Sep 25, 2020 • Filed to: Solve Mac Problems • Proven solutions
What Can Be Recovered on Mac? If you want to recover deleted data in Mac OS X: sensitive business documents, photos, videos, etc. Then AnyRecover for Mac can easily recover all them.This Mac data recovery software supports more than 1000+ file types no matter if it is deleted, lost or formatted. Mac Free Any Data Recovery is a robust free data recovery tool that helps you retrieve a variety of files from the abyss of damaged drives, literally. Which is why it is considered one of the best free data recovery software for Mac users who want to utilise all the features of a premium data retriever in a free version. Quickly recover data from your Mac with Ontrack EasyRecovery software. See your recovered files instantly! Leading computer publications and experts consistently rank Ontrack EasyRecovery best-in-class. Its intuitive interface allows novice to expert users to recover data with minimal effort. 855.558.3856 Try it free.
It is possible to recover permanently deleted files from Mac for free. This post offers reviews on the top 10 Free Mac Data Recovery software. Read on and pick up the most suitable one for you to rescue Mac data without paying anything. It is the best way to recover deleted files from Mac.
Top 10 Free Data Recovery Software for Mac
1. Recoverit Mac Data Recovery
When it comes to the free data recovery software for Mac, Recoverit Mac Data Recovery is reckoned to be the best one. With a 96% recovery rate, it enables you to recover lost or deleted data on Mac without any effort and knowledge. It is a 100% safe and reliable free Mac file recovery program to help you retrieve any data from Mac hard drive or any external device on Mac.
Features:
Apple File System (APFS) is now the default file system for the latest macOS, coming with safer data storage, faster write-and-read speed, and larger space available. However, the encryption feature makes data recovery more difficult and even impossible on iMac and MacBook. Recoverit is the software for you to recover lost data from APFS-based Mac. Even more, it supports the Mac data recovery from other different file systems, like HFS, HFS+, FAT/exFAT, and NTFS.
Besides, it supports to recover data from various devices in different situations, such as accidental deletion, power failure, computer shutdown, damaged and corrupted hard disk drive, formatted hard drive, virus attack, lost partition or other data loss scenarios.
On top of that, the best free data recovery tool for Mac is capable of recovering data from a variety of data storage devices, for example, Mac hard drive, external hard disk, USB flash drive, SD card, media players, digital cameras, Drone cameras, camcorders, Android phone, etc. That's why you can be reassured no matter where you lost your Mac data.
Overall Reviews: ★★★★ (5-star rating)
Advantages: all-around scan and deep scan; thumbnails and preview of lost files; recover 1000+ formats of files for free in all situations; intuitive interface.
Improvement: RAID hard drive recovery is not supported; recover 100 MB Mac files for free.
2. Ontrack EasyRecovery Home for Mac
Ontrack EasyRecovery is a user-friendly program for you to perform Mac file recovery precisely under different data loss scenarios, especially for accidentally deleted files. The free Mac file recovery version, with a 1 GB limit, supports you recovering lost data from Mac-based device or recovering deleted backup files from Apple Time Machine for free.
Features:
You can use the free version of this Mac data recovery tool to recover hundreds of file types on different macOS like macOS 10.15, 10.14, 10.13, 10.12, 10.11, and legacy OS. The quick scan and deep scan options search through the storage device more effectively, including internal hard disk, removable media, and RAID hard drive.
Moreover, the free Mac data recovery software claims that it can recover lost data from a hard drive that is encrypted or password protected. After the test, we find that it does sometimes. Like Recoverit Mac Data Recovery, EasyRecovery for Mac also provides the preview function of recoverable files and recovers files with the original file names.
Overall Reviews: ★★★★ (5-star rating)
Advantages: hundreds of supported files, data preview function, a full version of the software available for use in the trial version.
Improvement: low success rate, time-consuming recovery process.
