Recover It is data recovery software developed by iolo technologies for Windows operating systems. It allows users to recover deleted or lost files from hard drives, external storage devices, and some mobile devices. The quick answer is that Recover It has both free and paid versions available.
Free Version Overview
Recover It does offer a free version that users can download and use to recover deleted files. The free version has the following features and limitations:
- Allows recovery of up to 1GB of data
- Recovers files deleted from the Recycle Bin, hard drives, and external devices
- Supports recovery from memory cards and USB drives
- Provides preview of recoverable files
- Does not allow users to recover the full version of files larger than 1GB in size
- Does not support RAID recovery
- Does not allow users to create a bootable recovery drive
So in summary, the free version gives users basic data recovery capabilities but has file size and functionality limitations. It is intended for recovering smaller deleted files from common storage devices.
Paid Version Overview
Recover It also has paid versions that offer advanced functionality and remove the limitations of the free version. Here are the key features of the paid versions:
- Unlimited data recovery – no limit on amount of data recovered
- Recovers files deleted from formatted hard drives and partitions
- Recovers data lost due to system crashes or boot failures
- Supports recovery of data from RAID systems
- Allows recovery from removable media like USB drives, SD cards, etc.
- Provides bootable recovery environment to recover data when system fails to boot
- Advanced searching and filtering of recoverable files
- Preview and selective recovery of files
- Faster scanning and recovery speeds
The paid versions provide full data recovery capabilities with the ability to recover data from almost any Recover It supported file system or storage device. The paid versions range in price from $79.95 to $99.95 depending on the specific edition.
Free vs Paid Version Comparison
Here is a table comparing the key differences between the Recover It free and paid versions:
| Feature | Free Version | Paid Version |
|---|---|---|
| Data Recovery Limit | 1GB | Unlimited |
| Recovers Formatted Drives | No | Yes |
| RAID Recovery | No | Yes |
| Removable Media Recovery | Limited | Yes |
| Bootable Recovery Environment | No | Yes |
| Preview Files | Yes | Yes |
| Selective File Recovery | No | Yes |
Conclusion
In summary, Recover It offers both a free version with limited functionality and paid versions with full capabilities. The free version allows basic deleted file recovery while the paid versions provide advanced features and unlimited data recovery. When deciding which to use, it depends on your specific data recovery needs. For minor accidental file deletion, the free version may be enough. But for cases of major data loss or advanced recovery, one of the paid versions would be required.
Recover It is well reviewed software with high recovery success rates. The free version provides a good introduction to the capabilities of the software while the paid versions deliver professional-level data recovery services. Overall, Recover It offers robust self-service data recovery options at reasonable prices compared to dedicated recovery services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Recover It work with external drives?
Yes, both the free and paid versions of Recover It support external drive data recovery. It can recover files from external hard drives, USB flash drives, SD cards, and other removable storage devices. The free version has a 1GB limit but the paid versions can recover unlimited data from external drives.
Can Recover It restore formatted hard drives?
The free version of Recover It does not support formatted hard drive recovery. However, the paid versions do support recovering data even after a full format or partition deletion. So if your hard drive was formatted, a paid version would be required for the best chance of getting your files back.
Does it work for photos, documents, and other file types?
Recover It supports recovering all common file types including photos, documents, video files, music files, emails, and more. Both the free and paid versions can recover deleted files of any file type. However, the free version will not recover files larger than 1GB in full.
Can Recover It recover ransomware encrypted files?
Unfortunately, Recover It cannot recover files encrypted by ransomware. No data recovery software can restore ransomware encrypted files, as the encryption is too strong. The only option is to restore files from a backup or pay the ransom demand.
What storage devices and file systems are supported?
Recover It supports recovery from hard drives, external drives, memory cards, and other storage devices formatted in FAT, exFAT, NTFS, HFS+, and ReFS file systems. Different file systems may require a paid version for support.
Can I preview files before recovering them?
Both the free and paid versions allow you to preview photos, documents, and many other file types before recovering them. This lets you confirm the files are intact before recovering.
Will Recover It’s scanning damage my drive?
No, Recover It is read-only so the scanning will not damage or alter your drive. It safely scans drives to detect recoverable files without any risk of data loss.
What Windows versions are supported?
Recover It supports all Windows versions from XP through Windows 11. Both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows versions are supported.
Using Recover It Step-by-Step
Here is a step-by-step overview of using Recover It to recover deleted files:
- Download and install Recover It on your Windows PC.
- Launch Recover It and select the drive location you want to scan.
- Choose the file types you want to recover.
- Click “Start” to begin scanning the drive.
- Preview and select the files you wish to recover.
