When we delete files from our computer to free up space, what we are actually doing is deleting the path to these blocks of information, but we are not, in most cases, deleting those blocks themselves absolutely and permanently.
What is data recovery software
All the files that are on our computer, whatever type they are, are composed of storage units in turn composed of blocks of information (ones and zeros) and an access path to that information.
Our computer, or any device with data storage, can read and modify those files and interpret the information it stores to also know which software can be used to open them.
What a data recovery software essentially does is to create that path to those blocks of information in order to be able to access them again. Some of these software are focused on the recovery of a specific type of file or the total recovery, even when we believe that we have lost them definitively.
Basic features of data recovery software
Although the most recommended when you want to make a complete and satisfactory data recovery is to go to a professional, if you choose to use data recovery software, you should look for the following features:
Multi-platform availability, which will allow you to be able to recover all data on various devices and with different operating systems.
Different data recovery options for faster or deeper searches depending on the type of files you want to recover.
Technical support and updates so that the software can be useful for a long time even with new technological advances.
Security options to protect your data from viruses, but also to make recovery easier in case of deletion.
An easy-to-use interface, regardless of the type of data recovery software it is, so that any user with no previous experience can get the results they need.
In any case you should always opt for software that has demonstrable experience in the market, regardless of its type, whether it is free or paid.
Top 10 best data recovery software
Below we have compiled some of the most reliable and popular data recovery software on the market, both for home and professional use, with both free and paid options.
1. DiskDrill Pro
This program is focused on recovering deleted data from hard drives. It is one of the most advanced and professional data recovery software on the market and supports a wide variety of file systems.
"DiskDrill Pro can read mechanical hard drives, USB flash drives, SD cards, SSD drives and any other type of data storage device."
If any trace of the deleted file is found inside your storage device, this software will find it without a problem. In addition, we can also pause and resume searches to change some parameters whenever we need to. DiskDrill Pro is compatible with both Mac and Windows, with a free version limited to 500 MB very suitable for individual users and several very interesting paid options for companies.
2. Stellar Data Recovery
Compatible with both PC and Mac, Stellar Data Recovery is one of the best data recovery solutions available today. It also has a feature that sets it apart from other software of this type, as we can send another data storage device to a physical lab if it is physically damaged so that a team of experts can personally recover the data, guaranteeing the chances of success.
"We can recover up to 1 GB of data completely free of charge, but if we need to expand this capacity we can opt for one of their paid plans."
It has an active and user-friendly interface so that it can be used by multiple users of any level, even those who have never previously used data recovery software.
3. Recuva
Recuva is a data recovery software that can find permanently deleted files and also does not take up space within the operating system as it is portable. It is a free software developed by Piriform and it only works with Windows, as well as with external storage devices, such as hard disks, USB, memory cards or MP3 players.
"Although it is a completely free software and we need some advanced options we can purchase a paid commercial license."
Recuva is a great option for both casual users and for companies or businesses that require these services on an ongoing basis, besides being an application with an installable version, but another portable so we will not have to overwrite the hard drive of our computer.
4. DiskDigger
The only drawback of this data recovery software is that, although it is free, it has quite a few limitations and every time we open the program a pop-up message appears that can be a bit annoying.
"DiskDigger has a $14.99 per person paid license with a core functionality to recover photos, videos, documents and other types of files and storage systems of all types, even if they have been formatted."
Although DiskDigger cannot operate on systems such as Android or iOS, if we can find an Android-specific application to recover data from the micro SD card or internal memory of the smartphone.
5. Undelete 360
Undelete 360 is one of the best software for recovering data deleted both by mistake and intentionally. It has an efficient and fast algorithm with which we can filter the search and find a list of matches of files deleted by other software by a virus, by ourselves or by a computer crash.
"Undelete 360 can also recover deleted files from external USB hard drives and memory cards, in addition to different devices. "
In addition to computers, this data recovery software also supports digital cameras, cell phones and other systems with a preview function to identify the file before recovering it. It is important to note that its scanning function is a bit slow when using it on large capacity storages.
6. Active File Recovery
Although this data recovery software is very similar to others analyzed in this list, what makes it stand out is that it is a cheaper option that instead of working with a paid subscription has a single payment license.
"Before installing it on our computer, we can consult the system requirements to be able to use this software, as well as a user guide to be able to get the most out of it."