3. Mac Free Any Data Recovery
Mac Free Any Data Recovery can help you reclaim a variety of files from the depths of damaged drives. It is one of the first free data recovery software that provides free trials for users - this data recovery solution is one of the few that allows users to experience the full version of the software for free. This Mac data recovery software is easy to use and kept simple with two scanning modes: quick and deep.
Features:
The common files can be recovered with the free data recovery software for Mac, including photos, videos, music, emails, PDF documents, Office documents, RAR/ZIP files, game files, system data, and so on. It supports the Mac data recovery on Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) or later. So if you want to recover your lost data from Mac OS X 10.8, it is not the option for you.
Overall Reviews: ★★★★ (5-star rating)
Advantages: very speedy scan, retrieve a wide range of files, preview files before Mac recovery.
Improvement: recover 20 files for free only, need to upgrade to the paid version for all features.
4. Cisdem Data Recovery
This Mac data recovery tool provides a free trial for you to scan and preview lost files due to hard drive crash or corruption, formatting, unintentional deletion, improper operation, factory reset, macOS upgrade, and virus attack. It provides five recovery options: Basic Data Recovery, Mac Trash Recovery, External Drive Recovery, Formatted Drive Recovery, and Advanced-Data Recovery. But, after our test, we think that you can directly use the option of 'Advanced-Data Recovery' to make sure your files will not be further damaged after the repeated scan.
Features:
It is an easy-to-use software that allows you to recover a wide range of files quickly. Like Recoverit, the well-recognized powerful data recovery software, it requires you to take 3 steps only for recovering lost data on Mac, that's choosing a data loss scenario, scan and preview recoverable files and finally choose the files to recover. The simple recovery process simplifies your job in Mac data rescue and does save much time.
Overall Reviews: ★★★ (5-star rating)
Advantages: intuitive design, easy-to-use, powerful recovery capacity, preview before recovery.
Improvement: free version only allows files scan and preview, not compatible with other types of operating systems, and has no filtering option for scanning.
5. Data Rescue 5
This Mac hard drive recovery software that allows you to search for and restore data that are lost from damaged drives and accidental deletion from the disk they are stored in. Its free version allows you to recover 2GB of data and it can perform a quick scan, deep scan, deleted files scan, and clone recovered file.
Features:
It comes with 4 options at the beginning to meet your different needs, namely, Start Recovering Files, View Previous Scan Results, Clone, and Create Recovery Drive. The data rescue software for Mac can recover data backups from Time Machine, recognize the duplicate files, and eliminate the recovery of duplications.
Overall Reviews: ★★★ (5-star rating)
Advantages: Intuitive interface, offers a low entry-level pricing plan (PaperByte?) for those who do not need to recover massive amounts of data.
Improvement: slow scanning and recovery speeds, need to fill in an application form to use the free version, only scan and preview available with the free version, only support 100+ file types.
6. Disk Drill
Disk Drill Mac is a great Mac data recovery software that does not only provide data recovery solutions but also data protection capabilities with its Recovery Vault feature. This will prevent accidental deletion and backup failing disks. Like most great data recovery software, it allows users to preview files to help you decide which files to recover.
Features:
The same as many other Mac data recovery tools, it provides a quick scan and deep scan options. With the quick scan, you can recover missing files on Mac in a quick way, while the deep scan technology can dive deeper into your device for lost data. Also, like Recoverit, it supports you recovering files from emptied Mac trash easily and quickly.
It works well with Mac 10.8 or later OS and allows you to filter files and recover data selectively. The drawback is that only 200 different file types are available for data rescue through the Mac file recovery software, including pictures, videos, and documents.
Overall Review: ★★★ (5-star rating)
Advantages: comes with a SMART disk to monitor your hardware's disk status, a preview of files, Recovery Vault feature.
Improvement: free version only allows files scan and preview, difficult to navigate, scan result does not show original file names and folder paths.
7. M3 Mac Data Recovery Free
This free Mac data recovery software is one of the many freeware available to recover deleted data and lost files on your Mac. You will be able to apply the tools to a wide range of file formats that have been compromised by a corrupted hard disk, virus attack, system error, power failure, etc. It can be used on non-Apple products as well.
