Top 7 Best Free Data Recovery Software 2024

By
Дмитра Врачарић
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Source: handyrecovery.com

Ever found yourself desperately needing data recovery but not keen on shelling out cash? Well, you’re in luck. This article will guide you to the 7 best free data recovery software 2024. We’ll be discussing whether these tools promise value for your recovery needs. From pros and cons to supported operating systems, we’ve got a lowdown on each of them to recover your data, either for free or without burning a hole in your pocket. So, let’s begin, shall we?

Part 1: 7 Best Free Data Recovery Software 2024

1. Tenorshare 4DDiG

Topping our list is the 4DDiG Data Recovery software, which can rescue your data from various data loss situations like formatting, corruption, system crashes, and permanent deletion. It allows you to recover up to 100MB of data for free from internal and external devices, hard drives, local disks, and SD cards. You can also choose your targeted file types to recover and preview them for free during scanning and before recovery. This free data recovery software, Windows 11 2024 and Mac, offers many awesome features, such as:

Pros Cons
  • Recover 2000+ file types, including videos, audio, images, documents, etc.
  • Compatible with Windows 11 and macOS Sonoma and older versions.
  • 24/7 customer support and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
  • Simple setup process and user-friendly interface.
  • Fast scanning and impressive success rate.
  • Applies to all data loss scenarios.
  • Free recovery is limited to only 100MB.
  • Mixed performance on a corrupted drive.
  • Inability to repair files within the App.

Pricing:

  • Free version is available; The paid version is $29.78 per month.

Supported OS:

  • Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7
  • macOS Sonoma and older.

Here’s how to use this free data recovery software 2024 to recover lost or corrupted files:

Step 1: Install and launch the tool on your PC, select the local disk where you lost your data, then click “Start.” You can also pick target file types before scanning.

Step 2: The tool then searches the chosen drive for lost or corrupted data, allowing you to pause or stop the scan at any point. You can also preview categories like Deleted Files, Lost Location, RAW Files, etc. Or change to File View to check specific file types. Use search filters to look for targeted files.

Step 3: Once they are found, preview and press “Recover” to retrieve them to a safe location. Avoid saving to the same partition to prevent disk overwriting and permanent data loss.

2. OnTrack EasyRecovery

OnTrack is another free data recovery software Mac 2024 and Windows, providing comprehensive solutions for diverse recovery needs. Beyond retrieving data from SSDs, this free data recovery software 2024 can recover files from CDs, DVDs, and cloud servers. Moreover, you can plan system scans, monitor drive health, and rebuild corrupt, damaged, or deleted drives as needed. The free version of this tool allows recovery of up to 1GB of data but also puts a cap on recovered file sizes at 25MB.

Pros Cons
  • Fast and thorough data recovery.
  • Can recover data from cloud servers and RAID setups.
  • Can save scan results.
  • Includes a secure-delete feature.
  • Supports various data loss scenarios.
  • Overpriced than its alternatives.
  • Freezes and crashes often.
  • Previews are limited to specific file formats.
  • Doesn’t support data recovery from crashed computers.
  • Incompatibility with latest OS, such as Windows 11 and macOS sonoma.

Pricing:

  • $99.99 Professional (Windows & Mac).

Supported OS:

  • Windows Vista and XP, 7, 8, 10, Mac OS, Linux, and Unix.

3. Glarysoft File Recovery Free

Glarysoft File Recovery, a robust free data recovery software for Windows 10 2024, is user-friendly and potent. It recovers up to 2 GB of data for free from DOS, Recycle Bin, and Windows Explorer with only a SHIFT key held down. This free unlimited data recovery software 2024 supports various Windows file systems, ensuring recovery for hard and floppy drives. Additionally, it excels in image recovery from cards like SmartMedia, CompactFlash, Secure Digital, and MultiMedia.

Pros Cons
  • User-friendly interface and easy to navigate.
  • Recover files in just two steps: Scan + Save.
  • Shows a preview of files before recovery.
  • Filters by name, date, size, and recovery state.
  • Recovers fragmented, compressed, and encrypted files.
  • Analyzes recovery options.
  • Recommends extra programs during installation.
  • No portable version is offered.
  • Doesn’t update frequently.
  • Doesn’t support Mac.
  • A recovery limit of 2 GB.

Pricing:

  • Pro Plan: $19.95/per week.

Supported OS:

  • Windows Vista, XP, 2000, 7, 8, 10, Vista, and 11.

 4. Recuva

Recuva, another go-to free data recovery software for Windows 10 2024, rescues your precious files effortlessly from Recycle bins, PCs, damaged and formatted drives, cameras, and more. This user-friendly free data recovery software, Windows 11 2024 retrieves 500+ file types, spanning photos, documents, and music with their filenames intact. Additionally, it offers secure and military-standard deletion if you want your data permanently gone.

Pros Cons
  • Provides a portable version as well.
  • No limitations on free recovery.
  • Pro version comes with disk imaging tools.
  • Offers quick and deep scan modes.
  • Suitable for users with limited technical knowledge.
  • Doesn’t recover all the filenames from formatted drives only from deleted ones.
  • Can’t pause the scan to preview the results.
  • The free version doesn’t receive updates.
  • The Recovery rate is unstable.
  • Not available for Mac system.