Another of Active File Recovery's strengths is that it has a dual search engine, Quickscan and Superscan, which allows the person using it to narrow down the search based on the time they have available and their goals, but both are so effective that they work even when Windows is not booting. Like other data recovery software, it supports a wide range of file types and storage systems.
7. Pandora Recovery
One of the reasons why this data recovery software is so popular is because it is a portable program so it does not take up storage space on your computer's hard drive.
"Although Pandora Recovery is still operational, from its own website they warn us that DisckDrill is going to inherit its functionalities and definitely take its place in the data recovery market."
Another of Pandora Data Recovery's outstanding features is that it has a very simple and visual interface, in addition to a file preview function before recovering them and an encrypted file recovery option.
8. Restoration
This small software earns a place in this list for its simplicity both in installation and in getting started. It has a single window from which we have all the tools available to recover data, so it is very easy to learn to use and it is also free.
"Restoration is perfect for recovering files from both internal and external hard drives, but also from other storage devices such as memory cards."
It is important to note that it is a software in English and exclusively for Windows XP version onwards, although some failures have been detected in Windows 8. Its scanning system is very simple and effective.
9. EaseUS
EaseUS uses three simple steps for data recovery: we set the type of data we want to recover, select the location, preview among the different files that have appeared in a list and recover exactly the one we need.
"This data recovery software is the result of the company's 12 years of experience, where if the user needs additional recovery capabilities, the developer himself offers an upgrade to the full version."
This software is compatible with Windows and Mac, as well as having an interface that is very similar to the Windows Explorer that many users are accustomed to and makes it very easy to use.
10. Any Data Recovery
Compatible with the main file systems (FAT, NTFS, HFS and APFS), Any Data Recovery is the favorite choice of many users. In addition to having a very clean and easy-to-use interface, it supports the search for more than 1,000 file types, as well as having a function to preview from a list all the files found and recover exactly the one we were looking for.
"Unlike other data recovery software, it does not have a free version, but it does have different paid licenses ranging from $35 to $45 compatible with different devices and operating systems."
One of the strengths of Any Data Recovery is that it is compatible with Mac and Windows, but also for Android and iOS. In addition to recovering data from computers and also from external storage devices.
What is data recovery software
All the files that are on our computer, whatever type they are, are composed of storage units in turn composed of blocks of information (ones and zeros) and an access path to that information.
Our computer, or any device with data storage, can read and modify those files and interpret the information it stores to also know which software can be used to open them.
What a data recovery software essentially does is to create that path to those blocks of information in order to be able to access them again. Some of these software are focused on the recovery of a specific type of file or the total recovery, even when we believe that we have lost them definitively.
Basic features of data recovery software
Although the most recommended when you want to make a complete and satisfactory data recovery is to go to a professional, if you choose to use data recovery software, you should look for the following features:
Multi-platform availability, which will allow you to be able to recover all data on various devices and with different operating systems.
Different data recovery options for faster or deeper searches depending on the type of files you want to recover.
Technical support and updates so that the software can be useful for a long time even with new technological advances.
Security options to protect your data from viruses, but also to make recovery easier in case of deletion.
An easy-to-use interface, regardless of the type of data recovery software it is, so that any user with no previous experience can get the results they need.
In any case you should always opt for software that has demonstrable experience in the market, regardless of its type, whether it is free or paid.
Top 10 best data recovery software
Below we have compiled some of the most reliable and popular data recovery software on the market, both for home and professional use, with both free and paid options.
1. DiskDrill Pro
This program is focused on recovering deleted data from hard drives. It is one of the most advanced and professional data recovery software on the market and supports a wide variety of file systems.
"DiskDrill Pro can read mechanical hard drives, USB flash drives, SD cards, SSD drives and any other type of data storage device."
If any trace of the deleted file is found inside your storage device, this software will find it without a problem. In addition, we can also pause and resume searches to change some parameters whenever we need to. DiskDrill Pro is compatible with both Mac and Windows, with a free version limited to 500 MB very suitable for individual users and several very interesting paid options for companies.
2. Stellar Data Recovery
Compatible with both PC and Mac, Stellar Data Recovery is one of the best data recovery solutions available today. It also has a feature that sets it apart from other software of this type, as we can send another data storage device to a physical lab if it is physically damaged so that a team of experts can personally recover the data, guaranteeing the chances of success.
