10 Best USB Data Recovery Software: A Ranking Based on REAL Tests

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USB Recovery Software

Modern USB flash drives can store large amounts of data, which is great for obvious reasons but bad when something goes wrong and your precious files go missing. Fortunately, the world of USB data recovery software can offer many excellent solutions to remedy this problem and recover your lost data. 

We have painstakingly researched and tested a vast array of USB data recovery applications. Our aim is to guide you to the best and most effective ones, ensuring that you have the highest chance of successfully recovering your lost files from your USB drive.

Brief selection
Best Overall
disk drill windows icon
4.55
Download Free Official Website
Platform
  • macos
  • windows
Distributed asFreemium
Limitations Recover up to 500 MB for free
Price range $89...$598
2684
r-studio icon
3.88
Download Free Official Website
Platform
  • macos
  • windows
  • linux
Distributed asFreemium
Limitations Recover files smaller than 256 KB
Price range $49.99...$899
5379
easeus data recovery windows icon
3.86
Download Free Official Website
Platform
  • macos
  • windows
Distributed asFreemium
Limitations Recover up to 2 GB for free
Price range $69.95...$799
3024

Our Criteria for the Best USB Data Recovery Tools

Here are the factors we considered when selecting the best USB data recovery software for this article:
 

  • Our review results

    We put each USB data recovery tool through a series of rigorous tests, the results of which contribute to our comprehensive weighted score for each software. To ensure you receive the best tools, our selection is based on software that achieved a score of at least 3.0 in our rigorous evaluation. If you're interested in understanding more about our process, then you can read our testing methodology overview.

  • Supported file systems

    USB drives can be formatted using various file systems, with FAT, FAT32, and exFAT being the most common due to their high compatibility with different operating systems and devices. As such, the data recovery tools we selected had to meet this critical criterion: support these widely used file systems. A lack of native support for these file systems would leave the tool with only one option: to scan the drive as RAW. However, this approach fails to recover important metadata like the original file names and folder structure.

  • Supported file types

    The versatility of USB drives means they're often used to store a broad range of file types, from documents, photos, and videos, to audio files, and more. This widespread usage makes it necessary for our USB data recovery tools to be equally versatile, capable of handling all kinds of data loss situations and supporting various file types. We've carefully selected these tools based on their proficiency in restoring different file types, and this has significantly influenced their position in our ratings.

  • Recovery of corrupted devices

    The best USB recovery software should be able to bypass common errors that restrict access to data and offer the ability to recover data from RAW devices. Needless to say, the top-ranking thumb drive recovery tools below meet this criterion with flying colors.

  • Value for money

    We always prioritize tools that offer real bang for your buck, and that includes pen drive recovery software applications. After all, data loss is stressful enough without adding a hefty price tag to the mix.

  • Usability

    Last but certainly not least, we looked for software that isn't a pain to use. After all, the last thing you need when trying to retrieve lost files from a USB drive is a confusing interface that leaves you wondering, "Which option should I choose?" 

Attention

We highly recommend diving into our detailed reviews for Windows and Mac to truly understand each software's strengths and quirks. You should also try our data recovery software picker, which can guide you to the perfect software to recover your precious files,

Top 10 USB Recovery Software You Won't Regret Trying

 #

Let’s dive into our top 10 picks for the best software to recover deleted files from a USB drive on Windows and Mac.

Disk Drill Logo

1. Disk Drill

Top pick

4.55 Best choice for Windows users – The Windows version of Disk Drill empowers regular users to reliably recover all kinds of lost data with a few simple clicks.

Read full Disk Drill review
Platforms

WindowsmacOS

Distributed as

Freemium Some features are provided free of charge, but money is required to unlock the rest

Limitations

Recover up to 500 MB for free

Price range

$89...$598

Quick overview

Regardless of what files have disappeared from your USB stick, Disk Drill offers a user-friendly solution with impressive recovery performance, making it a top choice for USB data recovery. 