Pricing:

  • $24.95/1 year Professional.

Supported OS:

  • Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 7, Vista, and XP.

5. Restoration

Restoration, a straightforward free unlimited data recovery software 2024, prioritizes simplicity. Recovery is possible on different drive types, and it’s user-friendly without overwhelming features. This free data recovery software, Windows 11 2024, works like Windows’ built-in apps, ensuring ease of use without complex menus. No installation is needed, and its small 167 KB size makes it portable for on-the-go use.

Pros Cons
  • Can be used directly without installation.
  • Recovers multiple files simultaneously.
  • Lightweight, its file size is less than 500KB.
  • Limited to restoring individual files, not entire folders.
  • The interface is a bit outdated
  • Not available for Mac.
  • Not compatible with Windows 11, 10 or 8.
  • Haven’t updated in a long time.

Pricing:

  • Free of cost.

Supported OS:

  • Windows Vista, XP, and 7.

6. MiniTool Power Data Recovery

MiniTool is a free data recovery software Mac 2024 and is also available for Windows. It is a professional tool available for both home and business owners, supporting the recovery of 100+ file types. Moreover, it can retrieve data from a variety of storage, including CDs, DVDs, and IDE/SATA/SCSI hard drives, and can even load previous recovery results. You can use this free data recovery software for Windows 10 to retrieve up to 1GB of data for free or purchase it for advanced features.

Pros Cons
  • Can build WinPE bootable media.
  • Allows scanning of specific folders or locations for quicker results.
  • User-friendly interface.
  • Customer service support.
  • Restore data from lost or damaged partitions.
  • Complex preview process.
  • Limited file type and format support.
  • Takes too much time to scan the entire disk.
  • Only supports Windows OS.

Pricing:

  • The free version is downloadable, while the paid version is priced at $69 per month.

Supported OS:

  • Windows XP, 7, 8, 8.1, 10, 11.

7. TestDisk

TestDisk is the ultimate free unlimited data recovery software 2024 for Windows and Mac. This excellent tool offers a command line interface to rescue data from lost and deleted partitions and unbootable disks. Compatible with various memory types and operating systems, it reconstructs NTFS and FAT32 boot sectors, excelling in on-site recoveries. In addition, it can be used in conjunction with PhotoRec to offer a more comprehensive data recovery solution.

Pros Cons
  • Compatible with a wide range of files and OS support.
  • Recover damaged or lost partition tables and boot sectors.
  • Active user community.
  • Open source.
  • The command line interface is challenging for novices.
  • Users are required to have a certain level of understanding of disk structure and file systems.
  • Doesn’t provide in-depth recovery.

Pricing:

  • Free of cost.

Supported OS:

  • Windows, Mac, and Linux

Part 2: How Do We Test the Best Free Data Recovery Software 2024?

We took a thorough testing approach to aid users in making informed decisions about choosing the top free data recovery software 2024. Here’s what we considered during the testing of the free data recovery software:

  • User-Friendly Interface – We evaluated ease of use, considering interface simplicity and user learning curve, and also examined the availability of support or guides for users.
  • Scanning and Recovery Speed – We assessed the speed of both quick and deep scans, if available.
  • Free Preview – We checked if the software offers a free preview before recovery or if we could pause or stop the scan to check targeted files.
  • Recovery Performance – We tested the software’s ability to recover files (documents, photos, videos) in scenarios like accidental deletion or system crashes.
  • Compatibility – We checked compatibility with various Windows and Mac versions and hardware configurations and noted any specific limitations or requirements.
  • Additional Features – We explored extra features like file preview before recovery, deleting files securely, or the ability to overwrite deleted files.

Part 3: Comparison of the 7 Best Free Data Recovery Software 2024

Here’s a lowdown on the seven best free data recovery software 2024:

Software Supported OS Unique Features Free Recovery
Tenorshare 4DDiG Windows, Mac High success rate and simplicity Upto 100 MB
OnTrack EasyRecovery Windows, Mac, Linux, and Unix. Recover data from cloud servers and RAID setups Up to 1GB with 25 MB/each file.
Glarysoft File Recovery Free Windows Image recovery from SD cards Up to 2GB
Recuva Windows Provides a portable version No limitations
Restoration Windows Lightweight, portable and easy to use No limitations
MiniTool Power Data Recovery Windows, Mac Can build WinPE bootable media, support CD, DVD recovery. Up to 1GB
TestDisk Windows, Mac, and Linux Reconstruct MBR, inspect recovered partition images No limitations

Part 4: Practical Tips to Prevent Data Loss in the Future

In the earlier part, we covered free data recovery software 2024. Now, here’s a heads-up: you can actually do some things to dodge data loss down the road. Here are some practical tips to avoid it:

  • Back up files regularly to an external hard drive or cloud storage.
  • Run antivirus software to remove viruses and malware from your computer.
  • Keep software up-to-date with regular patches to defend against the latest threats.
  • Always Eject external drives before unplugging them.
  • Regularly check the health of your hard disk.
  • Prevent your storage media from power outages and surges by installing a UPS.

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