"We can recover up to 1 GB of data completely free of charge, but if we need to expand this capacity we can opt for one of their paid plans."
It has an active and user-friendly interface so that it can be used by multiple users of any level, even those who have never previously used data recovery software.
3. Recuva
Recuva is a data recovery software that can find permanently deleted files and also does not take up space within the operating system as it is portable. It is a free software developed by Piriform and it only works with Windows, as well as with external storage devices, such as hard disks, USB, memory cards or MP3 players.
"Although it is a completely free software and we need some advanced options we can purchase a paid commercial license."
Recuva is a great option for both casual users and for companies or businesses that require these services on an ongoing basis, besides being an application with an installable version, but another portable so we will not have to overwrite the hard drive of our computer.
4. DiskDigger
The only drawback of this data recovery software is that, although it is free, it has quite a few limitations and every time we open the program a pop-up message appears that can be a bit annoying.
"DiskDigger has a $14.99 per person paid license with a core functionality to recover photos, videos, documents and other types of files and storage systems of all types, even if they have been formatted."
Although DiskDigger cannot operate on systems such as Android or iOS, if we can find an Android-specific application to recover data from the micro SD card or internal memory of the smartphone.
5. Undelete 360
Undelete 360 is one of the best software for recovering data deleted both by mistake and intentionally. It has an efficient and fast algorithm with which we can filter the search and find a list of matches of files deleted by other software by a virus, by ourselves or by a computer crash.
"Undelete 360 can also recover deleted files from external USB hard drives and memory cards, in addition to different devices. "
In addition to computers, this data recovery software also supports digital cameras, cell phones and other systems with a preview function to identify the file before recovering it. It is important to note that its scanning function is a bit slow when using it on large capacity storages.
6. Active File Recovery
Although this data recovery software is very similar to others analyzed in this list, what makes it stand out is that it is a cheaper option that instead of working with a paid subscription has a single payment license.
"Before installing it on our computer, we can consult the system requirements to be able to use this software, as well as a user guide to be able to get the most out of it."
Another of Active File Recovery's strengths is that it has a dual search engine, Quickscan and Superscan, which allows the person using it to narrow down the search based on the time they have available and their goals, but both are so effective that they work even when Windows is not booting. Like other data recovery software, it supports a wide range of file types and storage systems.
7. Pandora Recovery
One of the reasons why this data recovery software is so popular is because it is a portable program so it does not take up storage space on your computer's hard drive.
"Although Pandora Recovery is still operational, from its own website they warn us that DisckDrill is going to inherit its functionalities and definitely take its place in the data recovery market."
Another of Pandora Data Recovery's outstanding features is that it has a very simple and visual interface, in addition to a file preview function before recovering them and an encrypted file recovery option.
8. Restoration
This small software earns a place in this list for its simplicity both in installation and in getting started. It has a single window from which we have all the tools available to recover data, so it is very easy to learn to use and it is also free.
"Restoration is perfect for recovering files from both internal and external hard drives, but also from other storage devices such as memory cards."
It is important to note that it is a software in English and exclusively for Windows XP version onwards, although some failures have been detected in Windows 8. Its scanning system is very simple and effective.
9. EaseUS
EaseUS uses three simple steps for data recovery: we set the type of data we want to recover, select the location, preview among the different files that have appeared in a list and recover exactly the one we need.
"This data recovery software is the result of the company's 12 years of experience, where if the user needs additional recovery capabilities, the developer himself offers an upgrade to the full version."
This software is compatible with Windows and Mac, as well as having an interface that is very similar to the Windows Explorer that many users are accustomed to and makes it very easy to use.
10. Any Data Recovery
Compatible with the main file systems (FAT, NTFS, HFS and APFS), Any Data Recovery is the favorite choice of many users. In addition to having a very clean and easy-to-use interface, it supports the search for more than 1,000 file types, as well as having a function to preview from a list all the files found and recover exactly the one we were looking for.
"Unlike other data recovery software, it does not have a free version, but it does have different paid licenses ranging from $35 to $45 compatible with different devices and operating systems."
One of the strengths of Any Data Recovery is that it is compatible with Mac and Windows, but also for Android and iOS. In addition to recovering data from computers and also from external storage devices.