Disk Drill for Windows – Gallery
Top Disk Drill Pros
  • Top-tier recovery performance. Disk Drill offers excellent USB data recovery performance, supporting hundreds of popular file formats.
  • RAW file format support. For those aiming to recover images or videos, Disk Drill has got you covered with robust support for various raw file formats.
  • Easy-to-use interface. Disk Drill offers a straightforward and easy-to-use interface with well-organized scan results.
  • Excellent value. A single purchase grants access to both Windows and Mac versions and includes several free additional tools.
  • Corrupted USB recovery. It’s no problem for Disk Drill to recover data from corrupted USB drives whose contents isn’t readily accessible.
Top Disk Drill Cons
  • Can't repair photos and videos. Disk Drill is unable to repair damaged photo and video files to make them playable again.
Detailed overview

Usability

As the screenshots above illustrate, Disk Drill has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to scan your USB flash drive. The interface provides real-time visualization of the scanning process, and it organizes scan results into three categories (Deleted, Existing, and Reconstructed) to simplify the section of missing files. You can preview files to decide if they're worth adding to the recovery queue, filter them based on various criteria, or even resume the recovery process later. 

Recovery Performance

With Disk Drill, you can expect top-notch USB data recovery performance. As the best USB flash drive recovery software available, Disk Drill supports hundreds of popular file formats, including those commonly used in offices (DOC, DOCX, XLS, XLSX. PPT, PPTX, PDF, etc.), and it can restore the original structure of files and folders. If your goal is to recover images or videos, then you should know that Disk Drill's raw image and video scanner offers robust support for a wide array of raw file formats, including Apple ProRes, Canon CR2 and CR3, and others. 

Value

In terms of value, Disk Drill is the most cost-effective freemium data recovery tool on the market. A single purchase unlocks both the Windows and Mac versions of Disk Drill, and there are many extra tools included with the software for free. For example, you can create both full and partial byte-by-byte disk copies of USB flash drives, which is useful when dealing with failing hardware or logical corruption.  

R-Studio Logo

2. R-Studio

Popular among professionals

3.88 Empowering professionals; intimidating home users – R-Studio for Windows is a powerful data recovery software application, but regular home users may struggle to master it and put its capabilities to good use.

Read full R-Studio review
Platforms

WindowsmacOSLinux

Distributed as

Freemium Some features are provided free of charge, but money is required to unlock the rest

Limitations

Recover files smaller than 256 KB

Price range

$49.99...$899

Quick overview

Although it may seem daunting for the average user, R-Studio’s sophisticated feature-set makes it an ideal choice for tech enthusiasts and professionals.

R-Studio for Windows – Gallery
Top R-Studio Pros
  • Multi-platform. R-Studio is a true multi-platform USB recovery software application capable of running on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  • Advanced settings. For tech-savvy users who crave more control, R-Studio offers a granular level of customization of the data recovery process.
  • Compatibility with professional hardware. The software is compatible with professional data recovery hardware devices, like DeepSpar Disk Imager and USB Stabilizer.
  • Custom file types. You can enhance R-Studio’s data recovery capabilities by manually creating custom file types.
Top R-Studio Cons
  • Steep learning curve. While R-Studio packs a punch with its powerful features, it comes with a steep learning curve that might be daunting for casual home users.
Detailed overview

Usability

R-Studio is a powerhouse of a USB recovery tool, but it comes with a very steep learning curve that may be too challenging for most casual home users to overcome. But if you're not a casual home user, then you'll appreciate having plenty of control over the data recovery process and being able to change settings on a granular level. What's more, R-Studio is a real multi-platform USB recovery software, which means that you can get run it on Windows, macOS, and Linux. 

