10 Best Hard Drive Recovery Software Solutions to Consider in 2024

Usability

Disk Drill features a user-friendly interface that makes it simple for both novices to navigate. The hard drive recovery software visualizes scanning progress in real-time to offer a clear overview of how many files have been found, and it then organizes them into convenient categories for easier selection. As a user, you can additionally filter found files based on a variety of different criteria or preview individual files directly within the main application window. Disk Drill's dark mode support is a welcome addition for late-night recovery sessions, while the ability to resume scan sessions later gives you the option to continue them in the morning. 

Recovery Performance

The most important reason why Disk Drill ranks as the best HDD recovery software tool is its impressive performance. The software supports a wide range of file systems and file formats, including popular formats such as NEF, CR2/3, and RAF, as well as many others used by various digital cameras and camcorders. Thanks to its support for RAID arrays, BitLocker-encrypted drives, and Windows Storage Spaces Disk Drill can handle even the most complex data loss scenarios. 

Value

The value provided by Disk Drill is simply outstanding because a purchase of Disk Drill for Windows also unlocks Disk Drill for Mac. The free version for Windows allows you to recover up to 500 MB of data, making it an easy choice for users with modest recovery needs. Multiple extra features are included with Disk Drill alongside its core data recovery capabilities, such as its S.M.A.R.T. data analyzer and data backup tools. 

Usability

R-Studio stands out as a powerful hard disk recovery tool aimed at professional users, offering compatibility with all major operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and macOS. While the software delivers excellent results and supports a wide range of file systems, its user interface is notably complex, making it difficult for average users to navigate. However, that's the price to pay for advanced features like custom file types, forensic mode, and support for professional data recovery hardware.

Recovery Performance

Data recovery professionals would never use any hard disk recovery tool that performs poorly. Indeed, R-Studio can handle even complex data loss situations because it boasts a RAID reconstruction module, network recovery capabilities, and support for custom file formats. Just know that the signature scanner doesn't support many modern audio/video/photo formats.

Value

R-Studio offers great value to users seeking a comprehensive HDD recovery tool, as it supports all major operating systems and a wide range of file systems. However, the complexity of the interface and limited preview functionality may deter less experienced users. There's also the fact that the more affordable R-Studio licenses support only certain file systems. 

Usability

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is designed to be as user-friendly as possible. The software's scan results are grouped in a convenient file tree, making it easy to navigate through the recovered files. Additionally, scan results are labeled, and you can recover files without interrupting the scanning process. The company behind this HDD recovery tool maintains an extensive online knowledge base full of helpful how-to articles that provide valuable guidance to users.

Recovery Performance

As a hard drive recovery tool, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard performs fairly well, even though there are known issues with FAT32 and exFAT scanning capabilities. The good news is that the scanning process is fast, and you can even recover up to 2 GB of data for free if you mention the product on social media. 

Value

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard almost always offers promotional discounts and coupons, so not paying the full price is easy. While EaseUS is trying to actively steer potential buyers toward expensive monthly subscriptions, lifetime licenses are still available on the official website for those seeking a more cost-effective solution. 

Usability

DiskGenius is a powerful hard drive recovery tool and disk manager aimed at experienced users who can appreciate its extensive feature set without being intimidated by its complicated user interface. As a result, regular home users will definitely need to invest some time in learning the basics of the software before using it to recover lost files.

Recovery Performance

In terms of performance, DiskGenius offers impressive scanning speed, making it one of the fastest hard disk recovery software on the market. The software also includes useful features such as bad sector detection and fixing. However, its signature scanner delivers average results, falling short when compared to many of its competitors.

Value

As a 2-in-1 solution, DiskGenius combines data recovery and disk management capabilities, so its overall value is pretty good. With extra features like S.M.A.R.T. analysis and disk cloning, the application provides many reasons why purchasing and keeping it installed makes a lot of sense. 

Usability

DMDE isn't designed for everyday Joe. Well, in a way it is because its creator would definitely like it if all kinds of users used his tool. However, the reality is that the single developer behind DMDE has focused on building a powerhouse of technical features, likely at the expense of user experience. While the tool is incredibly proficient at what it does, it becomes clear that one developer can't quite replace a full team of UX designers. The result is a tool that's rich in capabilities but may come across as intimidating or cumbersome, especially for those new to data recovery.

Recovery Performance

We rated DMDE 58% out of 100 for its recovery performance in our full review. While that might not seem like a lot, it's important to look slightly deeper to understand why it's actually a great choice for hard drive recovery. Specifically, DMDE offers high-performance file system scanners and a RAID reconstruction module, so it's equipped to handle complex hard drive issues that other software might falter on. In other words, you shouldn't let the overall percentage score deter you if hard drive recovery is your main goal—DMDE has a lot to offer in that department.

Value

When it comes to bang for your buck, DMDE offers a lot and asks for very little. Not only is its pricing competitive, starting at just $7, but it also offers a free trial that allows you to recover up to 4,000 files. Add in free upgrades and lifetime licenses, and you've got a cost-effective, highly capable tool—provided you're willing to navigate its complex interface and invest some time in learning the ropes.

Usability

PhotoRec offers an optional graphical user interface for the Windows version, but that doesn't save it from having one of the worst usability ratings out of all hard drive recovery tools recommended in this article. Why? Because the optional user interface is very basic, and it tends to slow down during scanning. The terminal version of PhotoRec isn't user-friendly at all, so this software is best avoided by those who are looking for something simple and intuitive.

