Losing important files on your Mac can be extremely frustrating. Thankfully, with the right data recovery software, you can restore deleted or lost files, photos, videos, documents, and more. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll discuss the top data recovery solutions for Mac to help you choose the best option for your needs and budget.
Best Overall: Disk Drill
Disk Drill is our top pick for best overall Mac data recovery software. This user-friendly app offers robust scanning and restores capabilities for deleted files and entire lost or corrupted partitions. Key features include:
- Recovers 200+ file types including documents, music, video, archives, and more
- Scans internal and external drives, USB devices, SD cards, etc.
- Easy to use interface and intuitive recovery wizard
- Powerful deep scanning to find lost data
- Supports HFS+, APFS, and other file systems
- Preview files before recovery
- Retains original file names, directory structure, metadata
Disk Drill has both free and paid Pro options available. The free version enables basic undelete and previewing lost files. The Pro version ($89.00) unlocks more advanced features like partition recovery, guaranteed recovery, and archiving recovered files.
Key Features
Here are some of the key features that make Disk Drill our top recommendation:
- Simple recovery process – Disk Drill guides you through the recovery process step-by-step to find lost files easily.
- Powerful scanning capabilities – Deep scanning can dig deep to recover files from formatted partitions or corrupted drives.
- Quick and deep scan options – Choose a quick scan for recently deleted files or a deep scan for more extensive file recovery.
- Recovers lost partitions – Disk Drill Pro can rebuild and restore partitions that have been deleted or lost.
- Protects data – The S.M.A.R.T. monitoring feature watches disk health to prevent data loss.
The combination of an intuitive interface, robust feature set, and advanced scanning makes Disk Drill the most comprehensive Mac data recovery solution for any data loss scenario.
Easiest to Use: EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard
For the most user-friendly Mac data recovery experience, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is a top choice. Highlights include:
- Very simple 3-step recovery process
- Recovers 150+ files types
- Preview files before recovery
- Filter scan results by file type and location
- Cloning feature for corrupted drive recovery
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard has Free and Pro versions. The Free version enables 2GB of data recovery, while the Pro ($89.95) unlocks unlimited data recovery.
Key Features
Here are some standout features of EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard:
- Minimal interface – Clean and uncluttered design makes the recovery process very straightforward.
- Built-in previews – Preview photos, documents, and other files before deciding to recover them.
- File filtering – Filter scan results by file types and location to quickly find target files.
- Cloning tools – Create clone drives to safely recover data from corrupted or unstable drives.
Overall, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard excels in its simplicity and is ideal for Mac users who want an easy, fast way to restore lost files.
Best for Advanced Users: Stellar Data Recovery
Stellar Data Recovery offers comprehensive features for experienced users looking to recover lost or deleted data on Mac devices. Key features include:
- Recovers 200+ file formats from hard drives and removable media
- Scans Time Machine, boot camp, and encrypted APFS drives
- Repairs and rebuilds damaged or corrupted file systems
- Creates disk images to bypass corrupted media
- Recovers data from Time Capsules and Time Machine backups
Stellar offers a Free version to preview recoverable files, along with paid Standard ($79.99) and Professional ($99.99) versions unlocking complete data recovery capabilities.
Key Features
Here are some of the advanced features in Stellar Data Recovery for experienced Mac users:
- Encrypted drive recovery – One of the few Mac data recovery apps that can restore data from encrypted APFS formats.
- Time Machine backup recovery – Scan and recover deleted files from Time Machine backups and connected Time Capsules.
- Repair tools – Fix corrupted partitions and rebuild damaged file systems, such as HFS+ or APFS.
- Disk imaging – Safely image drives to recover data from failing or unstable media.
Stellar Data Recovery excels at tackling complex data recovery scenarios like encrypted volumes, Time Machine backups, or severely corrupted drives.
