The 19 Best Free Data Recovery Software Tools of 2025
Data loss happens to everyone—but it doesn’t have to be permanent.
Whether it’s an accidental deletion or a corrupted drive, the right free data recovery software can help you retrieve photos, videos, documents, and more.
- These tools work on internal drives, USB sticks, memory cards, and even CDs or iPods.
- It’s smart to install recovery software before you need it, increasing your chances of successful file restoration.
Our Top Pick: Recuva
Recuva is the most reliable and user-friendly data recovery tool available for free.
It supports recovery from hard drives, flash drives, optical media, and even MP3 players.
- The wizard mode makes it easy for beginners, while advanced users can dig into extra settings.
- It runs on all major versions of Windows, including Windows 11, and has a quick scan and deep scan feature.
- While updates are infrequent, its performance remains strong.
Recommended for: Quick recovery with minimal setup.
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard
EaseUS blends power with simplicity for efficient file recovery.
Its interface resembles File Explorer, making it instantly familiar to most users.
- It supports Windows, macOS, and can recover files from iOS devices, cameras, and memory cards.
- The ability to sort, preview, and pause scans adds usability.
- A free limit of 2 GB (or 512 MB without sharing) is its main drawback.
Recommended for: Those needing intuitive navigation and solid cross-platform support.
Wise Data Recovery
Wise Data Recovery offers a fast, no-fuss recovery solution.
Its speed stands out, especially with USB drives and memory cards.
- Available in both installable and portable versions, it’s great for on-the-go use.
- Unfortunately, the free version only allows 2 GB of recovery and lacks recovery quality indicators.
Recommended for: Portable use and users who need speed over depth.
Disk Drill
Disk Drill offers deep scanning with a modern interface.
It organizes deleted data by type and date, making browsing easy.
- With support for virtually all file systems, it’s highly versatile.
- Limits recovery to 500 MB for free and requires installation, which can overwrite lost data.
Recommended for: Structured recovery with visual feedback.
Glarysoft File Recovery Free
Glarysoft’s tool is easy to use and supports flexible filters.
It scans for deleted files quickly and allows recovery before a scan completes.
- You can filter results by size, date, keyword, and even customize categories.
- Its downside is a 2 GB recovery limit and the attempt to bundle extra software during setup.
Recommended for: Lightweight recovery with real-time file selection.
Windows File Recovery
Microsoft’s own recovery tool is powerful but text-based.
It requires you to use command-line prompts, which might intimidate casual users.
- Supports recovery from SD cards, internal and external drives, and works only on Windows 10 and 11.
- Files must be restored to a different drive than they were recovered from.
Recommended for: Advanced users and Windows power users.
iBoysoft Data Recovery Free
iBoysoft provides a clean, wizard-driven recovery interface.
It supports previewing files and allows results to be saved for later use.
- However, it limits recovery to 1 GB, lacks a portable version, and doesn’t show file health.
Recommended for: Lightweight users who prefer a clean interface.
MiniTool Power Data Recovery
MiniTool is sleek and efficient, recovering files from a wide array of devices.
It supports undeleting from Recycle Bin, desktops, USBs, and more.
- A 1 GB limit, lack of portability, and the risk of overwriting deleted files during install are key issues.
Recommended for: Recovering smaller amounts of data with ease.
Puran File Recovery
Puran identifies more files than most tools and supports lost partitions.
It supports both FAT and NTFS file systems and has a portable version.
- The UI feels outdated, and it’s only free for home use, but performance is solid.
Recommended for: Deep scans and recovery from partially lost drives.
iBeesoft Data Recovery Free
iBeesoft shines for beginners with a clear, category-based interface.
You can filter by file type, name, or size, and preview files up to 100 MB.
- The free version caps out at 2 GB, and file restoration lacks original folder placement.
Recommended for: Casual users and simple recovery scenarios.
iCare Data Recovery Free
iCare stands out for its thumbnail previews and wide format support.
You can toggle between a quick scan and deep scan, and use a portable version.
- It lacks scan pause/resume and looks dated, but it delivers solid results.
Recommended for: Preview-first recovery and flexible scanning.
CD Recovery Toolbox
CD Recovery Toolbox focuses only on damaged discs.
It’s built to recover data from scratched or corrupted CDs, DVDs, and Blu-Rays.
- It won’t help with hard drives or USBs, but works well on older optical media.
Recommended for: Optical disc recovery.
Orion File Recovery Software
Orion combines recovery with data wiping.
It scans multiple device types and displays the recovery potential of each file.
- However, it may try to install extra software during setup.
Recommended for: Users needing both recovery and secure deletion.
ADRC Data Recovery Tools
ADRC is minimalistic and super lightweight.
It’s portable, easy to use, and recovers from most non-disc devices.
- Outdated UI and limited OS support (Windows XP and older) restrict its modern usability.
Recommended for: Legacy systems and quick, no-install recovery.
Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition
Stellar’s free tool uses a wizard-based interface for simplicity.
It supports previewing during scans and can save sessions for later recovery.
- Limited to 1 GB, with a max file size of 25 MB, and has no portable mode.
Recommended for: Recovering small documents or photos.
SoftPerfect File Recovery
SoftPerfect is compact and incredibly easy to use.
It supports batch restoration, extension-based search, and is fully portable.
- However, it’s discontinued and doesn’t show recovery likelihood.
Recommended for: Quick jobs and use from flash drives.
PhotoRec
PhotoRec is powerful but lacks a graphical interface.
It recovers from any file system and supports Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- It’s not user-friendly and tends to restore all files, not just selected ones.
Recommended for: Advanced users and tech-savvy recoveries.
UndeleteMyFiles Pro
UndeleteMyFiles Pro is feature-rich despite the misleading name.
It includes an Emergency Disk Image option for safer recovery and supports search by attributes.
- It may not work well on newer Windows versions, and doesn’t show file recoverability.
Recommended for: Building system snapshots before recovery.
Restoration
Restoration offers one of the simplest interfaces out there.
It’s portable, lightweight, and can sort deleted files easily.
- It lacks folder-wide recovery and doesn’t show file health status.
Recommended for: Fast recovery of individual files.
Why These Programs?
Only true freeware made this list—no limited-time trials or freemium traps.
Each tool can recover a wide range of file types without forcing you to pay for basic features.
- Tools are chosen for their balance of ease of use, performance, and data support.