Recovery Performance

Because R-Studio is compatible with professional data recovery hardware devices, such as DeepSpar Disk Imager and USB Stabilizer, it can achieve top-notch results even in situations that are too challenging for lesser solutions to handle. Adding to this, the software's ability to create byte-to-byte disk copies ensures that even failing USB flash drives can be recovered relatively safely. Just know that the preview feature doesn't support all commonly encountered file formats, and the same can be said about R-Studio's signature scanner, which, for example, is unable to recover crw (Canon raw CIFF image file) and srf (Sony raw file) files.

Value

When it comes to value, R-Studio offers immense worth for professionals dealing with intricate and high-stakes data recovery tasks thanks to its broad operating system compatibility and support for data recovery hardware. But for the average user, R-Studio might feel like overkill, and the complexity could outweigh the value on offer. There's also the fact that only the most expensive licenses support all file systems and above-described features. 

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Logo

3. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

Decent recovery results

3.86 Popular for its trial recovery capabilities – Easy to use and capable of delivering solid results, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is good at what it does.

Read full EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard review
Platforms

WindowsmacOS

Distributed as

Freemium Some features are provided free of charge, but money is required to unlock the rest

Limitations

Recover up to 2 GB for free

Price range

$69.95...$799

Quick overview

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Windows, often simply called EaseUS, is a user-friendly and versatile USB recovery tool that would be even better if it wasn’t riddled with ads.

EaseUS Data Recovery for Windows – Gallery
Top EaseUS Pros
  • Great usability. The user-friendly design of EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard allows you to start recovering your crucial files without any hassle.
  • Free data recovery. By giving their product a shoutout on social media, you can enjoy up to 2 GB of data recovery for free.
  • Discounts always available. The value of EaseUS improves when you take advantage of their frequent promotional campaigns.
  • Solid performance. With generally solid recovery performance, EaseUS can effectively handle a variety of USB data loss situations.
Top EaseUS Cons
  • Annoying pop-up ads. The inclusion of frequent pop-up ads for other products can interrupt your workflow and become annoying over time.
  • Limited preview capabilities. The free version of the software limits preview capabilities to 100 MB of files, which can be frustrating if you have a lot of files to recover.
Detailed overview

Usability

EaseUS has a pleasant user interface that nearly arranges scan results into a user-friendly file tree, and it does so even while scanning is ongoing. This means you can start retrieving your crucial files right away, instead of waiting for the whole scanning process to complete. For some reason, the developers of this USB recovery software decided to limit its preview capabilities to just 100 MB of previewed files, and they also thought that frequent pop-up ads for other products were a good idea. 

Recovery Performance

EaseUS offers generally solid recovery performance. However, its performance with FAT32 and exFAT file systems could be improved. More specifically, the software often misses small files (1 - 2 kB) residing in the root folder or subdirectories, and that's not good at all if your goal is to retrieve, for example, small text files from your USB drive. The good news is that the same issue doesn't manifest with other file systems. 

Value

Apart from offering up to 2 GB of data recovery for free if you give the product a mention on social media, EaseUS constantly run various promotional campaigns that can greatly reduce the price of the software if you take advantage of them. Just know that lifetime licenses are expensive (they start at $149.95), and the available subscription plans can cost a lot of money in the long run. Considering that EaseUS doesn't even come with byte-to-byte backup creation capabilities, we can't really give the paid version too much praise when it comes to its value.

PhotoRec Logo

4. PhotoRec

Open-source solution

3.36 Intimidating but rewarding at the same time – PhotoRec for Windows offers unbeatable value, but you need to overcome a steep learning curve to unlock it.

Read full PhotoRec review
Platforms

WindowsmacOSLinux

Distributed as

Free All features are provided free of charge, and the software can be used, studied, and modified without restriction

Limitations

Metadata recovery

Price range

Free

Quick overview

PhotoRec is a free USB recovery tool that favors functionality over flair. For those who aren’t afraid of barebones UIs, it might be an excellent choice, and others should at least give it a try. 