Best Free Option: PhotoRec
If you need to recover files from Mac for free, PhotoRec is a great open-source option. Key features of PhotoRec include:
- 100% free with no limits on recoverable data
- Recovers photos, videos, documents, archives, and more
- Supports HFS, HFS+, EXT, NTFS, and other file systems
- Reads directly from disk to recover data from corrupted file systems
- Works with memory cards, USB flash drives, and other removable media
Since PhotoRec is free, open-source software, there are no paid upgrades or versions. However, the interface is dated and recovery is limited compared to paid solutions.
Key Features
Here are some key things that make PhotoRec a decent free file recovery option:
- File carving – Directly scans disk surface to extract recoverable files without using file system, ideal for corrupted media.
- Supports many file systems – Can recover data from HFS, HFS+, NTFS, FAT, EXT file systems commonly used on Mac and Windows.
- Portable app – No installation required, can run directly from a USB drive on any Mac.
- 100% free – Recover unlimited data and amount of files at no cost.
Overall, PhotoRec is the best free solution for Mac data recovery, despite having a dated interface and limited versatility versus paid software.
Comparison of Top Data Recovery Apps for Mac
To help summarize the top options we’ve covered, here is a comparison table of the main features for the best Mac data recovery software:
| App | Price | Ease of Use | Flexibility | Advanced Tools |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disk Drill | $89.00 Pro | Very Easy | Very High | Partition Recovery, Cloning, S.M.A.R.T. Monitoring |
| EaseUS | $89.95 Pro | Extremely Easy | High | File Preview, Cloning |
| Stellar | $79.99-$99.99 | Moderate | Very High | APFS Encryption, Time Machine Recovery, Repair Tools |
| PhotoRec | Free | Difficult | Moderate | No advanced tools |
As you can see, each Mac data recovery app has strengths in different areas, so consider which features are most important for your needs.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Data Recovery Software
There are several important factors to weigh when deciding the best data recovery software for your Mac.
Supported File Types
Make sure the app supports recovering the types of files you need to rescue, such as documents, media files, archives, and more.
Scanning Capabilities
Look for apps like Disk Drill that offer both quick and deep scanning options to detect recently deleted and older lost files.
Ease of Use
The app should make the recovery process simple and intuitive through features like recovery wizards, file previews, and clear organization of results.
Advanced Tools
Advanced users may require extras like partition recovery, disk cloning, Time Machine backup scanning, and bootable recovery drives.
Price
Paid apps offer full-featured recovery capabilities, while free tools like PhotoRec provide basic undelete utilities at no cost.
OS Compatibility
Make sure the app is fully compatible with your Mac’s operating system, such as Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey or Ventura.
Prioritizing these key factors will help you select the ideal data recovery solution for your specific situation and needs.
Top Data Recovery Software for Mac: Final Recommendations
Here are our top final recommendations for the best Mac data recovery software:
- Disk Drill – The most well-rounded recovery app with excellent usability and scanning tools. Our top overall recommendation.
- EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard – Extremely simple to use with fast undelete and file preview capabilities.
- Stellar Data Recovery – Robust recovery features for more advanced users and complex data loss scenarios.
- PhotoRec – The best free data recovery utility available, despite interface limitations.
Any of these excellent Mac data recovery solutions will restore your lost or deleted files. Be sure to back up your data regularly as well to avoid relying on recovery software as much as possible.
Conclusion
Recovering lost files and data on a Mac can seem daunting, but with the right software, the process is straightforward. The best Mac data recovery apps make it simple to quickly scan your device, preview recoverable files, and restore what you need with just a few clicks. Features like powerful scanning, file previews, and intuitive wizards deliver a seamless user experience.
For most Mac users, we recommend Disk Drill as the best overall option thanks to its ideal balance of user-friendliness and advanced tools for any recovery scenario. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is also excellent for quick, unfussy file recovery. And if you need free recovery, PhotoRec delivers respectable capabilities despite the lack of a polished interface. With the help of these superb Mac data recovery solutions, you can easily rescue your valuable documents, media, archives, and more when data loss strikes.