Top 6 Best Open-Source Data Recovery Software

Value

As we mentioned earlier, PhotoRec is a completely free and open-source disk recovery software. Despite its lack of official development and only having a small number of volunteers updating it, PhotoRec still works with the latest operating systems and modern devices. It doesn’t do a lot but it does file signature scanning exceptionally well, which provides users with massive value.

Performance

PhotoRec is a one-trick pony. It lacks the advanced algorithms and features commonly found in data recovery software, like session management, file previews, and direct RAID support. However, we've confidently stated in the past that PhotoRec's file signature scanning tool can rival even commercial software.

PhotoRec recognizes a little under 500 file extensions (which is a LOT, even compared to premium tools). It can also scan and recover disk images, which is a feature that not all data recovery software offers.

Usability

PhotoRec’s original interface visually resembles Windows’s Command Prompt or Mac’s Terminal. You don’t need to type any commands, but you can only use your keyboard to “do stuff” like selecting your partition and initiating the scan. It looks awful, but it’s fairly straightforward.

When you download PhotoRec, you also download its GUI version QPhotoRec. This makes it easier to use the program but the interface looks old and has a lot of limitations. You can only set basic parameters like file system type and recovery destination. You can’t sort or preview your data and there are no scan prediction indicators.

And due to the nature of its scanning, PhotoRec recovers data in bulk and can’t extract file names and original folder structure.

Value

TestDisk is 100% free and open-source. As we mentioned in the PhotoRec section, TestDisk is not backed by official development. In fact, these tools are a 1-man project and are supported only by a handful of volunteers around the world. Yet, TestDisk remains one of the most recommended partition recovery tools today.

TestDisk is also a highly specialized tool that can solve a lot of problems as a result of rebuilding partitions. You won't find a lot of software like it, especially for free.

Performance

Like PhotoRec, TestDisk is a master of one. It's really good at recovering partitions, which solves data loss caused by a lost or damaged partition. However, it doesn't offer anything else outside of this feature. It can't scan by file signature or use other advanced algorithms that data recovery software usually offers.

It's basically a hammer only meant for nails. However, it works with all major operating systems and file systems, as well as common storage devices like external HDDs, SSDs, memory cards, and more.

Usability

Unfortunately, there is no alternative to TestDisk's command line-style interface. You can only use your keyboard to highlight and select the appropriate options for the task. However, the instructions are fairly straightforward and you can find a lot of guides online (even on the developer's own website).

Just make sure you look at the screen closely and select the correct disks and hit the right keys. You may end up permanently overwriting data on a completely different disk.

Value

As we previously mentioned, GNU ddrescue is in official development under the GNU Project. As such, it will remain free forever while being regularly updated by volunteers around the world. Despite this obstacle, the program fills a niche with the way it restores data.

GNU ddrescue has perfected a unique data recovery technique that you don't often find in other software (both free and paid) – we'll discuss this further in the Performance section. However, its user experience leaves much to be desired. It also doesn't offer much else in terms of recovery techniques, but it still gives a lot for a price tag of $0.

Performance

GNU ddrescue recovers your data by copying as much data as it can from the good areas of your disk while taking note of problematic areas. It then returns to those problematic areas with more aggressive algorithms to restore data.

If your drive has suffered data loss due to severe corruption or other logical damage, its conservative but persistent approach might be your best solution. GNU ddrescue is compatible with various file systems, including NTFS, FAT32, ExFAT, HFS+, ext2, ext3, and ext4.

Usability

GNU ddrescue is NOT user-friendly. If this is your first time trying to recover data, we suggest that you watch read a few articles and watch some Ubuntu tutorials on YouTube before jumping in. The good thing about GNU Project apps is that they usually have a lot of resources online… But you have to be willing to invest some time in learning.

Value

Like the other open-source file recovery tools we've reviewed so far, FreeRecover is 100% free. It's available for download in SourceForge. FreeRecover is a good tool for recovering deleted data from NTFS drives, but not much else. The developer has also not indicated any channels for official support, so you're on your own if you encounter any problems. But considering it costs $0, we're not mad about it.

It even has a native GUI, which is more than what we can say for other entries on this list. The fact that FreeRecover was last updated in 2017 heavily weighs down its value, but users have been leaving 5-star reviews up until 2020… So it may still be worth a download for some users.

Performance

While limited in its scope of capabilities, FreeRecover is good enough for recovering deleted files from NTFS drives – as long as the data hasn't been overwritten. In other words, it can only use Quick Scan mode, which is a type of data recovery scan that relies on file system metadata (like file name, size, and extension) to detect the presence of files.

While that’s super useful for recently deleted files, it lacks Deep Scan and Signature Scan modes that can bypass the file system and locate files using more advanced algorithms. If your file system is kaput, FreeRecover won’t be able to recover much data at all.

On the bright side, FreeRecover also attempts to retrieve the original file paths and analyzes the integrity of your deleted data. It can even display a preview of your files, which is a feature you can usually find in premium/freemium data recovery software.

Usability

FreeRecover is not the prettiest data recovery software out there, but we have to reiterate that most open-source tools don't even provide GUIs. FreeRecover's user experience is also decent because the interface makes each function super clear. Users won't struggle to figure out what to do next.

Value

Kickass Undelete is freeware and lacks official development. It also only functions as an undeleter and doesn't offer other recovery options. Despite its limitations, it does its one job really well in terms of performance and user experience. The developer gave us a lot for free and over 17,000 users have downloaded the app.

Performance

As we mentioned in the Pros and Cons section, Kickass Undelete only supports NTFS and FAT file systems. However, it does support different types of storage devices, including hard drives, memory cards, and USB pen drives. Like FreeRecover, Kickass Undelete only provides a Quick Scan mode so it works best for recovering recently deleted files that have not been overwritten by new data. If your drive is corrupted or your data has been lost for a long time, consider other options on this list.

Usability

Among the entries of this top 6 list, Kickass Undelete provides the best GUI. It's still not great, but it's simple and accessible. Users can easily understand what to do without having to check out tutorials. Its unreasonably large scan button represents the developer's intention to foolproof their app.

Value

As we previously mentioned, Foremost was developed by the U.S. government and released under the GNU General Public License. So it's 100% free and its source code is available online. Considering that it's the same technology that government agents use to recover data for their investigations, it's a valuable tool on its own.

But whether it's valuable to YOU specifically (it should solve your problem with the least amount of effort) depends on your individual situation. If you only need to recover recently deleted data, recommendations 1, 4, or 5 would provide you with more value for your time and efforts.

Performance

As we briefly mentioned, Foremost attempts not only to recover your data but also information about your data (such as file timestamps and file extensions). This is what makes it an effective forensics tool. Foremost also looks for specific patterns and signatures or other unique markers to identify file types and extract the data. You can customize the recovery process if you're willing to learn its commands. With Foremost, you can process massive volumes of data and recover exactly what you're looking for.

Usability

Unfortunately, Foremost provides no GUI. Users will have to settle for a command line interface and should expect to execute codes to recover data (or do anything within the app). There are ample tutorials online, but it's not as accessible as other tools on this list.