Value for money (whether free or paid)
• 👤 Customer feedback, update frequency, and brand trustworthiness

Best Data Recovery Software in 2025

 

1. Stellar Data Recovery (Best Overall)

Stellar Data Recovery is a trusted name in the data recovery niche, and it’s widely used by professionals and beginners alike to retrieve data from hard drives and other storage devices.

This comprehensive tool lets you recover deleted files in just a few clicks. Its user-friendly interface helps you recover photos, documents, videos, and even lost partitions with ease. Stellar Data Recovery for Windows and Mac offers consistent results across HDDs, SSDs, USBs, and SD cards. Some stand-out features include the preview-before-recovery option, along with strong customer support for Windows and Mac users, which makes Stellar a top-tier data retrieval software choice.

⭐ Our Rating: 5/5

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Recovers data from all types of storage media (HDD, SSD, USB, SD card, etc.)	Free version only allows up to 1 GB recovery
Supports NTFS, exFAT, FAT32, and APFS file systems
Advanced recovery from formatted drives, RAW partitions, BitLocker-encrypted devices, etc.
User-friendly interface with File Preview and Deep Scan
Works on both Windows and macOS
Dedicated support and frequent software updates

2. Recuva (Best Free)

Recuva by CCleaner is a lightweight, no-frills recovery tool and is a popular free data recovery software for PC. It gets the job done for basic data loss scenarios and is best suited if you’re a home user looking to recover recently deleted files from hard drives.

During our tests with the software, it was clear that while it lacks advanced recovery capabilities, its ease of use and free price tag make it a go-to for budget-conscious users. Digging a little deeper, we also noticed that most users in online data recovery forums doubt its effectiveness. So we recommend that you try other more reliable tools from our list.

⭐ Our Rating: 3/5

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
100% free for unlimited data recovery	No support for macOS
Beginner-friendly with a guided recovery wizard	Can only recover recently deleted files; Recovery results often inconsistent if your drive is formatted or damaged
Supports recovery from hard drives, SD cards, and USB devices	Interface feels outdated and lacks modern features
Includes file deletion (file shredding) tools	No built-in file preview for some formats
Offers a Deep Scan mode for better results	No customer support or frequent updates

3. PhotoRec (Best Open-Source Tool)

 

PhotoRec is another powerful HDD recovery tool that is fully open source. Despite its name, PhotoRec doesn’t just recover your photos; it actually supports hundreds of different file extensions that make it suitable for recovering documents, archives, videos, and more. PhotoRec uses a raw recovery method that bypasses the file system entirely to extract files from disk sectors directly. If that sounds like a lot of technical jargon, you just need to know that this feature makes it effective if you’re dealing with damaged, corrupted, or reformatted drives. It also works across multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.

But it has a major flaw—it lacks a graphical user interface (GUI). This means that to interact with the software, you’ll need to type in commands through a text-based command window. Obviously, this can be intimidating for non-technical users, but if you can handle it, PhotoRec is a capable free data recovery software.

⭐ Our Rating: 4/5

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Completely free and open source	Command-line interface can be intimidating for beginners
Supports recovery of over 480 file extensions	No official GUI (though third-party GUIs exist)
Works on multiple platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux)	Lacks a preview before recovery
Has deep scan capability with strong file carving algorithms	No customer support

4.  DiskGenius (Best for Lost Partitions)

 

DiskGenius offers more than just recovery—it is a comprehensive disk management suite that can help users who need advanced functionality. Its real strength lies in partition-related recovery. So if you’re dealing with a deleted, lost, or corrupted partition, DiskGenius can scan and retrieve your data.

The software can even rebuild partition tables, recover from RAW drives, and access files on severely damaged volumes, which makes it great for professional use. While testing DiskGenius, we found that it also offers tools for partition creation, formatting, resizing, cloning, and backup. If you’re technically savvy, you can also use its hex editor, file previewer, and sector-level access, which can help with deeper diagnostics and control.

The biggest gripe we have with this software is its dated interface, which can be complex for beginners.

⭐ Our Rating: 4.5/5

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Excellent at recovering data from lost or deleted partitions	The free version limits recovery size
Built-in disk management and cloning tools	The interface can feel outdated, making it hard to use for beginners
Supports RAW partition recovery	Works on Windows only
Allows hex editing and sector-level access for experts	May be overkill for simple recovery tasks

5. R-Studio (Best for Professionals)

 

R-Studio is a powerhouse data recovery solution and is mostly used by professionals and technicians for deleted file recovery. If you’re an IT professional, system administrator, or another type of advanced user, R-Studio might help. It supports many file systems, including NTFS, FAT/exFAT, ReFS, HFS+, APFS, Ext2/3/4, and more, which makes it useful for multi-platform environments.

R-Studio shines whenever there are complex recovery scenarios like RAID reconstruction, damaged or unbootable disks, and network recovery over LAN/WAN. However, as with any advanced tool, R-Studio has a steep learning curve and doesn’t have great customer support either. It might be useful for you in an enterprise setting due to its precision and performance; however, it’s not suited for casual users looking for a simple point-and-click interface.

⭐ Our Rating: 4/5

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Professional-grade tool with support for all major file systems	High learning curve and complex UI
Can reconstruct RAID arrays and perform network recovery	Expensive license for full feature set
Deep Scan and forensic tools for severe corruption	Not beginner-friendly
Cross-platform: Windows, macOS, and Linux	No preview for some file types

6. DiskDrill (for Casual Users)

 

Disk Drill is a versatile and user-friendly data recovery program, having good scanning technology along with an intuitive interface. It supports over 400 file formats and works across Windows and macOS systems.

