Accidentally deleted important files on my Mac, and I desperately need to recover them. Looking for reliable recovery software options available for Mac users. Any recommendations?
Top Data Recovery Software for Mac and Windows: Free & Paid Options
Losing important files can be a nightmare, whether itâs due to accidental deletion, corruption, or hardware malfunction. Below is a definitive guide to the best tools available for recovering lost data across Mac and Windows platforms, offering both free and paid options.
1. Disk Drill (For Mac & Windows)
Why Youâll Love It:
Disk Drill stands out due to its intuitive design and robust features, making it ideal for beginners while still powerful enough for professionals.
Pros:
User-friendly interface that simplifies recovery.- Capable of retrieving over 400 file types.
- Offers Recovery Vault for safeguarding files ahead of time.
- Free up to 500MB recovery on Windows.
Cons:
- â Macâs free version is limited to file previews.
- â Deep scans can be quite time-consuming.
- â Full recovery requires purchasing a license.
Verdict: An excellent choice blending ease of use and advanced functionality. Great for routine use and tackling more severe data loss.
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YouTube Overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGEizr1WZ3E
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2. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard (For Mac & Windows)
Why Itâs a Top Pick:
EaseUS boasts simplicity with a 3-step wizard, making complex recoveries remarkably straightforward.
Pros:
- Fast recovery in just three steps.
- AI-powered deep scan for locating hard-to-find files.
- Free version retrieves up to 2GB of data.
- Excellent for retrieving lost partitions and RAW files.
Cons:
- â The free recovery maximum can feel limiting for larger files.
- â Deep scanning may take a considerable amount of time.
- â Most advanced features are locked behind the paid edition.
Verdict: Perfect for casual recoveries, reliable, and hassle-free for a range of tasks.
3. Recuva (Windows Only)
Best for Budget-Conscious Users:
If youâre looking for a completely free Windows solution, Recuva delivers.
Pros:
- Unlimited file recovery without any hidden costs.
- Amazingly lightweight and quick to run.
- Available as a portable program â no installation needed.
Cons:
- â Exclusively for Windows, no support for Mac users.
- â Lacks more robust recovery features.
- â Can struggle with files located on severely damaged drives.
Verdict: The go-to free option for simple Windows-based recoveries.
4. Stellar Data Recovery (For Mac & Windows)
Exceptional for Professionals:
Stellar enhances regular recovery tools with options to repair photos, videos, and emails.
Pros:
- Handles file recovery across numerous formats and devices.
- Free version retrieves up to 1GB of data.
- High success rate in restoring files.
Cons:
- â Free tier capped at 1GB.
- â Slower speeds during in-depth scanning.
- â Higher-tier licenses are costly but unlock better capabilities.
Verdict: A multifaceted solution fit for highly specific recovery needs.
5. TestDisk & PhotoRec (Free, Open-Source, For Mac & Windows)
What Makes It Unique:
Open-source and utterly free, TestDisk and PhotoRec cater to advanced users who arenât daunted by command-line tools.
Pros:
- No cost & completely open-source for transparency.
- Effective with partition recovery and intensive scanning.
- Operates across many platforms.
Cons:
- â Not recommended for beginners due to lack of graphical interface.
- â Learning its functionality requires time and patience.
Verdict: A phenomenal, sophisticated tool for tech-savvy individuals.
6. R-Studio (For Mac & Windows)
Paving the Way for Professionals:
With features like RAID recovery and network support, R-Studio is the ultimate weapon for IT specialists.
Pros:
- Among the most powerful tools on the market.
- Handles RAID and remote server recoveries.
- Compatible with numerous file systems.
Cons:
- â The interface is intricate, requiring expertise.
- â Doesnât have a free version offering meaningful recovery solutions.
Verdict: Tailored for experienced professionals needing maximum efficiency.
7. Wondershare Recoverit (For Mac & Windows)
Why Itâs a Fan Favorite:
Perfectly bridges ease of use and unique video-repair capabilities.
