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5 Best Mac Data Recovery Software [2024 Updated]

author Emily Watson
date Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Although MacBook's built-in solid-state drive and iCloud provide physical and cloud-based means to prevent data loss, unexpected situations can still occur due to improper personal use. However, there is no need to fret, as a range of powerful Mac data recovery software is available to help you retrieve lost files. To make it easier for you, we have selected 5 of the best data recovery software on Mac in this post. With strong recovery capabilities, these tools can help you regain access to your files in no time. Now, let's scroll down and dive in!

Mac Data Recovery Software

What Makes the Best Mac Data Recovery Software

Before delving deeper into the 5 best Mac data recovery software options, please be aware that the software's compatibility and ease of use are also important in addition to its recovery capabilities. Better, the selected software should offer a free trial for performance tests. For detailed guidance, refer to the selection criteria in the table below.

Importance Criteria Details
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Success Rate
  • Recover file data from the local disk as well as from external drives;
  • Support as many file types and formats recovery as possible;
  • Versatile to handle various scenarios, be it accidental deletion, device damage, or virus intrusion.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Recovery Speed
  • Feature flexible scanning modes for comprehensive results;
  • Filter scan results to quickly locate the desired files for recovery;
  • Support one-click quick data recovery.
⭐⭐⭐ Ease of Use
  • Ensure a clear and concise interface;
  • Easy to start without redundant features;
  • Allow file preview for selective and partial recovery.
⭐⭐⭐ Pricing
  • Offer reasonable pricing for both individuals and groups;
  • Provide a free trial for performance testing.
⭐⭐ Compatibility
  • Cover older and latest Mac models and macOS versions;
  • Support Mac devices with Apple Silicon.

The following data recovery software for Mac, while having slight variations in specific operations and features, all meet these selection criteria. Simply consider your needs and scroll through, you can undoubtedly choose the recovery tool that is most right for your iMac device.

No.1 FonePaw Mac Data Recovery

FonePaw Mac Data Recovery is a premier choice among Mac data recovery software. Compatible with almost all macOS versions, this top-notch program can recover deleted files on Mac with over 1000 file types. And it offers both quick scan and deep scan options, balancing recovery efficiency and success rates.

What's more impressive is its capability to retrieve lost files from USB drives and SD cards, making it a versatile tool for Mac pen drive data recovery and Mac SD card data recovery. Despite being all-purpose, its subscription price is remarkably affordable, at only $62.97 for a lifetime license.

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Highlighted Features of FonePaw Mac Data Recovery
  • Recover APFS and HFS+ files on macOS 10.7 and newer
  • Support recovery from SD cards, Flash Drives, and other removable drives;
  • Preview files before recovery for targeted retrieval and efficient use of space;
  • Filter search results and recover files in their original formats and quality;
  • Ensure secure operations with no risk of privacy breaches;
  • Offer a free trial lasting up to 30 days for performance testing.

Notably, FonePaw Mac Data Recovery is easy to grasp. Only three simple steps can you recover lost or permanently deleted files from your MacBook. Just follow the process below to give it a try.

Step 1. Install FonePaw Data Recovery

Install FonePaw Data Recovery first by tapping the button below. Then launch it on your computer.

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Step 2. Check File Types and Disk Drives

Enable the checkbox of image, audio, email, or other deleted file types you want to recover on your Macbook. Next, select the drive where the file was previously stored. If it's a removable drive, connect it to this software for recognition.

Select File Type and Drive

Step 3. Scan and Recover Deleted Files

Hit "Scan" to find the deleted files. If "Quick Scan" doesn't display matching options, try "Deep Scan" again. Then, use "Filter" to quickly locate your wanted files and preview them. Finally, just click "Recover" in the bottom right corner to bring back these files.

Mac Data Recovery

No.2 Disk Drill

For relatively specialized data recovery software on Mac, try Disk Drill. Although it covers just over 400 file types, its success rate is commendable. Disk Drill goes beyond deep scanning local drives, It also analyzes Time Machine backup disks and scans local Time Machine snapshots to increase the recovery chances of permanently deleted files. Meanwhile, it supports recovery for iOS and iPadOS devices.

However, by the same token, Disk Drill has a somewhat complex interface, and all the mentioned features come at $79. For enterprise usage, the price goes up to $499. While a free Mac data recovery version is available, the major feature is limited to using the recovery vault to prevent data loss. As for Mac data recovery, it only allows you to preview files without recovery capability.

Disk Drill

No.3 EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

Compatible with macOS 14 Sonoma, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard can recover deleted or lost file data from emptied trash, disks, and external removable drives. Moreover, it supports sending recovered data to cloud storage spaces like Dropbox, OneDrive, iCloud, etc. If you encounter any challenges during the file recovery process, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard can offer remote IT support with a subscription.

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard also provides free Mac data recovery services but with a maximum recovery limit of 2GB. For multimedia files such as audio and video, this capacity can be quickly exhausted, making it unsuitable as a long-term tool. Keeping this in mind, EaseUS has introduced Pro and Technician subscription plans. The former is priced at $89.95, and the latter has remote assistance but costs $299.

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

No.4 Stellar Data Recovery

As one of the best Mac data recovery software, Stellar Data Recovery can recover documents, audio, video, emails, and more. It is also worth trying if you want to recover lost or deleted files from FileVault encrypted storage medium. Meanwhile, Stellar supports both quick and deep scans to optimize the success rate of file recovery. An outstanding feature is its ability to recover data from malfunctioning or sector-troubled storage drives through disk imaging.

However, Stellar Data Recovery's subscription plans are very complicated. Only Free, Professional, Premium, and Technician are recommended. The free Mac data recovery version of Stellar can preview and recover files, but the success rate is not very good. The pricing for the other three plans is not budget-friendly, with Professional, Premium, and Technician priced at $149, $199, and $399, respectively. The latter two differ from Professional only in that they can repair damaged videos and photos.

Stellar Data Recovery

No.5 IUWEshare Mac Data Recovery Wizard

The final recommendation for Mac data recovery is IUWEshare Mac Data Recovery Wizard. It has a somewhat old-school feel as it operates on OS X Yosemite, Mac OS X 10.9, 10.8, 10.7, and 10.6. Despite this limitation, it handles file preview and recovery from both internal and external drives with ease. Moreover, all files are recovered in their original quality and format.

IUWEshare also offers a freeware called Mac Free Data Recovery. This desktop tool is capable of recovering various file data but lacks an intuitive preview feature. Therefore, for targeted recovery, it's advisable to opt for IUWEshare Mac Data Recovery Wizard, priced at $59.99.

IUWEshare Mac Data Recovery Wizard

Final Verdict

That's all about the top five Mac data recovery software options. While IUWEshare is a bit dated, it still caters to basic data recovery needs. If you're up for professional and intricate recovery features, select Disk Drill, EaseUS, and Stellar Data Recovery. However, their interfaces are not intuitive, and subscriptions can be a burden for personal use.

Therefore, this article prioritizes FonePaw Mac Data Recovery. This all-in-one software is budget-friendly and offers comprehensive data recovery capabilities. Give it a try, and whether it's your MacBook's local disk or an external drive, files can be successfully recovered.

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