Photorec for Windows – Gallery
Top Photorec Pros
  • Portable software. This portable application can be launched directly without installation.
  • Powerful signature scanner. PhotoRec boasts a potent signature scanner, capable of recognizing a wide array of signatures.
  • Free and open source. PhotoRec offers some of the best USB data recovery out there at absolutely no cost.
Top Photorec Cons
  • Basic user interface. The optional graphical user interface for Windows makes PhotoRec easier to use, but that’s about it.
  • Bulk recovery only. PhotoRec always recovers all found files in bulk, so you better have enough free storage space on your drive for them.
Detailed overview

Usability

PhotoRec is first and foremost a command-line tool. While it does offer an optional graphical user interface for its Windows version that makes it considerably easier to use, the UI is extremely barebones, and it lacks most quality-of-life features that make best USB recovery software like Disk Drill so accessible. What's great, however, is that PhotoRec is a portable app that can be run from anywhere on your system. In fact, you can even keep it ready on your USB flash drive so that you can fire it up as soon as you need it. 

Recovery Performance

PhotoRec comes with a powerful signature scanner that supports a large number of signatures, and it has the ability to work with raw disks that do not have a file system or refuse to mount. Sadly, the signature scanner is the only tool in PhotoRec's toolbox, so there's no way to recover files with their metadata intact. It's also impossible to recover only a few files because the tool is designed to always retrieve everything in one go. 

Value

As a completely free and open-source USB flash drive recovery software, PhotoRec hits it out of the park when it comes to value. Sure, it lacks some of the convenience features that make other software more user-friendly, but one has to overlook such minor shortcomings and appreciate PhotoRec (and the developer behind it) for what it is—a testament to the power of open-source software.

DiskGenius Logo

5. DiskGenius

3.70 More than just regular data recovery – DiskGenius is a feature-rich data recovery solution that equips its users with a highly technical toolset to tackle complex data recovery situations.

Read full DiskGenius review
Platforms

Windows

Distributed as

Freemium Some features are provided free of charge, but money is required to unlock the rest

Limitations

Only small files can be copied

Price range

$69.9...$699.9

Quick overview

DiskGenius is the best software to recover files from a corrupted USB drive because it doubles as a disk manager with advanced file system repair capabilities. 

DiskGenius for Windows – Gallery
Top DiskGenius Pros
  • Powerful NTFS, exFAT, and FAT32 scanners. If you need to recover lost files from these file systems, then DiskGenius will deliver great results.
  • Logical corruption handling. With features like bad sector detection and the ability to save and recover partition tables, DiskGenius can handle most cases of logical corruption.
  • Dual functionality. Its double role as a data recovery utility and a disk manager makes DiskGenius a highly versatile tool.
Top DiskGenius Cons
  • Complex user interface. The user interface of DiskGenius is far too complex for casual users to use comfortably.
  • Limited multimedia recovery. DiskGenius leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to some multimedia file formats.
Detailed overview

Usability

DiskGenius' interface is certainly tailored more for experienced users who have extensive experience with disk management and data recovery. Basic tasks, such as previewing files, can be a hassle (the software either provides a small preview window in the list of found files or requires opening a separate window for each file), and the developers behind this USB recovery software don't seem to be interested in providing a simplified UI mode just for causal users.

Recovery Performance

As the best software to recover files from a corrupted USB drive, DiskGenius excels in reconstructing original structures with its robust NTFS, exFAT, and FAT32 scanners and additional data-saving features like bad sector detection and fixing or the ability to save and recover partition tables. If you need to recover multimedia files from your USB flash drive, then you might be disappointed to learn that some formats, such as Canon’s CR2 and CR3 and Samsung’s SRW formats, are not supported by DiskGenius, and the software also struggles with MP4 files for some reason. 

Value

Thanks to its dual role as a data recovery utility and a disk manager, DiskGenius offers plenty of value, especially considering that the available licenses are not subscription-based. The only downside is that the most capable license available costs $699.90, so only data recovery professionals with a decent budget can afford it. 

