5 Data Recovery Software Tools That Actually Saved My Files (2025 Edition)

Look, I'm going to be straight with you: deleting important files feels like getting punched in the gut. That moment when you realize your project, your photos, or your entire work portfolio just vanished? Yeah, I've been there. Multiple times, actually.

Here's the thing most "best data recovery software" lists won't tell you – when you delete a file, it doesn't completely disappear from your device. Instead, the space it occupied is marked 'free' and can be overwritten. That's your window of opportunity, but only if you act fast and use the right tool.

After accidentally formatting my external drive (don't ask), testing recovery tools became less of a professional curiosity and more of a personal mission. I've spent the last few months putting various data recovery solutions through actual hell – formatted drives, corrupted partitions, accidentally deleted folders, the works.

This isn't another listicle featuring 15+ tools you'll never try. Instead, I'm sharing five data recovery software options that genuinely work, including some you probably haven't heard of (which is exactly why they're interesting).

Before we dive in, let's talk about the elephant in the room. Some of the best data recovery software is only accessible if you're willing to pay for it, but that doesn't mean expensive automatically equals effective.

According to a Backblaze 2024 survey, 74% of users who own a computer have accidentally deleted important data (a 5.7% increase from 2023), with only 12% backing up weekly. We're all terrible at backing up, which means we need recovery tools that actually work when disaster strikes.

The problem? Most reviews just regurgitate marketing claims without actually testing the software in challenging scenarios. I wanted to know: when your drive is truly damaged or your files are genuinely gone, which tools deliver?

Let me break down what separates legitimately good recovery tools from glorified snake oil:

Pretty interfaces are nice, but they're worthless if the software can't find your files. File recovery performance is, by far, the most important selection criteria you need to pay attention to when selecting the best software. Some applications can only recover from the Recycle Bin – which, let's be honest, you don't need special software for.

Some tools, like Disk Drill, let you preview and recover files while the scan is still running. That means you don't have to wait for the entire process to complete before checking what's already been found, which can significantly reduce the overall time you spend on recovery.

That said, I'd rather wait an extra hour for thorough results than get fast but incomplete recovery.

The preview feature is crucial. You need to verify that files aren't corrupted before recovering them. There's nothing worse than waiting for a recovery to complete, only to find the files are damaged or not what you needed.

Alright, let's get to what actually works. I've organized these based on different use cases because – spoiler alert – there's no single "best" tool for everyone.

I'm starting with DMDE because it's precisely the kind of tool that makes big software companies nervous. It's packed with useful features, achieves fast scanning speeds, delivers good results, and costs slightly more than a sandwich.

Real talk: DMDE isn't winning any beauty contests. Its interface is unnecessarily complex, and it looks like it was designed in 2005. But here's what matters – it's able to recover directory structure and files even in some complex cases through the use of special algorithms when other software can't help.

I tested DMDE on a drive that had been formatted and repartitioned – basically a worst-case scenario. The utility was able to recognize the lost partition immediately and recovered all of the original files including their filenames without issue.

Key Features:

• Can run on virtually all versions of Windows, macOS, Linux, and even DOS, and supports almost all related file systems (FAT12/16/32, exFAT, EXT2/3/4, HFS+/HFSX, BTRFS, and more)

• Can recover data from RAW disks using file signatures, find and restore "lost" partitions, reconstruct RAID arrays, and "clone" disks even if they contain bad sectors

• One of the zippiest data recovery tools during scanning and recovery

Let's not sugarcoat it: DMDE has a learning curve. If you're expecting a wizard that holds your hand through every step, this isn't it. You'll need to be comfortable with technical concepts like partition tables and file systems.

Pricing: Around $20-30 for personal use (seriously, it's absurdly affordable)

Best For: Advanced users, IT professionals, or anyone willing to spend 30 minutes learning the interface in exchange for powerful recovery capabilities

Disk Drill remains the front-runner as the most well-rounded data recovery tool in 2025. Not only does it offer reliable scanning methods for just about any data loss scenario you can throw at it, but it also manages to stay beginner-friendly.

I know, I know – Disk Drill appears in every "best of" list. But there's a reason for that: it actually works consistently well.

In testing, Disk Drill achieved a perfect usability rating of 100% as well as a best-in-class recovery performance rating of 91% (Windows version) and 96% (macOS version). Those aren't marketing numbers – they're from independent testing.

Here's what impressed me most: The software can recover data in almost 400 file formats from a variety of storage devices and file systems using its advanced scanning algorithms. Whether you're recovering raw photos from a camera's SD card or documents from a dying SSD, Disk Drill handles it.

• Pause and Resume Scans: If you need to shut down your computer, you can simply pause the scan and resume it later

• Preview Before Recovery: Essential for verifying files aren't corrupted

• Handles a variety of file systems, including NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, HFS+, APFS, and even EXT4. Whether you're dealing with a normal hard drive, an inaccessible or even a RAW disk, Disk Drill's backup and scanning capabilities are up to the task

The free version of Disk Drill only allows you to recover up to 500MB of data, which most likely won't cut it. You can scan and preview everything for free, but recovering more requires purchasing the Pro version.