We liked its streamlined recovery process, and it has decent reviews for hard disk data recovery. Disk Drill also has some handy extras that can help you monitor disk health and take byte-level backups. However, it comes with a pricey license, and the free version for HDD data recovery only lets you recover a measly 500 MB on Windows and none on macOS. We also found their customer support lacking in contrast to more robust options like Stellar’s.

⭐ Our Rating: 3.5/5

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Recovers 400+ file types across various devices	500 MB recovery cap on the Windows free version; no free version for Mac
Modern and beginner-friendly interface	No phone support
Includes bonus tools like Recovery Vault and disk monitoring	Full features require paid version
Available for both Windows and macOS	May miss severely fragmented files

7. TestDisk (Best Open-Source Tool for Diagnostics)

 

TestDisk actually comes bundled along with PhotoRec, but we have added them individually on this list because of their distinct functions. This tool is a powerful open-source utility that helps make unbootable disks bootable again, and it can also help with recovering lost partitions. While PhotoRec focuses on file recovery, TestDisk works at a lower level to fix your hard drive’s partition structure itself and is great for hard disk repair. This makes it especially valuable if you’re an advanced user who is dealing with corrupted MBRs, deleted partitions, or accidental reformatting.

But despite these capabilities, TestDisk lacks a graphical user interface and instead runs entirely via a CLI (command line interface). Like we mentioned before, this can be intimidating for beginners, but if you have a more technical background, it offers precise control. It supports most major file systems (FAT, NTFS, ext2/3/4, HFS+, etc.) and runs on a wide variety of platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.

⭐ Our Rating: 4/5

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Excellent for recovering lost or deleted partitions	No graphical interface; command-line only
Free and completely open source	Steep learning curve for non-technical users
Cross-platform compatibility	No official customer support
Has powerful tools for disk structure repair	Risk of data loss if not used carefully

Must Read – Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Data Recovery Software

Here are some things to look out for when choosing a data recovery software.

• 🖥️ Compatibility With Your OS and File Systems: You should always ensure that the software is compatible with your operating system (whether that is Windows, macOS, or Linux) and supports file systems like NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, HFS+, APFS, or ext4.
• 📁 File Type Support: You should look for tools that can recover a wide range of file types—documents, photos, videos, emails, archives, and more—so that it can recover any file based on what you’ve lost.
• ⚙️ Recovery Performance and Reliability: You should check whether the software can recover files that were deleted or formatted long ago, and how successfully it handles different data loss scenarios so that you have higher chances of success.
• 🧠 Ease of Use: A clean, intuitive interface always makes a world of difference and reduces the risk of user error during the scanning and recovery process.
• 🔒 Security and Privacy: Trusted tools operate in read-only mode and shouldn’t transmit your data online without your consent. Data recovery should never compromise your privacy, so look out for robust privacy policies like those offered by Stellar Data Recovery.
• 📞 Customer Support and Updates: You should choose tools from vendors that offer responsive customer support, along with detailed documentation and regular product updates, so that you get the most bang for your buck.
• 💸 Pricing and Licensing Options: Don’t just look at the upfront price. You should consider recovery limits in the free version, lifetime licenses vs. subscriptions, and refund policies of each software before making your decision.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing Data Recovery Software

Now that you’re more informed, you should also know these common mistakes and how to avoid them.

• 🚫 Never Fall For Unverified Tools or Cracks: Cracked software might seem like a shortcut, but they almost always carry spyware, backdoors, or corrupted functionality. Always stick to trusted, officially licensed products from official sites.
• 🎯 Never Assume That One Tool Works for All Scenarios: Some tools excel at recovering photos, while others are better for raw partitions or crashed OSes. Use software that fits your specific recovery case, or select a trusted company like Stellar that offers specialized tools for every scenario.
• 💾 Create Backup Immediately After Recovery

Recovering data isn’t the final step; backing it up is! Failing to back up your data can leave you vulnerable to another loss right away.

Conclusion: Making an Informed Choice

Choosing the right data recovery software isn’t just about picking flashy features. You need to read up on them, check their reliability and compatibility with your data loss scenario, and pick a trusted brand. Be it lost documents, corrupt partitions, or deleted photos from a failing hard drive, there’s always a tool that is perfect for the job. We recommend that you use our list to focus on your specific needs and avoid risky shortcuts.

FAQs

1. Is free data recovery software safe to use?

Yes, but only if it’s from a trusted company and a reputable source (which is usually the official website). If you value your data, avoid cracked versions or unknown tools.

2. Can data recovery tools fix physically damaged drives?

No. Data recovery software only works if your drive is still readable. For hardware damage, we highly recommend that you consult a trusted data recovery service like Stellar.

3. What’s the success rate of data recovery software?

Data retrieval success from your failed drives depends on how the data was lost and how quickly you act. Higher success rates happen when there is minimal overwriting, so if you’re suffering from data loss, stop using the drive immediately.

4. Should I install the recovery tool on the same drive?

Never. Always install the data recovery tool on a separate drive to avoid overwriting your recoverable data.

5. Can I recover permanently deleted files?

Yes, in many cases you can recover your permanently deleted files with the help of professional data recovery software, especially if the memory space hasn’t been overwritten on your drive yet.