Stellar Data Recovery Logo

6. Stellar Data Recovery

3.38 Frequently recommended – Stellar Data Recovery is a good example of data recovery software that doesn’t to anything exceptionally wrong nor exceptionally right.

Read full Stellar Data Recovery review
Platforms

WindowsmacOS

Distributed as

Freemium Some features are provided free of charge, but money is required to unlock the rest

Limitations

Recover up to 1 GB for free

Price range

$59.99...$599

Quick overview

Stellar Data Recovery earns its spot among the top USB data recovery software with its unique features like the repair of photos and videos, backup creation, and custom file signatures, but it does have its flaws.

Stellar Data Recovery for Windows – Gallery
Top Stellar Pros
  • Modern design. Stellar Data Recovery boasts a modern, well-organized data recovery experience.
  • Photo and video repair. Stellar Data Recovery sets itself apart with its unique capability to repair photos and videos.
  • Custom signatures. Stellar Data Recovery makes it possible for users to add custom file signatures.
Top Stellar Cons
  • Sluggish previews. It takes more time than it should for Stellar to generate file previews.
  • Limited previews. The free version of the software lets you preview only up to 100 MB of data.
Detailed overview

Usability

Despite its modern design and well-organized scan screen, Stellar Data Recovery is somewhat let down by a few notable usability issues. Its preview feature, a critical part of the user experience, is a bit slow, making it time-consuming to browse through recoverable files. It also has limitations, working only for files up to 100 MB and for limited types. Moreover, the software lacks real-time recovery during scanning, so users always have to wait for scanning to finish. 

Recovery Performance

Stellar Data Recovery stands out in its unique ability to repair photos and videos, a feature that most other USB data recovery tools don't boast. It also provides the option to manually add new file signatures using sample files, which is great when recovering file formats so obscure that no available tool supports them. It also offsets the fact that the number of recognizable signatures (118) is quite limited compared with other tools on this list. 

Value

While the software offers a generous 1 GB of free data recovery, the overall value offered by Stellar Data Recovery is limited by its reliance on subscription plans, which get expensive over time. Lifetime licenses are available, but they come with a hefty price tag.

DiskDigger Logo

7. DiskDigger

3.41 Simple and cheap, but with mediocre results – DiskDigger is a budget-friendly data recovery solution for those who aren’t looking for a tool that has all the bells and whistles.

Read full DiskDigger review
Platforms

WindowsmacOSLinux

Distributed as

Freemium Some features are provided free of charge, but money is required to unlock the rest

Limitations

5-second delay after each recovered file

Price range

$0...$14.99

Quick overview

DiskDigger is a lightweight option when it comes to the best USB recovery software, but its usability and recovery limitations might leave you wanting more. 

DiskDigger for Windows – Gallery
Top DiskDigger Pros
  • Portable software. DiskDigger can be launched without installation, making it a handy choice among the best USB data recovery software.
  • Technically free. DiskDigger’s free version allows for unlimited file recovery, albeit with a 5-second delay between each.
Top DiskDigger Cons
  • Dated user interface. Do you have a modern monitor? Then DiskDigger will look awful on it.
  • No-so-great performance. The recovery performance of DiskDigger is acceptable only when recovering recently deleted files.
Detailed overview

Usability

DiskDigger has a dated user interface that not only looks bad on modern high-DPI monitors but also leads to such annoying issues as the inability to change the default language (a real shame considering that many languages are supported). At least you can launch DiskDigger without installation, so you can use it to perform USB data recovery even on a machine that you don't administer. 

Recovery Performance

DiskDigger delivers mixed recovery results. While the software can work with RAW drives, its scanning capability is limited to recently deleted files, meaning it may not be your best bet if you're looking to recover older, lost data. The software also can't restore formatted disk structures or find lost partitions. To add to this, its preview feature supports only for a small number of file types, so choosing files for recovery is more complicated than it should be.

