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People love their Macs. They are extremely versatile machines that deliver high technology wrapped in an intuitive and friendly interface. These characteristics have made them very popular with creative individuals in many different fields. But as with any other computer, the possibility of data loss is always present.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Mac Data Recovery Software
There are many data recovery solutions from which to choose when data loss strikes your Mac. Several factors may influence which one you choose to use to recover your lost data. Here are some things to consider when naming your selection.
- 💻 Functionality: The most important aspect of recovery software is its ability to get your lost files back. You should choose a flexible solution that allows you to recover data from multiple types of storage devices and restore the file types that interest you.
- 🖱️ Ease-of-use: You will likely use data recovery software under less than optimal conditions. Losing data is stressful and you don’t need to increase the tension by using software that requires you to use arcane commands. Look for a tool that makes it easy for you to recover your lost files and folders.
- ⚙️ Reliability: You may only have one chance to recover your lost data so you want to use a tool created by reliable developers. It’s a good idea to check out some reviews of the products under consideration to see which ones have a proven track record of success.
- 💰 Price: There is a wide range in the pricing of Mac data recovery solutions. You can obtain freeware solutions or commercial applications. In most cases, a paid solution will offer more functionality and ease of use than freeware alternatives.
| Criteria | Value |
| 🔢 Number of tested tools | 10 |
| 📅 How long we tested | 2 weeks |
| 💻 Our macOS version | macOS Monterey (version 12.2) |
| 🏆 Winner | Disk Drill |
Top 10 Best Data Recovery Software for Mac
Here is an overview of ten of the best data recovery software solutions for Mac. We have included both paid and freeware data recovery applications for your Mac.
1. Disk Drill for Mac
Disk Drill is a comprehensive data recovery tool that makes it easy for anyone to restore accidentally deleted files and folders.
Pros:
- Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- Simple yet effective recovery procedure
- Scan results can be mounted as a virtual disk
- Recovers all lost or deleted files, even from an emptied Trash
- Advanced scanning algorithms
- Support for over 400 filetypes
Cons:
- No phone support
- The free version only provides file previews
User Experience
Disk Drill simplifies the data recovery process, making it easy for anyone to recover their lost and deleted data. With just a few clicks, you can select the disk for recovery and start scanning the device for recoverable files and folders. Quick or deep scans can be employed to control the recovery and locate the maximum number of items to be restored.
Effective filters help control the scanning and recovery process by allowing you to focus on the files that matter. Scans can be paused and resumed at any time to make it more convenient to recover your lost data. When the scan is complete, the results can be mounted as a virtual disk, streamlining the recovery process.
The inclusion of the free data protection tools Recovery Vault and Guaranteed Recovery helps you keep your valuable information safe and furnish a simplified recovery method if you accidentally deleted a protected file. The tool is a comprehensive data recovery and protection solution that keeps your files and folders secure.
Free limits: You can preview all recoverable files with the free version of Disk Drill.
Price: $89.00
OS version: Disk Drill supports all versions of the Mac operating system from macOS X 10.5 to macOS Monterey.
2. R-Studio for Mac
This product was developed for data recovery professionals and includes many features that are not usually required for individual use.
Pros:
- Windows Explorer type interface
- Can repair damaged RAID arrays
- S.M.A.R.T. disk monitoring tools
- Recover any file type from any disk-based storage device
Cons:
- Designed for professionals and may be too complicated for average users
- Features can be hard to locate
User Experience
R-Studio is a full-featured recovery application that is suitable for professional use. It has an impressive number of features that, in some cases, may over-complicate the recovery process for inexperienced users. The advanced capabilities of the tool include the ability to repair damaged RAID implementations and perform network data recovery. Excellent documentation is available that covers all types of data recovery situations.
You can preview recoverable files with the demo version before making a financial commitment and the application provides a wealth of advanced features. At times, it can be hard to locate specific features in the tool’s interface. It’s worth the effort if you need access to its hexadecimal editor or disk copy module. R-Studio provides an excellent recovery application tailored to the needs of professionals and advanced computer users.
Free limits: File preview of recoverable files is available for free.
Price: $79.99 for the basic version
OS version: macOS X 10.5 through macOS 10.15 Catalina.
3. iBoysoft Data Recovery for Mac
iBoysoft Data Recovery is a versatile recovery tool for Mac that lets you get back lost and deleted files from a wide variety of storage devices. The application can help you address a Mac that won’t boot or recover files lost from an emptied Trash bin. You can also obtain a version of the software for the Windows platform.
