Best Free Data Recovery Software: What Free Really Covers
Research-based analysis to help you choose the right tool for your situation.
| What to compare | Stellar | EaseUS | Disk Drill | Recuva |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our pick for | Photo/video checks | Beginners | One-time license | Simple Windows undelete |
| Price | Check current plan | Check current plan | Check current plan | Free basic tool |
| Free limit | Free scan / preview | 2GB Windows offer | 100MB Windows recovery | Free for simple cases |
| Mac support | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Windows support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Preview before paying | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not applicable |
| Drive image option | Check docs | Check docs | Check docs | No |
| Photo / RAW workflows | Dedicated photo tools available | Good for common files | Good filtering and preview | Limited modern format support |
| Main weakness | Paid tiers can be confusing | Subscription price | Smaller free allowance | Complex cases |
Use this table as a starting point. Always scan and preview before paying, and save recovered files to a different drive.
“Free data recovery” can mean several things: unlimited recovery for simple cases, a limited free allowance, or only a free scan and preview. Read the limit before you depend on it.
Free options by situation
Recuva: simple Windows undelete
Recuva is the best fit when you recently deleted a file from a healthy Windows drive and need a free first try.
What you get free: basic recovery for simple cases
Watch out for: limited fit for complex media, macOS, or physically unstable devices
EaseUS: larger free allowance
EaseUS commonly offers a 2GB free recovery tier. That can be useful for documents or a small set of photos, but check the current terms before relying on it.
What you get free: scan, preview, and a limited recovery allowance
Watch out for: upgrade prompts and renewal terms
Stellar: preview-focused decision point
Stellar’s free tier is useful when you need to scan and preview files before deciding whether a paid plan is worth it.
What you get free: scan and preview, with limits depending on the current plan
Watch out for: edition differences and paid feature gates
Disk Drill: limited free recovery plus extras
Disk Drill’s Windows free recovery allowance is limited, but the app also includes drive health and prevention-oriented tools.
What you get free: limited Windows recovery and some drive utility features
Watch out for: the allowance may not cover large photo or video sets
PhotoRec/TestDisk: free open-source recovery
PhotoRec and TestDisk are non-commercial tools from CGSecurity. They can be powerful for technical users, but the workflow is less guided and may not provide the same kind of preview-first buying decision as commercial apps.
What you get free: open-source recovery tools
Watch out for: technical interface, less hand-holding, and output that may need manual sorting
The safer free playbook
- Stop using the affected device.
- Try a free scan or preview from a different drive.
- Confirm the specific files you need are visible.
- Recover only to a different drive.
- Avoid repeated scans if the device behaves strangely.