Value

DiskDigger isn't cheap but it still offers fantastic value for money. Why? Because its free version can recover an unlimited number of fives with a 5-second delay between each file recovery. For those who are not in a rush, DiskDigger provides a fantastic solution. That said, it doesn't cost much to purchase an unlimited license, with prices typically starting at around $14.99. 

DMDE (DM Disk Editor and Data Recovery Software) Logo

8. DMDE (DM Disk Editor and Data Recovery Software)

3.61 UX designer’s nightmare – DMDE is a high-value data recovery application whose biggest downside is its poor usability.

Read full DMDE (DM Disk Editor and Data Recovery Software) review
Platforms

WindowsmacOSLinux

Distributed as

Freemium Some features are provided free of charge, but money is required to unlock the rest

Limitations

Recover up to 4000 files in the opened directory

Price range

$7...$133

Quick overview

Developed by a single person, DMDE is a surprisingly powerful USB data recovery software that runs on all major operating systems and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to purchase.

DMDE – Gallery
Top DMDE Pros
  • Multi-platform USB recovery software. DMDE supports Windows, Linux, and macOS, so just about anyone can use it to recover data from a USB drive.
  • Extensive file system support. The data recovery software can scan all file systems that are commonly used with USB flash drives.
  • Fast scanning speed. Time is of the essence, and DMDE delivers with its fast and accurate file system scanners.
  • Advanced bad sector handling. Dealing with bad sectors on your USB flash drive? DMDE allows fine-tuning to manage these pesky areas during the recovery process.
Top DMDE Cons
  • Preview limitations. While DMDE can find your lost files, it’s less helpful when you want a preview. It supports only a limited range of file formats for this feature.
  • Overwhelming scan results. After a scan, you’re confronted with a heap of found partitions, making it a chore to know where to start your recovery.
  • Limited multimedia recovery performance. Modern audio, video, and photo formats often fall outside DMDE’s recovery capabilities, limiting its usefulness in multimedia recovery.
  • Unpleasant user interface. Even before you begin, selecting the right disk for scanning can become a challenge, thanks to its unpleasant user interface that lacks the kind of UX optimizations most users have grown accustomed.
Detailed overview

Usability

If you're not tech-savvy, be prepared to do some homework to make the most of this powerful tool because DMDE is developed by a single person who clearly has other priorities than making the tool look pretty. For example, even something as simple as selecting your USB flash drive for scanning is more complicated than it should be, and the same can be said about navigating the scan results. However, if you're willing to invest some time reading the manual or online guides, you can unlock its full potential for USB data recovery.

Recovery Performance

As a USB data recovery tool, DMDE excels with its extensive file system support, which covers all file systems commonly used with USB flash drives, including the FAT family, exFAT, and NTFS. Just know that while DMDE does an excellent job in recovering common file types like documents and spreadsheets, it lags behind in supporting a wide range of multimedia formats. If you're specifically looking to recover audio, video, or high-definition image files, you may find DMDE's capabilities somewhat restrictive.

Value

Considering its price range and the freemium model, DMDE offers bang for your buck. Its advanced features, combined with competitive pricing, make it a cost-effective option for users who need more than just basic recovery features. Of course, the value this USB data recovery software has to offer can be fully unlocked only if you overcome its steeper learning curve.

Wondershare Recoverit Logo

9. Wondershare Recoverit

3.70 Can it really recover it? – Wondershare Recoverit comes with an intuitive user interface, but subpar recovery capabilities that struggle to deliver.

Read full Wondershare Recoverit review
Platforms

WindowsmacOS

Distributed as

Freemium Some features are provided free of charge, but money is required to unlock the rest

Limitations

Recover up to 100 MB for free

Price range

$59.99...$449.96

Quick overview

Wondershare Recoverit is a versatile data recovery solution that offers a user-friendly approach to recovering lost or deleted files from USB flash drives and other storage devices. Unfortunately, it doesn’t offer much beyond that.