Pros:
- Free 1 GB data recovery
- Compatible with M1 and T2 Macs
- Quick and Deep scans for optimal recovery results
- Free scan and preview of recoverable files
- Scan results can be saved and reloaded
Cons:
- The license model is expensive
Download iBoysoft Data Recovery
User Experience
Recovering data with iBoysoft is simple enough that any Mac user can perform the activity. The software uses a three-step process that scans a device, previews recoverable data, and lets you choose which files you want to recover. A free download lets users recover 1 GB while they test-drive the product.
The tool supports over 1000 different file types and can recover just about any type of data deleted from your Mac. Virtually all disk-based storage devices are supported including SD cards and external USB drives. This software solution can help users recover from multiple data loss scenarios including formatted disks and emptied Trash bins. It offers a simple tool with professional-grade recovery functionality.
Free limits: 1 GB free recovery with the free version of the tool.
Price: A monthly license is $89.95 and a yearly license is $99.95
OS version: macOS all versions, Mac OS X 10.11/10.10/10.9.
4. Softtote Mac Data Recovery
Softtote is a paid Mac data recovery application that allows users to recover up to 1 GB of data for free.
Pros:
- Recovery wizards to help recover files, photos, or partitions
- Preview found files before recovery
- Easy to navigate user interface
- RAW searching technology for more effective recovery
Cons:
- Lack of Catalina support
- No direct customer support
Download Softtote Mac Data Recovery
User Experience
Softtote is a simple to use data recovery app that uses intuitive wizards to guide users through the process of restoring lost files and partitions. The tool allows you to preview the files before recovery and the interface is designed to help novice computer users restore lost data. It employs advanced search technology to locate and recover as many files as possible.
The tool is somewhat hampered by the limited number of file formats it supports. This may make the application unsuitable for serious data loss scenarios. Support for macOS Catalina is also currently lacking which may influence your choice to try the tool. It does offer 1 GB of free recovery before upgrading, so you can give it a try and see if it has the necessary functionality for your situation.
Free limits: 1 GB free recovery on MacOS 10.6 – 10.13 systems.
Price: $69.99
OS version: macOS X 10.6 – 10.14.
5. Lazesoft Mac Data Recovery
Lazesoft is a free recovery tool for Mac that has not been updated in several years, making it unsuitable for some modern operating systems.
Pros:
- Free data recovery for Mac
- Recovers partitions and formatted drives
- Designed natively for macOS X
- Preview recoverable files
Cons:
- No updates to the software since macOS 10.9
Download Lazesoft Mac Data Recovery
User Experience
Even though Lazesoft Mac Data Recovery has not been updated in several years, we did get it to run on macOS Catalina. Since it is a free tool, it may be worth a try if you are searching for inexpensive recovery software. The lack of current operating system support may be cause for concern if very valuable data is to be recovered.
The tool is capable of recovering audio, video, document, and image files in a variety of formats. It provides fast and deep scan options that can be used to recover lost and deleted files and partitions. Recovery of specific files can be performed while the scan is running to speed up the process. The lack of an update since 2014 indicates that the developers have abandoned the project and that no more progress will be made with this app.
Free limits: no limits on free recovery.
Price: Freeware
OS version: macOS X 10.5 to 10.9
6. PhotoRec for Mac
This freeware recovery tool is compatible with all versions of Mac operating systems and provides a command-line user interface.
Pros:
- Free and unlimited recovery
- Support for Mac, Windows, and Linux operating systems
- Wide-ranging filesystem support
- Supports recovery of many different filetypes
Cons:
- Command-line interface
- Files are recovered with generic names and need to be renamed
User Experience
Users who are not intimidated by a command-line interface will find PhotoRec to be a valuable piece of freeware. It supports all versions of the Mac operating system as well as Windows and Linux systems. The tool supports an impressive array of file types and filesystems, making it ideal for a variety of data recovery scenarios.
The menu-driven, command-line interface does require some knowledge of the underlying system that more intuitive applications keep hidden from users. This can make the tool hard to operate for inexperienced computer users. Another drawback of this tool is that files are recovered with generic names, forcing users to review and rename them after recovery is completed.
Free limits: unlimited free recovery.
Price: Freeware
OS version: all versions of macOS X are supported.
7. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard provides user-friendly file recovery software for Mac systems.