Features:
It is the free undelete Mac software, compatible with Mac OS 10.7 through High Sierra. What makes it stand out from other Mac data recovery software is the Bitlocker Recovery feature. It allows you to recover Mac data from a deleted or lost Bitlocker encrypted partition. The drawback of the feature is that you have to offer the password for decrypting data.
Overall Review: ★★★★ (5-star rating)
Advantages: high success rate, easy-to-use user interface, full version available for a free trial.
Improvement: slow scan speed, can only use a free trial for a limited amount of time.
8. Lazesoft Data Recovery
It is one of the truly free data recovery software out there that offers data recovery capabilities of the OS X operating system. You can scan and recover an unlimited amount of data using this tool.
Features:
You can recover data from resized partitions, formatted hard drives, memory cards, and iPods. You can also recover photos, videos, music, documents, and applications on Mac HFS/HFS+/FAT/NTFS file systems.
Overall Review: ★★★★ (5-star rating)
Advantages: completely free, easy-to-use user interface.
Improvement: does not allow you to preview files, not support the newest Mac OS.
9. PhotoRec
PhotoRec Data Recovery is a free data recovery tool for your Mac. It can recover data that was lost due to a variety of reasons. It offers users 8 recovery modes for users to support you restoring Mac files lost due to deletion, formatting, lost partition, virus attack, and system crash.
Features:
Different types of data can be recovered on Mac, including photos, videos, audios, and emails. The recovered data remains intact in the original condition. The biggest drawback is that it is very hard for even an experienced person to use the Mac data recovery tool. Recovering Mac files with PhotoRec is a little like using the computer command line to perform the recovery process. And it is very easy to do wrong operations and cause further damage to your data.
Overall Reviews: ★★★★ (5-star rating)
Advantages: The ability to preview files before recovering data on Mac, free Mac data recovery without any limit.
Improvement: slower than average scan and recovery speeds, not user-friendly, need professional skill
10. Stellar Phoenix Data Recovery Software
The Mac data recovery tool is one of the best software users can use to get back deleted or lost files from your Mac machines. The name of this app is very significant as it equates to recovered files with a phoenix rising from the ashes!
Overall Review: ★★★ (5-star rating)
Advantages: fast, reliable, easy-to-use.
Improvement: no automated previewer, the free version is for scan and preview only.
Comparison of the Best Free Data Recovery Programs for Mac
| Software | Recovery success rate | Price | Supported macOS | Preview before Recovery | Support devices |
| Recoverit Data Recovery | ★★★★★ | Free/$79.95 for unlimited files recovery | macOS 10.10 ~ macOS 11 | Yes | Mac/HDD/SSD/USB/Memory card |
| Ontrack EasyRecovery | ★★★★ | Free for 1GB data/$99 for full version | macOS 10.15 supported | Yes | SSD/HDD/USB/Memory Card |
| Mac Free Any Data Recovery | ★★★ | Free | Mac OS X 10.7 - 10.10 | Yes | Mac/USB drive/iPod |
| Cisdem Data Recovery | ★★★★ | Free trial/$49.99 | Mac OS X 10.10 - 10.15 | Yes | Mac/hard drive/USB drive/Memory Card |
| Data Rescue 5 | ★★★★★ | Free demo/$399.00 for professional license | macOS 10.12- 10.15 | Yes | Startup drive/External storage |
| Disk Drill | ★★★★ | Free trial/$89.00 | Mac OS X 10.8.5+ and later | Yes | Internal/external drive/Android/iOS |
| M3 Mac Data Recovery | ★★★★ | Free for 1GB data/$89.95 | Mac OS X 10.7 - 10.15 | Yes | Macintosh HD, hard drive, external hard drive, USB/SD card |
| Lazesoft Data Recovery | ★★★★ | Free | Mac OS X 10.5 - 10.9 | Yes | Internal/external hard disk, USB drive, memory cards, iPods |
| PhotoRec | ★★★ | Free | Mac OS X | Yes | Hard disks, CD-ROMs, memory cards, DD raw image, USB drive |
| Stellar Phoenix Data Recovery | ★★★★ | Free trial/$79.99 | Mac OS X 10.7 - macOS 10.15 | Yes | SSD, HDD, SD card, USB drive |
Video Tutorial on How to Recover Deleted Files on Mac
FAQ About Free Data Recovery Software for Mac
How can I recover permanently deleted files from Mac without the software?
