Disk Drill is a popular data recovery software tool developed by CleverFiles for restoring lost files from storage devices like hard drives, memory cards, and external drives. A common question many users have is whether Disk Drill offers a free version or if the software requires payment.
In this article, we’ll provide a comprehensive overview answering the question, “Is Disk Drill recovery software free?” by exploring the different versions of Disk Drill, including:
- Disk Drill Basic
- Disk Drill Pro
- Enterprise solutions
We’ll compare the features offered in each version, so you can understand what you get with the free vs. paid options. We’ll also share tips on getting the most value out of Disk Drill whether you choose the free or paid versions.
Disk Drill Basic Overview
Disk Drill Basic is the free version of Disk Drill data recovery software. It’s available for Windows and Mac operating systems.
Some key features offered in Disk Drill Basic include:
- Recovery Vault to monitor partitions for deleted files and maintain metadata to aid recovery
- Protection tools like S.M.A.R.T. monitoring, recovery vault, and guaranteed recovery to help prevent permanent data loss
- Scanning and recovery of deleted or lost partition recovery
- Quick and deep scan options to detect deleted files and reconstruct lost partitions
- Filtering by file type to narrow data searches
- Preview files before recovery
Disk Drill Basic provides an excellent free option for protecting your file systems and recovering lost data. However, the free version does have some limitations.
Key restrictions of Disk Drill Basic include:
- 500 MB data recovery limit
- No support for more advanced file systems like NTFS, HFS+, APFS
- Limited scanning and preview capabilities for deep scans
- No bootable recovery options
- Lacks secure delete and backups features of paid Pro version
So in summary, Disk Drill Basic serves as a solid free recovery tool for smaller amounts of lost data, but has restrictions on how much data you can recover and what file systems it supports.
Disk Drill Pro Overview
Disk Drill Pro provides premium data recovery capabilities with all the features of the Basic version plus expanded recovery limits and additional functionality.
Key features of Disk Drill Pro include:
- Unlimited data recovery – no 500 MB limit
- Support for NTFS, HFS+, APFS, EXT, FAT32, and other file systems
- Faster deep scanning with full preview capabilities
- Bootable Recovery – options to boot into recovery OS to rebuild lost partitions
- Backup tools to protect data
- Secure delete with multiple algorithm options
- Disk health tools like S.M.A.R.T. monitoring
- RAID recovery support
- Migration tools
In addition to expanded data recovery capabilities, Disk Drill Pro enables prevention against permanent data loss through secure deletion and backups. The bootable recovery features also provide options to attempt partition recovery even if the operating system won’t start.
Disk Drill Pro costs $89 for an individual 1-year license. Family pack licenses for 3 computers are also available.
Enterprise Solutions
In addition to the consumer focused Basic and Pro versions, CleverFiles offers Disk Drill enterprise solutions for businesses. This includes:
- Disk Drill Enterprise – For small to mid sized businesses, offers centralized management through an admin dashboard and other tools tailored for IT professionals managing multiple company devices. Scales from 5 seats to over 500.
- Disk Drill Technician – Designed for data recovery techs and service providers, Technician integrates with computer repair shop workflows allowing centralized case management across multiple machines and client sites.
- Custom Solutions – Enterprise grade solutions can be customized to meet the needs of large corporations and organizations. Includes capabilities like custom branding, dedicated support channels, and tailored reporting and machine management capabilities.
Enterprise versions provide advanced capabilities scaled for business use cases. Pricing is customized based on specific needs. Overall the enterprise Disk Drill solutions offer robust data protection and recovery tools for company IT environments.
Free vs Paid Feature Comparison
To summarize the key differences between the free vs paid versions of Disk Drill, here is a comparison of the core features.
| Features | Disk Drill Basic (Free) | Disk Drill Pro (Paid) |
|---|---|---|
| Data recovery limit | 500 MB | Unlimited |
| Supported file systems | FAT32 | NTFS, HFS+, APFS, EXT, FAT32 |
| Deep scanning with full preview | Limited | Full capability |
| Bootable recovery tools | Not included | Bootable recovery OS options |
| Backup capabilities | Not included | Backup tools |
| Secure delete options | Not included | Multiple algorithms |
| RAID recovery | Not supported | Can recover some RAID configurations |
| Migration tools | Not included | Options for migrating after recovery |
As you can see, Disk Drill Pro provides a more robust feature set focused on protecting against permanent data loss and enabling recovery in more scenarios through advanced capabilities.
Tips for Using Disk Drill Free
If you decide to use the free version of Disk Drill, here are some tips to get the most value out of it:
- Enable Recovery Vault to protect partitions.
- Frequently backup data to another device to prevent permanent data loss if you exceed Basic capacity limits.
- Preview scan results and organizing by file type to zero in on critical files.
- Try scanning different partitions and external devices to use your 500MB free recovery wisely.
- If you need advanced file system support or more recovery capacity, upgrade to the Pro version.
Following these tips will help maximize Disk Drill Basic’s free deleted file and partition recovery tools.
Should You Upgrade to Disk Drill Pro?
Upgrading to Disk Drill Pro provides significant value through advanced features and unlimited data recovery. Reasons you may want to upgrade include:
- You need to recover over 500MB of lost files.
- You want to back up important data to prevent permanent loss.
- You have NTFS, HFS+, APFS, or EXT partitions to recover.
- You want enterprise-grade protection against data loss.
- You need bootable recovery tools to rebuild damaged partitions.
For personal or professional use, Disk Drill Pro can quickly pay for itself by enabling the recovery of critical files. For only $89, you get peace of mind knowing you have a safety net against accidental or catastrophic data loss.
Conclusion
In summary, Disk Drill Basic offers an excellent free recovery solution with capabilities like scanning, previewing, and retrieving up to 500MB of lost data. It’s a great option for basic home file recovery needs.
For more advanced recovery tools and unlimited capacity, Disk Drill Pro provides robust protection against permanent data loss through bootable recovery, secure delete, backups, and support for diverse file systems. The Pro version is ideal for power users, businesses, and anyone with lots of important data to keep safe.
So while Disk Drill Basic is a free and useful recovery tool, upgrading to Disk Drill Pro unlocks the full suite of data protection capabilities CleverFiles offers. With data becoming increasingly valuable, Disk Drill Pro provides assurance your files can be recovered should the worst occur.