Pros:
- The tool provides users with an extensive knowledge base to assist their recovery efforts.
- An easy-to-use and intuitive interface makes it possible for anyone to successfully recover lost data.
- This MacBook recovery software produces good recovery results.
Cons:
- The tool can be slow when recovering large files.
- Lack of data protection tools.
Download EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard
User Experience
Recovering files with EaseUS is a simple process that anyone can perform with a few clicks. Select the device to be scanned and the tool will return a list of recoverable data that it can restore. The results can be filtered in multiple ways to make it easier to find the specific files that interest you.
The tool can be a little slower than other paid solutions which could be an issue when recovering a large amount of data. While this may be annoying to some users, the recovery results themselves were very good. A little patience may be required when using this too, but in the end, you should be satisfied with the recovery results.
Free limits: The free tool can preview recoverable files on Mac and restore up to 2 GB of data.
Price: $89.95
OS version: Supports all versions of the macOS and Windows operating systems.
8. iSkysoft Mac Data Recovery
This recovery software was designed to be easy enough to use that anyone can recover their lost data.
Pros:
- Deep and quick scanning modes
- Recovers over 500 different file types
- Preview data before recovery
Cons:
- During installation, the program may try to download additional software
User Experience
The developers of this recovery application have concentrated on making the process of restoring lost and deleted files easy for users with any level of computer experience. It supports all disk-based storage devices and can recover your photos, documents, audio files, and many other types of data you may have on your Mac.
The tool provides a simplified, three-step recovery procedure that guides users through the process. When engaged with the stressful activity of recovering lost data, this simplicity is greatly appreciated by the tool’s users. Quick and deep scanning modes are available as well as the ability to preview your files before recovering them.
Free limits: 100 MB recovery with the trial version.
Price: $39.95
OS version: macOS X 10.5 and later.
9. Stellar Data Recovery for Mac
Stellar Data Recovery provides a complete macOS data recovery software solution that can recover lost files due to accidental deletion, formatting, or drive corruption.
Pros:
- This Mac recovery software can be used to retrieve files from virtually any portable disk-based storage device that you can connect to your machine.
- Any file extension is potentially recoverable when using this software.
- A nice online guide helps inexperienced users recover their lost data.
- The software can be used to repair corrupted video and image files.
Cons:
- Your Mac needs 8GB of RAM to fully utilize this tool’s features.
- Repairing corrupted image or video files requires the premium version of the tool.
Download Stellar Data Recovery
User Experience
This file recovery software is easy to use and provides advanced functionality that can help recover long-lost files. It’s designed to recover lost files for all users from novices to experienced Mac owners. The tool supports all major file formats and can recover data on virtually any type of disk-based device.
The personal version of the tool is most suitable for recovering internal system files. If you want to recover lost files from USB drives or other storage devices, you should look into the premium versions of this recovery software. The premium tool also can repair corrupt videos and photos. All in all, this file recovery software solution for macOS provides a satisfactory data recovery experience.
Free limits: The free tool can preview recoverable files on Mac and restore up to 1 GB of data.
Price: $79.99 for the personal version, $99.99 premium version, and $149 for the technician version of this macOS data recovery software.
OS version: Supports all versions of the macOS and Windows operating systems.
10. Mac Free Any Data Recovery
This file recovery software for Mac is an all-purpose tool that retrieves lost data in many different situations.
Pros:
- A 90-day money-back guarantee protects your investment.
- The tool offers free lifetime upgrades.
- Advanced search options are included to make it easy to locate lost files.
- Multi-language 24/7 customer support is provided to resolve issues with the software.
Cons:
- The trial version is only equipped to perform quick scans which may not locate lost data.
- The user interface is not as streamlined as other paid solutions.
Download Mac Free Any Data Recovery
User Experience
The user interface of this Mac recovery software is a little harder to navigate than some competing products. This can make it hard for new users to locate some of its features so they can efficiently recover their lost data. Once users get comfortable with the interface the tool is not difficult to use.
Many different types of files can be recovered with this tool including video and audio formats not found in some other solutions. The recovery performance is good, and files are recovered reasonably quickly. You can use this solution to recover files from your internal hard drive as well as from all types of disk-based storage devices.
Free lifetime updates and a 90-day money-back guarantee are very nice features of this software solution. One potential issue is that payment is conducted through a third-party processor which may discourage some users from purchasing the tool.