Recoverit – Gallery
Top Recoverit Pros
  • Modern interface. Wondershare Recoverit has a contemporary and user-friendly interface that’s easy to navigate and understand.
  • Video Repair. Features a unique capability to repair corrupted or unplayable video files, restoring them to their original state.
  • Fast scanning. Hate waiting? Then you’ll love the fact that Wondershare Recoverit is one of the faster USB data recovery software solutions on the market.
Top Recoverit Cons
  • Limited free version. Only allows the recovery of up to 100 MB of data before requiring an upgrade.
  • Weaker recovery results. Performance can vary depending on the specific file types and data loss scenarios.
  • Potential for false positives. May sometimes identify files as recoverable when they are not.
Detailed overview

Usability

Wondershare Recoverit boasts a modern and streamlined interface that makes it easy to initiate scans and manage recoverable files. You can effortlessly select specific locations to scan, such as your USB flash drive, and the software provides clear progress indicators during the scanning process. Recoverit also allows you to preview recoverable files before deciding whether to restore them. However, it's not without its flaws. The software encounters issues with resizing the program window and requires internet connectivity for installation due to additional file downloads, which could become a terrible obstacle at the worst possible moment.

Recovery Performance

The recovery performance of Wondershare Recoverit is only average. On the bright side, the software offers fast scanning speeds and the ability to repair video files, which is a notable advantage when recovering data from USB flash drives that have been used for video archival or transfer purposes. In theory, the software supports a wide range of file formats, but it doesn’t deliver corresponding results in practice. When recovering data based on file signatures, you can expect the best results with image file formats, followed by document file formats, and then video file formats. Yes, video file formats, which Recoverit can repair, are supported the worst. In terms of file system support, the USB recovery software offers only average support for FAT32 and exFAT partitions. That’s a shame because those file systems are found most often on USB drives. 

Value

Wondershare Recoverit is a freemium tool, with a pricing model that starts at $59.99/month for its Essential plan, extending up to $79.99/month for the Premium plan, with lifetime options being available. The Premium plan includes additional features like bootable media creation and video repair. While the initial free trial allows for the recovery of up to 100 MB of data, the software's overall value is somewhat diminished by its price point compared to its performance. There’s also the fact that no other extra tools are included except for the ability to repair corrupted videos. For USB flash drive recovery, it would be nice to have at least a disk cloning feature.

AnyRecover Data Recovery Logo

10. AnyRecover Data Recovery

3.62 A simple but basic data recovery tool – AnyRecover Data Recovery is a basic data recovery solution targeted at regular users who don’t plan to do more than get their data back.

Read full AnyRecover Data Recovery review
Platforms

WindowsmacOS

Distributed as

Freemium Some features are provided free of charge, but money is required to unlock the rest

Limitations

Preview only

Price range

$59.99...$499.99

Quick overview

With a focus on simplicity and efficiency, AnyRecover Data Recovery is a solid choice for users who want to recover lost data from a USB drive, but what really makes it worth considering is its ability to repair corrupted photo and video files.

AnyRecover – Gallery
Top AnyRecover Pros
  • Intuitive interface. Easy to understand and navigate, even for less tech-savvy users.
  • Wide file system support. Can scan FAT, exFAT, NTFS, and even HFS+ and APFS partitions.
  • Photo and video repair. Corrupted photos and videos can be repaired before recovery to make them possible to open and play again.
Top AnyRecover Cons
  • Mediocre recovery performance. Results, especially for certain file systems, can be inconsistent or incomplete.
  • Limited free version. Only previews recoverable files, but doesn’t allow actual recovery without upgrading.
Detailed overview

Usability

AnyRecover Data Recovery features a modern interface that’s designed with convenience in mind to increase its appeal to regular users. Starting a scan is straightforward, and you can easily use filters to narrow down your search within the scan results. While convenient, it lacks advanced usability features like auto-resuming scans of disconnected drives or a hex view for data. You also need to download a separate module just to preview recoverable files, which adds extra steps to the process for now no good reason at all.