Although there is a free file recovery software for Mac, you may wonder if there is a way for you to recover deleted files on Mac without any software. To be honest, it is very nearly impossible to recover permanently deleted files without software. However, if your files are not permanently deleted from the Mac, you can try to restore the deleted files without software by using Terminal.
Open Terminal;
Enter cd.trash;
Type mv xxx ../ and replace the xxx part with the name of the deleted file; Hit Enter;
Now you can open Finder and search for the deleted files by name. The deleted file will appear.
Is there any completely free data recovery software for Mac?
You might have noticed that although there are lots of 'free' Macintosh file recovery programs, they are not completely free. Most of the free Mac data recovery programs offer the free version with limited features or provide a free trial of the full version with limits.
You can find some open-source data recovery tools that enable you to recover deleted files for Mac completely free, but open-source tools can be modified freely and are not supported by professional developing teams. Most of the completely free data recovery programs have been updated for years. Therefore, using completely free recovery tools is not safe and might fail to get back the files you need.
How does data recovery on Mac work?
Data recovery is trickier for Mac computers than Windows since SSDs are more commonly-used in MacBook and there is System Integrity Protection (SIP) on OS X El Capitan and later. With SIP enabled on your Mac, applications are unable to access the essential data in the system disk, which is a must for accessing the deleted files.
To use data recovery software on a Mac, you need to disable SIP first. Although SIP is disabled, it doesn't necessarily mean that the deleted files can be recovered. What a data recovery program does is to detect the bits of the deleted files from the hard drive and piece them back together. That's why the data recovery program usually takes hours or days to deeply scan the hard drive. Data Recovery is a time-consuming process.
How to select your Mac data recovery software?
After testing and reviewing the 10 best free Mac data recovery software, we can conclude all the key attributes that a piece of powerful Mac data recovery software should have.
- Support a wide range of files. There are so many types and formats of data we need and use every day. So Mac data recovery software needs to recover almost all kinds of data, at least photos, videos, music, audios, and Office documents.
- Support for Mac data recovery in all situations. Data loss can happen due to numerous factors, such as accidental deletion, virus attack, emptied Mac trash, hard drive corruption, formatting, and lost partitions.
- Support a variety of devices. We need different electronic devices to help us keep data preserved and protected, especially digital cameras, Mac computers, external hard drives, cell phones, flash drives, and so on.
- Straightforward interface. Not everyone is an expert in computer running algorithms or data recovery technology. So for an ideal Mac data recovery program, ease of use is necessary.
- Free Mac data recovery. As we can see, not all free Mac data recovery software can help you recover files on Mac free. If the software comes with only free scan and preview functions. It is not recognized as a free one.
What is the best free data recovery software for Mac?
After viewing the above content, we think that everyone has their own choice. You can choose your software according to your own needs. For example, if you are a professional computing expert, you can choose PhotoRec Data Recovery. It needs professional skills and has a very complicated recovery process, but it can help you recover files on Mac for free. However, if you want to recover Mac data more quickly and easily, it might be not a good option.
In contrast, Recoverit can help you recover lost or deleted files on Mac in 3 steps. It requires no professional skills in computing and technology. It also enables you to preview different types and formats of data on Mac.