Free limits: The trial version of this Mac recovery software can be used to restore up to 2 GB of data.
Price: $59.99 for one computer, $119.99 for unlimited computers.
OS version: Supports all versions of the macOS operating system.
Honorable Mentions
We chose to exclude the following software solutions from our list of reliable data recovery tools. While they may work for you, we suggest that you stick to our recommended products for the best recovery results.
- M3 Data Recovery – iBoysoft was previously a white label clone of M3 recovery software. Recently, M3 has become an affiliate of iBoysoft and iBoysoft has now replaced it as the name brand of this recovery solution.
- Ontrack – We did not include this solution on our list of recovery products since it appears to just be a clone of Stellar data recovery. It may also be a dead project that will not offer updates in the future.
- Minitool – The Mac version of Minitool has become Stellar data recovery which is why we did not include it as a recommended product. We recommend you go directly for Stellar’s solution if you want to try this recovery tool.
- Recuva for Mac – There is no Recuva for Mac. Clicking on the download link for this product gives you a DMG file that contains the Wondershare data recovery tool. We tend to stay away from applications that use this kind of misleading advertising. The original Recuva is only available on Windows.
- iCare Recovery Data Recovery – When you try to download this data recovery solution, you are redirected to Stellar data recovery software. We suggest if you want Stellar, you should go directly to their site rather than using a clone product.
- Safe365 Data Recovery – This program appears to be a clone of EaseUS data recovery software. While it has serviceable data recovery capabilities, you should stick with the original EaseUS product rather than this copy.
- Magoshare Data Recovery Enterprise – If the user interface of this tool looks familiar, it is because this solution is a white label clone of EaseUS data recovery software.
- Card Rescue – You might only get one shot at recovering your lost files. We found the recovery capabilities of this tool lacking as it did not do a good job of getting our files back and are not recommending it to our readers.
- iSkysoft data recovery – We chose not to include iSkysoft because it is simply a clone of Wondershare RecoverIt. In all cases, we prefer to use the original product instead of a renamed clone.
Summary
So, after presenting the complete list of our ten solutions, we want to highlight the best free and paid solutions from among these applications. In our opinion, these tools are better than the other options in their class.
As for us, the best paid solution is Disk Drill for Mac. We make this determination based on several factors including:
- Intuitive and user-friendly recovery procedure;
- Advanced and sophisticated scanning algorithms;
- Support for over 400 different filetypes;
- Free data protection and S.M.A.R.T. disk monitoring tools.
If you are looking for a free data recovery solution, PhotoRec is your best bet. It has several advantages over other freeware recovery tools including:
- Support for a wide range of operating systems including Mac;
- The developers update the tool every year;
- Free unlimited data recovery.
macOS Data Recovery Software Picker
Why did we choose this particular set of solutions?
The solutions we have selected to discuss in this article represent a sampling of both the paid and free data recovery applications available to Mac users. We believe that you should be able to find a suitable tool from among these recovery solutions. We have tried to avoid applications that promise more than they deliver or that have generated multiple user complaints.
What is data recovery software and what can I do with it?
Data recovery software may just be the most important and useful type of application you ever use on your Mac. It can undo mistakes that lead to data loss and help you retrieve your valuable files and folders. Here’s how it works.
When you empty the Trash or permanently delete a file without sending it to this temporary storage, the data remains physically present on the disk. The operating system removes logical access to the data, making it unavailable to users or applications. The system marks the space occupied by the file as available for use and will eventually overwrite the original data.
Data recovery software scans storage devices and repairs the logical links to deleted data that is still physically available. As long as the data has not been overwritten, it can be restored through the use of recovery software. The key is that the data cannot have been overwritten. Once it is, recovery software cannot get it back.
For this reason, it is highly recommended that you stop using the device that experienced data loss as soon as you suspect that data loss has occurred. This will minimize the risk of the data you wish to recover being overwritten before you perform the recovery.
How can I improve my chances of data recovery using third-party software?
Your chances of successful data recovery using a reliable third-party solution are good if you follow our recommendations. Failure to take these simple steps raises the risk that your data will be overwritten and lost for good.
- Stop using the device affected by data loss as soon as it is discovered. You don’t want to perform any activity that may initiate a write operation that may destroy the deleted data you want to recover. Every time you access a device that has experienced data loss, you risk overwriting the files and folders you want to recover.