Recovery Performance

PhotoRec boasts a capable signature scanner that supports a large number of file signatures. The application can work with raw disks, disks without a file system, or those that refuse to mount, so it's not easy to encounter a data loss situation PhotoRec can't solve. That said, the program only finds files by signature, meaning that file system information will never be restored, and users won't see the original file names and folder locations. 

Value

As a completely free and open-source hard drive recovery software, PhotoRec offers a terrific value, but it lacks customer support and additional functionality beyond data recovery. Users should also be aware that they might need purchase a dedicated recovery drive, as PhotoRec can only recover all found files in bulk. 

Usability

We like that DiskDigger doesn't require installation and is just 1.7 MB large. The portable nature and small size help reduce the risk of overwriting files lost from the system drive in the absence of a secondary storage device. As the screenshots above illustrate, DiskDigger's interface can appear blurry and unclear. Additionally, the language setting cannot be changed on high-DPI monitors, and those are just some of the many usability issues this hard disk recovery software is plagued with. 

Recovery Performance

DiskDigger's signature scanner effectively recovers files and can scan disk images created by other programs. It supports RAW disks and allows users to select file types for recovery before scanning. However, the software's quick scan is limited to recently deleted files and generally yields subpar results. What's more, DiskDigger can't restore formatted disk structures or find lost partitions.

Value

This hard disk recovery tool is partially free, allowing users to recover any number of files with a 5-second delay before each restoration. If you want to restore just a few files and avoid spending any money, then this HDD recovery tool may be the right choice. If your budget is less modest and your recovery needs more extensive, then other solutions will almost certainly serve you better.

Usability

One of the biggest reasons why Recuva is so commonly recommended is its user-friendly interface, which has been translated into many different languages. The interface features two operating modes: simple and advanced, catering to both novices and experienced users. Unfortunately, the software is definitely starting to feel a bit dated because it hasn't been updated in a while. 

Recovery Performance

While Recuva can handle a variety of file formats, its limited signature detection can hinder its ability to find modern file formats, especially multimedia ones. During our review, Recuva kept crashing during scanning, but it's possible that it was an isolated incident. It's also worth mentioning that the hard disk recovery tool can't scan unmountable disks or those with a RAW filesystem, so don't expect it to solve every data loss issue you may encounter. 

Value

Recuva's most significant advantage is that it's completely free, allowing users to scan and restore unlimited files without spending a dime. However, the software can't be used commercially, and a few features and available only in the unpopular paid version, which we don't recommend buying at all because no new major updates have been released for Recuva during the last several years. 

Usability

AnyRecover offers an approachable and contemporary interface that greatly simplifies the data recovery process. The ease of use is a big plus, especially for users who are not tech-savvy. The application would be even easier to use if it wasn't necessary to download a separate module just to preview recoverable files. We understand that AnyRecover developers want to minimize the download size, but it's hard to imagine how most users wouldn't find this additional step a bit cumbersome.

Recovery Performance

The tool's recovery performance is decent but inconsistent, especially with exFAT and HFS+ file systems. While it performs well in quick scans, the deep scan results and the preservation of the original folder structure during recovery could be improved. There's also the fact that some commonly used file formats, such as PDF files and CR2 raw images, are not supported well. Recovering data from a USB device or RAID array can also be a hassle, indicating that AnyRecover might not be the best fit for more complex data loss scenarios.

Value

AnyRecover's pricing is competitive, with a range of subscription and lifetime license options. The absence of a fully functional free version is a downside, but the software's money-back guarantee provides a safety net for your investment. If you have an iOS device, you should know that AnyRecover is one of only a few recovery tools on the market that can recover data from these devices, a unique feature that adds additional value to the software.

Usability

Let’s not beat around the bush: the user interface is not well-designed, making it difficult to navigate and use effectively. Additionally, the software lacks a clear indication of whether the recovery process was successful or not, and it does not allow users to save scanning sessions. But if you’re the type of person who equates usability with functionality, then you’ll appreciate the fact that the software offers advanced features like the ability to specify the initial sector and scan area, as well as disk image scanning.;

Recovery Performance

Klennet Recovery's recovery performance is generally good, with support for common file systems like FAT32, exFAT, and NTFS. However, it struggles with EXT4 partitions and constantly fails when recovering Apple's HFS/HFS+ and APFS file systems. The software also has limited signature scanning capabilities, as it does not support a wide range of modern audio, video, or photo formats. Furthermore, the built-in preview feature only supports a few file types, limiting its usefulness. These shortcomings are somewhat outweighed by its impressive RAID support, which makes it possible to work even with broken RAID arrays that are no longer functioning correctly and need to be assembled into virtual arrays using the software’s RAID reconstructor module.

Value

Klennet Recovery offers a freemium pricing model, with a trial version that allows users to preview recoverable files. The full version starts at $79 for a lifetime license, with commercial licenses available for $499. The software comes with a money-back guarantee, but free updates are only available for the first year. Additionally, the software is only compatible with Windows 10 or later, and the user interface is available only in English. The only extra feature included with Klennet Recovery is a S.M.A.R.T. data scanner, which helps users monitor the health status of their hard drives. While this feature is useful, it’s not enough to compete with other hard drive recovery software solutions that offer more extensive extra features, such as disk cloning and bootable recovery drive creation.