The Bottom Line:
All the free Mac data recovery software above mentioned can help you recover lost data on Mac. If you want an easier and effective way to recover your deleted or lost data, we recommend Recoverit Data Recovery software. It is a reliable and safe Mac data recovery program. Download and try it for free now
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Utilities • Oct. 12, 2020
The main purpose of storage drives is to store your files and you only realize the true pain of losing something of sentimental value (or importance) when it’s long gone.
But is data really gone when it’s wiped out from your disk or there’s a slight possibility to recover it? It’s definitely possible to recover your data even way after the files have been deleted from the trash. However, it’s going to take a really good data recovery software to help you out with this.
Luckily for you, you’re in the right place since you’ll find some of the best free data recovery tools for Mac and Windows down below. However, we’ll also try to teach you a bit more about data recovery and loss prevention – so keep on reading!
When Is It too Late to Recover Data?
Some people think that once the file is way past the trash bin on your computer that it’s long gone.
But is this true?
Absolutely not. With data recovery software available out there, it’s definitely possible to recover data even when you’re truly convinced that the file is long gone.
However, it’s important to act properly once you lose a file so you can ‘preserve’ it even when it’s gone.
And how do you do that?
When you realize that you’ve lost a file, here’s what you have to do to increase the chance of the file recovery:
- Stop using the computer or a drive where the file is missing from
- Look out for the most ideal data recovery tool for your situation
- Once you have found the tool, try not installing it on the same drive you’re recovering the file from
- When you find the file in the data recovery tool, export it to a different volume of your hard disk
And why is this important?
When you delete a file by accident (or when it gets wiped out), there’s still a high chance of recovery as long as you don’t overwrite it on the disk drive.
Our Favorite Top Free Data Recovery Tools
Even though there used to be way more free data recovery tools out there – we still have compiled a list of pretty great options so you can choose a tool that fits your needs the most.
Down below, you’ll find the reviews of the following free data recovery tools.
Ideal for Mac OS:
Ideal for Windows OS:
Note: Though we talk about free computer data recovery tools below, you might also be interested in taking a look at some of our other lists of iPhone data recovery software and photo recovery software.
Disk Drill
Disk Drill is high on our list for a couple of reasons.
However, the main reason is its capability to uncover data that’s not only erased, but is lost from a bad disk drive or is unreadable.
Even though Disk Drill features a paid version (Pro), you can recover up to 500 MB of filesfor free. The catch is that you can’t select manually the file you’d want to recover with the free version, yet it recovers files as a group. This might not be suitable for a heavy user, but someone who mostly trashes Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files can still make good use of the tool.
The interface is very simple and other than the most important data recovery feature, Disk Drill is also equipped with two data loss prevention functionalities that can protect your data and help prevent any data loss in the future.
What we like the most is that you’ll even be able to create ISO or DMG files directly from the files you’ve recovered using Disk Drill.
For a free data recovery tool with a paid option, we still believe that Disk Drill has many great features that are hard to find in other free data recovery tools. Therefore, the chances of recovering your data are very high using the Disk Drill.
Pros
- Very easy to use
- Great success rate
- Suitable for both Windows and Mac systems
- Works with external drives
Cons
- Is limited by a 500 MB recovery
- Can’t recover a single file with the free version
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac Free Edition
If you’ve been browsing for a great data recovery software, there are high chances that you’ve come across EaseUS Data Recovery.
EaseUS Data Recovery is a wizard that doesn’t work like other data recovery tools, yet it has a built-in interface that looks very much like a Windows Explorer type.
Along with that, it features 3 easy and simple steps that anyone can follow (no matter the previous technical knowledge).
The scanning feature is very quick which gives you a list of files you are able to recover, while the data recovery process itself is decent enough for a free recovery tool.
As a free user, you will be able to recover up to 500MB of your data, and the great news is that EaseUS Data Recovery works for both computer/laptop and external drives.
We really like that this tool has a bit more advanced features built into the free version, such as the recovery of group deleted files with the help of the Tags feature or an enhanced FAT file recovery.