Pros:
- Clean, straightforward interface.
- Supports recovery for over 1,000 file formats.
- Specialized options for fixing corrupted videos.
Cons:
- â Free tier restricted to 500MB recovery.
- â Deep scans may slow your workflow.
Verdict: Excellent for recovering multimedia files quickly.
8. Ontrack EasyRecovery (For Mac & Windows)
Trusted by Experts:
Highly recommended for its reliability and inclusivity of advanced recovery options.
Pros:
- Designed for professional-grade recovery.
- Free tier recovers up to 1GB (individual files capped at 25MB).
- Features RAID and email recovery on higher-tier plans.
Cons:
- â Free version limits per file size.
- â Premium licenses can be expensive.
Verdict: A dependable option for critical data restoration.
9. Prosoft Data Rescue (For Mac & Windows)
Why It Stands Out:
This software provides powerful recovery algorithms and is a favorite among Mac users.
Pros:
- Extracts data even from damaged drives with its cloning feature.
- Accurate, deep recovery capabilities.
- Tailored for macOS users.
Cons:
- â Operates on a pay-per-recovery model, which can confuse some users.
- â Lacks a lifetime purchase option.
Verdict: The sophisticated choice for intensive recovery efforts.
10. MiniTool Power Data Recovery (Windows Only)
Straightforward & Free:
MiniTool gets the job done for casual users who donât need advanced features.
Pros:
- Intuitive design ideal for less tech-savvy users.
- Free recovery up to 1GB.
- Best suited to small, everyday data retrieval needs.
Cons:
- â Exclusively built for Windows machines.
- â Limited usability for more complicated recovery projects.
Verdict: Best suited for addressing minimal data loss on Windows.
Final Thoughts
Hereâs a quick breakdown to guide you toward the right tool:
- For Beginners: Disk Drill, EaseUS, Wondershare Recoverit
- For Free Recovery: Recuva (Windows), TestDisk (Mac & Windows)
- For Professionals: R-Studio, Disk Drill, Ontrack, Prosoft Data Rescue
- For Video Recovery: Wondershare Recoverit, Disk Drill
Pro Tip:
Start with a free software for minor issues. For more extensive or critical recovery, a paid tool may be essential to ensure success.
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Honestly, Disk Drill is probably the best shot for Mac users. Itâs super user-friendly but packs enough power to handle some intense file recoveries. The fact that it supports over 400 file types is a lifesaver, especially if youâre unsure of what you lost. Sure, the free version wonât let you actually recover files (only preview them), which feels a bit like dangling the carrot, but once you pay for the license, youâre set for most scenarios. Deep scans can take a hot minute though, so bring your patience.
But hey, if youâre feeling stingy with your wallet, you could try something like TestDiskâitâs free and open-source. The only catch is itâs not for the faint of heart, as thereâs no shiny UI. If youâre okay with some command-line tomfoolery, itâs solid.
I saw @mikeappsreviewer mentioned EaseUS, which is also decentâbut the free tier caps you at 2GB, which might not cut it for bigger recoveries. And Stellar? Yeah, itâs good but can be slow at times, not ideal if youâre in a hurry. In all fairness, Disk Drill seems like the sweet spot for balancing ease of use and functionality for Mac users without needing to overthink things. Just make sure you stop using the disk youâre recovering from to avoid overwriting your lost files. And uh, maybe back up your stuff next time? 
Okay, Iâm gonna get straight to the point: Disk Drill is probably your safest bet for recovering files on Mac. I know @mikeappsreviewer and @mike34 already covered it in detail, but let me add my two cents. Yeah, itâs not perfect (that free version limitation to just file previews is annoying), but honestly? Itâs super easy to use and supports a ton of file types â over 400, which is bananas. If what you deleted wasnât overwritten, Disk Drill has a solid shot at bringing it back. Just donât expect miracles with deep scans; they can feel like watching paint dry.