- Download and install the recovery software on a different device than the one with lost data. You should not use an alternate partition on the same disk, but a completely separate device. This also protects the deleted data until it is recovered.
- Save the recovered data to a new location on a different storage device. Saving it to the same device that has lost data risks overwriting or corrupting data as it is being recovered.
If you follow these suggestions, there is a very good chance that you can recover your lost data using third-party software.
On which types of devices can data be recovered and what are the recovery specifics of each?
Data recovery software can be used to recover data from virtually any type of disk-based storage device. There are some special considerations to keep in mind when using certain kinds of devices which we will outline below.
- Laptops and personal computers – If your computer’s main drive has experienced data loss, you need to perform the recovery steps using an external storage device. Use a thumb drive or external hard drive to download and install the recovery software. Save any recovered data to the external device. These two precautions eliminate the chance that you will overwrite the data that you want to recover.
- External Hard Drives and USB Drives – Recovering deleted data from an external drive requires you to connect the device to the computer that has data recovery software installed. Don’t save the recovered items to the same external device that lost data to prevent overwriting or corrupting the files.
- SD Cards – Simply connect an SD card to your computer with a built-in or external reader. Save recovered files to your computer’s main drive and not the card that was subjected to data loss.
- Solid-State Drives – Solid-state drives that have TRIM enabled require special handling when attempting data recovery. Your best chances of success are to create a disk image of the SSD drives and attempt the recovery from that backup.
- Digital Cameras – Digital cameras often contain SD cards that are used to store user’s photos and videos. When performing a recovery, you can connect the camera directly to your computer or remove the memory card and use a reader to access the data.
- Mobile Phones – Data recovery software can be used to restore lost data from mobile phones. Connecting the phone to your computer allows recovery software to treat it like a disk and scan for lost data that can be recovered.
What types of files can be recovered using data recovery software for Mac?
A reliable recovery tool will be able to recover a wide variety of file types. You should look for a software solution that can get back all of your deleted files. Here are some examples of the types of files that a good recovery application can restore.
- Video files – 3G2, 3GP, AVI, DIR, OGM, RM, FCP, FLA, FLV, M2T, M2TS, M4V, MOV, MPG, MP4, SWF, and TOD.
- Audio files – AA, ASF, CAF, CDA, FLAC, FLP, M4A, MID, MP3, PTF, RA, RNS, SIB, WAV, and WMA.
- Photos and RAW images – 3FR, AI, ARW, BLEND, BMP, CDR, CR2, DPX, EPS, FFF, JPG, NEF, ORF, PEF, PNG, PS, PSD, TIFF, and WEBP.
- Documents – AFDESIGN, APK, CFB, CHM, CS, CST, DB3, DOC/DOCX, EMLX, EPUB, H, HTML, KEYCHAIN, MSG, NUMBERS, XLS/XLSX, PDF, RAR, and RTF.
- Archives – 7Z, RAR, ZIP, and also ARJ, CAB, DMG, ISO, MBX, PST, RDB, TAR.XZ.
Did you know?
FAQ
Yes, there is. PhotoRec is a freeware solution that is free and compatible with the macOS operating system. It does require the user to navigate a command-line interface and is best suited for users with some knowledge of data recovery, partitions, and filesystems. Developers keep the freeware updated for compatibility with the most current Mac operating systems.
There are multiple ways to recover lost or deleted data from a Mac including:
- From the Trash – check out our guide on this subject;
- With the Command – Z undo keystroke combination;
- Using backup media;
- With macOS data recovery software;
- Engaging a data recovery service.
Recuva is a Windows-specific file recovery software that does not run under macOS. Please consult our guide to Recuva Alternatives for Mac to find a tool that works for your situation.
If you need to get files off a Mac’s disk drive that won’t boot, you are probably looking at using a data recovery service. To use Mac recovery software, the disk needs to be available to the operating system, and if your machine won’t boot, your OS can’t see the device.
Most macOS data recovery software is capable of recovering lost and deleted photos. Tools that we like include PhotoRec for users in search of a freeware solution, and Disk Drill or EaseUS for paid file recovery software solutions.
There are several very good MacBook recovery software solutions for getting data back from a hard drive. We think Disk Drill and R-Studio are two of the best paid tools. TestDisk (PhotoRec) is a freeware product that is designed to recover lost or accidentally formatted partitions on your hard drive.
We chose not to include this application due to the negative reviews it has received. Seems like Mac Data Recovery Guru often fails to meet user expectations.