Another great thing is that EaseUS Data Recovery is available for both Windows and Mac OS and if you share the software on your social media, you will be able to get 2 GB of free data to recover! That’s pretty cool, don’t you think?
Pros
- The ability to recover up to 2 GB of files
- Guaranteed high recovery rate
- Can restore files from formatted disk drives
Cons
- Has no ability to sync between more than one computer
R-Studio
If you’re a Mac user, we highly recommend R-Studio for quick data recovery as it’s the tool that’s specially designed for the Mac OS (even though it’s also available for Linux and Windows).
The interface is very simple and it might look like it is a bit outdated, but the most important part of the tool (features) is what’s really important.
With that being said, you can rest assured knowing that R-Studio can help you recover files from various Mac specific files such as APFS, HFS, and HFS+.
Even better yet, if you’ve lost just one or a couple of files – R-Studio can help quickly locate and recover specific files, instead of giving you a lot of files to sift through.
We were really surprised to see R-Studio in action tackling harder recoveries such as file recovery from a corrupted disk drive or a formatted drive with only the free version of the tool.
There is also a paid version (R-Studio Pro) which is even more effective and if you don’t seem to be able to recover your file – trying out the paid version might be an even better solution.
Pros
- Supports multiple operating systems
- Decent customer support team
- Supports drives with unknown file systems
Cons
- Inability to pause the recovery process
TestDisk Data Recovery
Many users will skip over the TestDisk Data Recovery tool because it’s a tool that doesn’t have its own interface, yet it operates using the command line.
However, this helps the tool with file systems and offers wide operating system support so you can recover partitions, boot sectors, and even file tables.
It might not be the most suitable tool for the average user who’s suffering from data loss, but if you’re a professional who is missing work files – TestDisk Data Recovery is the best tool to help you out with this matter.
How come?
The extensive features that are directly tied with the command-line tool are the main reason. However, we still suggest you learn how to use a tool such as TestDisk Data Recovery as it’s a type of tool that can leave permanent damage to a drive unless it’s used correctly.
If you’ve dabbled in Mac OS’s command line before, TestDisk Data Recovery won’t be a stranger.
Pros
- Opensource version which is free for everyone and can be modified further
- Great partition support (along with the support of many file systems)
- Integrates well with the Mac OS command line
- Doesn’t require installation
Cons
- Doesn’t have the user interface yet it’s only command-line operated
- Slight learning curve
PhotoRec
The most common lost file is the image file and it’s often the most precious file to the users as the images often tend to have high sentimental value.
And if that’s the situation you’re in – PhotoRec is an ideal data recovery tool because it’s made to recover photos well and it’s also an open-source tool that can work well with any operating system. This includes Windows, Mac OS, and Linux.
However, don’t let the name make you think that the photos are the only format you can recover with this tool. With PhotoRec, you can recover up to 500 different files across 3 different operating system platforms, hard disks, and removable drives.
Even though the PhotoRec doesn’t have an interface and it’s only command-line based tool – it’s one of the most often updated free recovery tools out there so if nothing else works for you – PhotoRec is definitely worth a try.
The only downside is that you have to figure out how the tool works (a small learning curve) which will only then let you take full advantage of its features.
Pros
- Reliable data recovery performance
- Quick search scans
- Works with multiple operating systems and file systems
Cons
- Is only suitable for Windows
- Doesn’t have an interface
Glary Undelete
When you know that you’ve accidentally deleted something that’s of extreme value to you – instead of feeling guilty or pitying yourself, you should try Glary Undelete.
Glary Undelete is a tool that’s perfect for a speedy recovery of the recently deleted files. The name of the tool itself might sound familiar as it’s made by the same creator of the Glary Utilities.
Even though it might not be magic, Glary Undelete is very efficient in the recovery of the files when there hasn’t been too long between the loss of data and the recovery process.
We find that Glary Undelete is really efficient in recovering the files right after the data loss, so it might be an ideal first-choice to think of.
However, we’d leave other choices for more complex data recoveries.