For the budget-conscious crowd, TestDisk is worth a look, but you better be okay with going old-school command-line. Itâs open-source and free, which is great if youâre tech-savvy, but if staring at a bunch of text lines on a black screen makes you break out in a cold sweat, steer clear.
I saw someone suggest EaseUS, but if your files are over 2GB, their free version is gonna feel like a sad tease. Stellarâs another good contender, but heads up, it can take its sweet time and tends to lean on the expensive side if you want all the bells and whistles.
If I were you, Iâd first try Disk Drill for the preview. If it finds your files, then cough up the for the license because itâs a solid investment. Oh, and for the love of all things tech, stop using the drive youâre trying to recover from! Writing new data on it significantly reduces the chance of recovery. Honestly, at this point, you need to treat that disk like itâs a glass of water on your laptop â hands off!
Yo, I hope @brightstar88 managed to get your files back. Iâm kinda in the same boat right now but honestly, Iâm lost. Thereâs a ton of software names flying around here, and Iâve got no clue what to actually use.
I accidentally deleted a bunch of my college reports and I really need them back before Wednesday or Iâm toast. Maybe someone else will see this thread and help me out? Iâm lowkey freaking out here 
@Alex, hey, donât stress too much, youâve got time till Wednesday. Iâve been in your shoes before, and honestly, Disk Drill has always been my go-to data recovery software for macOS. For me itâs top of the top. Never failed me (well⊠unless I was dumb enough to overwrite the deleted stuff myself 
). Plus, that interface? Chefâs kiss. Everythingâs right there on the side panel, no need to dig through endless menus to find what you need. I see a lot of people complain that itâs paid, but come on, we live in a world where even Starbucks doesnât hand out free coffee. Quality tools cost a bit, and itâs worth it when your files are on the line.
But since you said youâre panicking, a quick reminder, check your Trash first! If it hasnât been emptied automatically in the last 30 days (or manually by you), your files might still be sitting there waiting for you. If theyâre gone, grab Disk Drill and go for it. You wonât regret it.
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Mind if I jump in and clear up a few things that no oneâs mentioned yet? Before you pick a recovery tool, you really need to consider what kind of storage your Mac uses, thatâs key.
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Older Macs had HDDs, and recovery on those is pretty straightforward. But newer Macs use SSDs, and when you delete files there, it triggers TRIM, which instantly wipes the data blocks. Once that happens, no recovery app in the world can bring those files back. So your speed matters, act fast if you just deleted something.
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Another factor: your chip type. If youâve got an M1âM4 or T2 chip, recovery gets tricky. Those chips encrypt data by default, and every disk has a unique encryption key tied to the hardware. That means recovery software canât just âreadâ your drive like on Intel Macs. I know for sure Disk Drill handles this properly, it works with Apple Silicon if you install their special extension (hereâs the link with the full guide; wonât overcomplicate it here or Iâll just confuse you). EaseUS has something similar, but personally I donât like how itâs implemented. Stellar, on the other hand, feels half scammy in this area (youâll see what I mean if you test it yourself).
I canât vouch for the rest, as testing every single app costs both time and money, and Iâve been using Disk Drill exclusively for the last few years. Zero complaints so far. Judging by the replies above, Iâm not the only fan here, so you can safely trust this one. Give it a shot, and good luck with those reports.
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Thanks so much @Brian and @Diana, really appreciate your help!
Sorry, I forgot to mention earlier that I deleted the files from an external hard drive I use with my Mac, so luckily I didnât need any special extension. Anyway, I decided to trust your advice and bought Disk Drill, and you were absolutely right, itâs hands down the best recovery software for Mac. I got all my reports back, and now I can actually focus on finishing the new ones instead of panicking .
Big thanks again to both of you for your time and help. Have an awesome day! 