- Choose a folder to save the recovered files to.
- Click “Recover” to restore your files.
Recover It makes it easy to get back deleted photos, documents, and other file types with just a few clicks. But for more complex data recovery cases involving formatted drives, you may need capabilities only available in the paid versions. Be sure to choose the version that best fits your needs.
Recover It Pricing and Editions
Recover It is available in several editions with different pricing:
| Edition | Price | Main Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | 1GB recovery limit |
| Personal | $79.95 | Unlimited recovery, extra search tools |
| Professional | $99.95 | Bootable media, network drive recovery |
| Technician | $399.95 | Advanced toolkit for techs |
The Personal and Professional editions are recommended for most users needing unlimited recovery capabilities. The higher-priced Technician edition adds capabilities for IT workers and advanced users.
Recover It Review Summary
To summarize key points about Recover It:
- Data recovery software for Windows from iolo technologies
- Free version allows limited 1GB file recovery
- Paid versions provide unlimited data recovery
- Recovers files from hard drives, external drives, memory cards
- Easy to use interface to preview and recover deleted files
- Positive reputation and high recovery success rate
- Paid versions priced competitively vs. dedicated recovery services
Overall, Recover It provides an effective self-service data recovery solution with capabilities matching or exceeding more expensive solutions. For either minor quick recovery needs or extensive recovery from major data loss, Recover It is worth considering.
Limitations of Recover It
While Recover It delivers excellent recovery capabilities, there are some limitations to be aware of:
- Free version limited to only 1GB of data
- No Linux or Mac support, Windows only
- Cannot recover data from physically damaged drives
- Encrypted files cannot be recovered without decryption key
- No mobile device support beyond some storage media
- Highest recovery success on conventional hard drives vs SSDs
For the best results, match Recover It’s strengths and limitations to your specific data loss situation. In some cases, a professional recovery service may be required beyond what an affordable software solution like Recover It can offer.
Recover It Alternatives
Some top alternative data recovery solutions to consider besides Recover It include:
- Recuva – Free recovery software with deep scan options. Less user friendly.
- EaseUS – Affordable paid recovery software with positive reviews.
- Stellar – Another highly rated paid recovery suite for Windows.
- Disk Drill – Mac and Windows recovery software with free and paid tiers.
- R-Studio – Powerful recovery software aimed at IT professionals.
- Professional Services – For difficult cases, a dedicated lab recovery may be needed.
Recover It tends to compare favorably to competitors, with its combination of an accessible interface and powerful deep scanning tools setting it apart.
Getting the Most from Recover It
Follow these tips to maximize your success when using Recover It:
- Stop using a drive or device if files are accidentally deleted – continuing usage overwrites deleted data
- Use Recover It as soon as possible after data loss
- Allow deep scans to run – they can find more files than quick scans
- Pick a specific folder or file type to scan for instead of everything to improve results
- Use the preview feature to check files before recovery
- Retrieve files to a different drive than the one scanned to avoid overwriting
- Upgrade to a paid version if large files or full drives need recovery
Following these best practices helps improve your chances of complete data recovery using Recover It.
Customer Support and Help Resources
Recover It offers the following helpful resources and support options:
- Knowledge Base – Searchable support site with guides and how-tos
- User Forums – Get advice from other Recover It users
- Video Tutorials – Step-by-step video walkthroughs
- Support Tickets – Submit tech support tickets online
- Telephone Support – Get one-on-one help over the phone
Taking advantage of these available resources can help you get the most out of Recover It and improve your data recovery success.
Is Recover It Worth It?
For both personal users and IT professionals, Recover It delivers an effective data recovery solution at a reasonable price. The free version is useful for quick, small scale recovery jobs. And the paid versions can handle large scale recovery at a fraction of the cost of dedicated recovery labs.
Overall, Recover It earns strong reviews for its user friendly interface paired with the scanning power of advanced data recovery tools. It makes data recovery accessible and approachable for a wide audience. For those needing to rescue personal photos, work documents, or important files from a failed drive, Recover It is generally worth considering as a quality, affordable recovery option.
Just be aware of its limitations on devices and file types supported. In complex cases involving specialized media or extremely large drives, a professional recovery service may still be required. But for mainstream personal computer and drive data loss, Recover It delivers an effective self-service recovery solution at a competitive price point.
Summary
Recover It offers free and paid data recovery software for Windows users. The free version retrieves limited files while paid versions provide unlimited recovery capabilities. It can restore files from hard drives, external drives, memory cards, and other media. With an easy-to-use interface and advanced scanning tools, Recover It makes data recovery accessible to both personal and professional users. For its balance of power and price, Recover It delivers excellent value.