We like that the searches are filterable so you can quickly find and recover what you’re looking for (even when the files aren’t actually there on your computer).
On the downside, Glary Undelete can find too many files which means you’ll have to sit and sift through all the files before finding the one you want to recover.
Also, you should keep in mind that Glary Undelete is only available for Windows.
Pros
- Very simple interface (no learning curve)
- Predicts well whether the file will be fully recovered or not
- It’s free to recover lost data on Windows
Cons
- Hasn’t been updated in a long time but is still efficient
Recuva
When you’re looking for a light and yet very effective data recovery tool – Recuva is the tool to consider.
Recuva is one of rare free data recovery tools that have no limit on the amount of data you can recover, and yet it has advanced features such as a deep scan to allow you to discover hard-to-find files on your computer.
But even better yet is the fact that you can use Recuva as a portable tool that doesn’t require the installation. This means that you can directly run it from the USB so you don’t do the recovery from the same disk drive you’re using to look up for the missing files.
Even though Recuva is only suitable for the Windows operating system, it’s very efficient at discovering and recovering FAT and NTFS type of files in both 32-bit and 64-bit operating system versions. However, there are many Recuva alternatives for Mac so we highly recommend you to look up for it.
Another fact is that the Recuva is a part of the CCleaner development so you know that it’s there to provide as much value as possible.
The interface might look a bit outdated, but the effectiveness of the software is what is truly important and it’s the main reason we’ve listed it in our review!
Pros
- Ability to preview files before recovery
- Step-by-step walkthrough process for great ease of use
- Suitable with many Windows versions
Cons
- Advanced file recovery isn’t available within the free version
- Doesn’t support virtual hard drives within a hard disk
Undelete 360
Even though Undelete 360 is an old-school data recovery tool that works the best with Windows 7, there’s a reason it’s still one of the most effective free data recovery tools out there.
It’s very simple to use and yet it’s very efficient and recovering files that have been recently accidentally deleted from your computer.
The interface has two sections which allow you to scan your computer (or external drives) for deleted files, and a section where you can let the recovery process run.
Finding a targeted file is very simple thanks to the file tree function in combination with the file path feature.
Along with that, Undelete 360 has a feature that helps you safely delete all other files that are beyond recovery to improve the health of your disk drive.
Even though Undelete 360 is the most suitable for Windows 7, it will work with all Windows versions. Unfortunately, it’s not suitable for Linux and Mac OS.
Pros
- One of the best free search filters within the recovery tool
- Can recover files from mobile phones or gadgets
- Supports many file systems
Cons
- Inability to manually select files you’d like to recover
Wise Data Recovery
Wise Data Recovery is another gem from the WiseClean family of software and if you’re looking to find one or a couple of files – Wise Data Recovery can definitely help.
This tool features a simple interface and it works on a similar principle to other free data recovery tools that utilizes an intuitive interface and a 3-step process.
The first thing you have to do is select a drive you want to recover files from which will let the tool scan the drive for lost files.
From there, you get a clean view of files in an item-tree style so you can find and recover the file you’re looking for.
The tool is very simple to use, it’s very effective immediately after the loss of data occurred, and we must complement its quick scanning process.
Unfortunately, there is no deep scan available and you only have high chances of recovering recently lost files – but it’s still one of the most efficient free data recovery tools that you can use on Windows.
Pros
- High rate of file recovery that has been recently deleted
- Supports almost all Windows system files
- Fast scanning speeds
Cons
- Doesn’t support exFAT file system on a Mac
- Inability to do a selective file recovery
PC Inspector File Recovery
PC Inspector File Recovery is very similar to Wise Data Recovery, and yet it can be considered a bit more advanced version.
With PC Inspector File Recovery, you can easily recover the most recently deleted files. However, where this tool proves the most is the ability to recover files from deleted or formatted disk drives, even when the boot sector is erased.
This is a feature that’s mostly available with the paid versions of data recovery tools – however, it’s really great to see a free version that is still around.