Looks like the guys here already helped you out. Just a small tip for the future â always mention all the details of your case right away. If weâd known you were dealing with an external HDD, in some cases, you wouldnât have had to buy commercial data recovery software at all. PhotoRec couldâve done the job for free (or for a small donation to the devs, if you feel generous). For simple stuff like college reports, itâs more than enough.
Anyway, lesson learned, right? And one more thing, for anything you keep on your Macâs internal drive, make sure youâve got Time Machine backups set up. Absolute lifesaver. Saved me more than once.
@Ethan yeah, I actually googled every single app people mentioned here when I first joined this thread. While reading about TestDisk, I stumbled upon PhotoRec too. Looked it up on YouTube⊠and nope, thatâs definitely not my thing . Iâm not about to recover everything thatâs ever been on my hard drive and then spend hours digging through it just to find ten reports. I paid my hundred bucks and did it the easy way, picked only the .doc files I needed and boom, done.
So, thanks for the suggestion, but PhotoRecâs not for me. Iâve now got lifetime access to Disk Drill, and honestly, Iâm never switching. Iâll even recommend it to my kids someday if I have any 
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Oh, totally, PhotoRec can get the job done sometimes, no shade there. But itâs definitely not for everyone, both in how it looks and how it works. Still, letâs be honest, comparing it to modern commercial recovery tools is like comparing a flip phone to an iPhone. PhotoRecâs cool because itâs free, sure, but paid apps usually give you control, preview, structure, and way cleaner results. Iâll always stick with the pro tools. They save time, nerves, and donât make you guess which random file is the one you actually need.
Oh come on, did I just hurt your ego or something? Relax, I wasnât trying to start a âwhich tool is betterâ war here. Iâm not forcing anyone to use anything, just sharing what worked for me. Freemium tools (like Disk Drill) are great, no argument there, but it costs money. I simply mentioned a free alternative for those who might not want to spend $100 right away. Thatâs all.
Well, I mean⊠weâre literally in a thread called âWhatâs the best Mac file recovery software.â So comparisons are kind of unavoidable here.
I could sit and compare every single tool from the list above, but thereâs really no point, half of them are Windows-only anyway. And as I said earlier, I donât plan to waste time testing each one just for fun. On their promo sites, they all claim to be âthe best,â but when it comes to real-world cases, most of them fall flat fast.
Recovering data from system drives on Macs with M1-M4 chips is the perfect example. Thatâs where most recovery apps completely choke, except for Disk Drill, which actually works across all scenarios. Plus, itâs simple enough that even someone who just bought their first Mac and already managed to delete something can figure it out in minutes.
Iâm not trying to argue, really. I just shared my take for people who might want a free option. If the tool works for everyone, awesome, thatâs great. At the end of the day, the goalâs the same: get your data back and move on.
Haha, I can totally confirm - Disk Drill is one of the best software for Mac file recovery.
My little sister somehow managed to delete a bunch of important files that were on my system drive⊠and for some reason she also deleted them from the Trash (donât even ask how, this is the same kid who canât turn on YouTube without help). Anyway, I started looking for a solution, tried a few recovery programs (yeah, paid ones), but none of them could even find half of the lost files. Then I stumbled on Disk Drillâs website, and wow, theyâve got tons of guides and step-by-step tutorials there. I figured, why not, nothing to lose, so I bought it. As others said above, I had to install that special extension KEXT (not the easiest thing ever, but they have clear instructions, so I just opened them on my iPhone while doing the steps on my Mac). After scanning, boom Disk Drill found everything I needed.
Recovered it all and swore never to let my sister near my Mac again. But yeah, Disk Drillâs a total lifesaver. I recommend it to everyone now.
Oh God, guys , sorry for causing all this chaos with my question. Didnât mean to start a mini war in here!
Big thanks to everyone for the help and the patience. I really hope anyone who ends up on this thread later will have an easier time picking the right recovery app after reading all your advice. As for me, Disk Drill is the winner. Thatâs it. Iâm out. Peace 