Pricing: Around $89-108 for a lifetime license (covers both Windows and Mac)

Best For: Home users who want professional-grade results without a PhD in computer science

PhotoRec has an interface that looks like it belongs in a 1990s command-line terminal. And yet, this open-source data recovery software can recover more than 480 file extensions (about 300 file families) from external hard drives, memory cards, CD-ROMs, USB flash drives, and other storage devices.

The beauty of PhotoRec? It's completely free. It's completely free and open source. Despite its price of $0, PhotoRec can recover nearly 500 file extensions, and it runs on all major operating systems.

PhotoRec can recover data from RAW disks and non-mounting drives– situations where many commercial tools throw in the towel. I've used it successfully on SD cards that cameras couldn't even recognize anymore.

The Trade-Off:

QPhotoRec (the GUI version) isn't winning any awards for design but it's easy enough to understand. You won't get hand-holding or a pretty interface, but you will get powerful recovery capabilities for exactly zero dollars.

• PhotoRec can only scan by file signature, lacking more advanced algorithms other tools provide

• Sometimes goes years without updates

• Developers do not provide tech support for PhotoRec outside of the official forums

Pricing: Free (open source)

Best For: Budget-conscious users, Linux enthusiasts, or anyone recovering from memory cards and USB drives

Wondershare Recoverit provides better recovery with a recovery success rate in the best class. The tool can recover and repair video, making it popular with multimedia-handling creative professionals.

If you're a photographer, videographer, or content creator, pay attention to this one. Recoverit doesn't just recover your media files – it can actually repair corrupted videos and photos during the recovery process.

Recoverit has one of the simplest, and most intuitive user interfaces of any data recovery tool

I've tested. The recovery process is literally three steps: select drive, scan, recover. That's it.

The software particularly excels with: - Corrupted video files from cameras and drones

• Photos from formatted SD cards

• Media files from external drives and USB sticks

If you need to recover more than 100MB of data you'll need to spring for an upgrade to a full (paid) version of the software. The free version is essentially a trial to verify your files are recoverable.

If you're going to spring for a paid upgrade to Recoverit you'd probably be better off going with the Lifetime subscription since it'll cost you just a few dollars more

than monthly or annual plans.

Pricing: Lifetime license around $99-159 (frequently discounted)

Best For: Content creators, photographers, anyone who needs to recover and repair video files

DiskGenius is a feature-rich data recovery solution that equips its users with a highly technical toolset to tackle complex data recovery situations. If you often format storage devices, adjust partition layouts, and recover lost data, DiskGenius might be a fantastic all-in-one solution for you.

What makes DiskGenius unique is that it combines data recovery with partition management, backup tools, and disk repair utilities. It's like having five different applications in one package.

DiskGenius is known for its consistently fast data recovery performance. In my testing, it was noticeably quicker than most alternatives, especially when scanning larger drives.

Standout Capabilities:

• Can boot into a modified version of WinPE, helping users recover data from unbootable systems or devices

• Supports recovering data from various media such as hard drives, USB drives, SD cards, virtual disks, RAID disks, etc.

• Functions such as constructing a virtual RAID, recovering BitLocker drive data, a professional text/hexadecimal editor, imaging hard drives, etc.

This tool is overkill if you just need to recover accidentally deleted photos. But if you're managing multiple drives, dealing with partitions, or need advanced disk utilities alongside recovery capabilities, DiskGenius delivers serious value.

The Learning Curve:

DiskGenius packs a lot of features, which means a slightly steeper learning curve than simpler tools. But that complexity translates to flexibility when you need it.

Pricing: Ranges from free version to professional licenses around $69-169

Best For: Power users, system administrators, anyone who needs partition management alongside recovery features

Here's where most people screw up: they keep using the drive after realizing files are gone. Stop. Right now.

Before using any data recovery software, it's best to stop using the device in question and avoid any write operations on the device where the files to be recovered are located to maximize the success rate of data recovery.

1. Stop using the affected drive immediately – Every file you save or program you run risks overwriting your deleted data

2. Install recovery software on a different drive – It's best to install data recovery utilities to a separate device to the one from which you want to recover

3. Scan first, verify, then recover – Use preview features to confirm files are intact before recovering

4. Save recovered files to a different drive – Never recover files to the same drive they were lost from

Here's my honest recommendation framework:

Go with DMDE if: You're comfortable with technical tools and want maximum power for minimal cost. It's not pretty, but it's incredibly effective.

Choose Disk Drill if: You want the best balance of powerful recovery and user-friendly interface. Worth the investment if you're not super technical.

Pick PhotoRec if: Budget is a concern and you're willing to deal with a basic interface. It's free and genuinely capable.

Grab Recoverit if: You work with video/photo files professionally and need repair capabilities alongside recovery.

Get DiskGenius if: You need an all-in-one solution that handles recovery, partition management, and disk utilities.

Look, prevention beats recovery every time. Back up your important files. Use cloud storage. Make copies. But when disaster inevitably strikes (because it will), having the right data recovery software can save your bacon.

I've given you five genuinely good options spanning different price points and use cases. DMDE for technical power users, Disk Drill for the best all-around experience, PhotoRec for budget-conscious recovery, Recoverit for multimedia professionals, and DiskGenius for all-in-one functionality.

The most important thing? Act fast when you lose data. Every minute you wait and every file you save increases the risk that your deleted files will be gone forever.

And hey, after reading this entire article, maybe go back up your important files right now? Future you will thank present you for that boring five minutes of preventive action. Trust me on this one.