Even though it’s not the most updated tool out there, it’s still very efficient as long as your disk drive (or computer) isn’t physically damaged.
We’ve noticed that PC Inspector File Recovery was able to detect some files that other free (and even some paid) recovery tools weren’t able to detect.
This just shows how much further you can take the recovery process to. With the simple and easy-to-navigate interface, all of your deleted files will be automatically put into a correct file structure.
It is a feature that definitely helps users find the file they’re looking for without losing too much of the time.
Free Data Recovery For Mac That's Really Free
However, the only thing is that PC Inspector File Recovery is suitable for Windows operating system only.
Pros
- Great correct file structure for easier search
- Works best for the most recently deleted files
- Can recover a file from an erased boot sector
Cons
- Outdated user interface
- A bit limited functionality of the interface
Are Free Tools Enough for Data Recovery?
Most people are pretty skeptical about free data recovery tools, only until they try them out and find them to be a really effective solution.
But are free tools really enough or you would rather be more efficient or have higher chances of recovery using a paid version of a tool?
We believe that you shouldn’t stay away from free versions. In fact, this review shows that you can get the job done (no matter the circumstances) very quickly and efficiently with some of the best free data recovery tools listed in this article.
And if that doesn’t work out or if you feel like a feature in the paid data recovery tool might be the thing you need – upgrading is always possible later on.
For about 80% of people out there, simple data recovery can be efficiently done with free data recovery tools. And with such a great choice you have – you should definitely give at least one of these a try.
Of course, after you successfully recover your file – don’t forget to check out if the tool you’ve used is accepting donations!
How We Choose the Best Free Data Recovery Tools
We’ve listed a great number of free data recovery tools and while any of them might seem like a great choice – how do you actually know which one will fit your needs the most?
It’s all about knowing what to look out for and in this part of the article, we’ll show you how we chose the best free data recovery tools so you know exactly how to choose the one that will fit your needs.
All you have to do is look out for the aspects and factors that surround these tools and then make your choice accordingly.
The aspects and factors we’ve mentioned are the following:
- Scanning speed and recovery speed
- System support
- File type support
The great thing about the free tools is that you don’t have to worry about the budget. However, when it comes down to performance and efficiency – you still want a tool that will get the job done no matter whether it’s a free or a paid tool.
Scanning Speed and Recovery Speed
When you realize you’ve deleted a file by an accident or you’ve noticed a file loss – it’s important that you act quickly.
Scanning speed is important because it’s the first step you’ll get to do before browsing through the list of files you can recover.
Recovery speed is also important as it can help you in situations when you need to recover the files quickly (even without anyone else noticing).
Even most free software has a really quick performance but still, it’s something to consider.
System Support
Not every tool will be a great fit for your system, so you should know which operating system you’re using and ensure that the tool you’re looking out is compatible with your system.
Otherwise, you won’t even be able to install it or use it to recover your files.
File Type Support
Not everyone loses the same type of files so if you know exactly what you’re trying to recover, it’s important to take note and ensure that you find a tool that has the ability to recover the file type you need.
Conclusion (and bonus tips to prevent data loss)
Data loss is a stressful and unpleasant, whether you lost it due to software or hardware failure, cybercrime, or accidental deletion.
Free Data Recovery For Macbook
When you realize you’ve lost files, it’s not only important to face everything and act quickly, but it’s also important to preserve the computer or a disk drive.
Mac Data Recovery Freeware
This will increase the chances of successful file recovery. And since you’re here, you’re in a good place and all you have to do is choose a tool that will fit your needs the most and give it a try.
Of course, we like to increase the awareness of data loss and the best way to prevent data loss is to backup your files regularly. We have an article full of tools that can help you keep your computer backed up on a regular basis even without requiring any action on your side – so we highly recommend you check it out.
Besides, you could eventually avoid data corruption by using antivirus software and scanning your PC regularly to prevent bugs and viruses. Also please always protect your system with a strong password and set user permission for greater security.