Recovery Performance

While AnyRecover Data Recovery is compatible with many different file systems and devices, its performance in recovering data from them can be weak. If your goal is to recover lost data from a USB device with the software, then you better hope the device isn’t using the exFAT file system because AnyRecover Data Recovery can seldom restore the original folder structure and file names unless the file system is in top condition. Your only option would be its file signature scanners, which perform acceptably well with documents, but leave a lot to be desired with photos and especially videos, not supporting file formats like ORF, NRW, BRAW, and even the QuickTime File Format with Apple ProRes 4444 Raw or HQ Codec. At least FAT32- and NTFS-formatted storage devices are supported better by the software’s Quick and Deep scan algorithms. 

Value

AnyRecover provides both subscription and lifetime licensing options at competitive prices. It offers a free trial version, but keep in mind this trial only allows file previews, not actual recovery. Although the recovery performance may not justify its price for all users, the inclusion of a money-back guarantee adds some assurance for those considering a purchase.

Honorable Mentions

Let’s now turn the spotlight on some additional noteworthy USB data recovery software, presented here in no distinct order, as our honorable mentions.

Windows File Recovery

Microsoft’s data recovery software may not have a graphical user interface but it’s completely free and downloadable from the Microsoft Store. If you can brave a command-line interface and are patient enough to understand its operating nuances, then Windows File Recovery can be a great cost-effective option

TestDisk

Has your USB drive become corrupted? Then TestDisk may be able to fix its partition structure and fix all kinds of logical errors. TestDisk is particularly recommended for users who are familiar with a more technical, hands-on approach to data recovery. It’s a fantastic option for those venturing into the realm of data recovery for the first time.

Recuva

Recuva’s performance doesn’t match our top USB data recovery picks, but the popular application is completely free and certainly worth giving a try. It is a fantastic option for those venturing into the realm of data recovery for the first time and who want to spend as little money as possible. 

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Comparison table

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The comparison table below provides an overview of all data recovery software applications that have made our list.

FeatureDisk DrillR-StudioEaseUS Data Recovery WizardPhotoRecDiskGeniusStellar Data RecoveryDiskDiggerDMDE (DM Disk Editor and Data Recovery Software)Wondershare RecoveritAnyRecover Data Recovery
Total Score 100% 85% 85% 74% 81% 74% 75% 79% 81% 80%
RequirementsWindows 10-11 (x64 only)Windows 2000-11Windows 7-11Windows XP-11Windows 7-11Windows 7-11Windows Vista-11Windows 98-11Windows 7-11 (x64 only)Windows 7-11 (x64 only)
Clever in-depth scan good good fine bad fine bad bad good fine fine
Quick scan good good fine bad good bad fine good fine good
Distributed as Freemium Freemium Freemium Free Freemium Freemium Freemium Freemium Freemium Freemium
Trial version available 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Trial version limitations Recover up to 500 MB for free Recover files smaller than 256 KB Recover up to 2 GB for free Freeware. No limits Only small files can be copied Recover up to 1 GB for free 5-second delay after each recovered file Recover up to 4000 files in the opened directory Recover up to 100 MB for free Preview only
Starting price$89.00/ Perpetual$49.99/ Perpetual$69.95/ 1 monthFree$69.90/ Lifetime$59.99/ 1 yearFree$7.00/ 1 month$59.99/ 1 month$59.99/ 1 month
See Plans & Pricing Pricing details Pricing details Pricing details Pricing details Pricing details Pricing details Pricing details Pricing details Pricing details Pricing details
Raw photo recovery good fine good good good fine good fine good good
Video formats recovery good fine good good fine fine fine fine fine fine
Document formats recovery good good good good good fine good good fine good
S.M.A.R.T. good good bad bad good fine bad bad bad bad
Helpdesk support good good good bad good fine fine fine good good
Live chat good bad good bad bad good bad bad good bad
Phone support bad good good bad bad good bad bad good bad

Situations Where USB Stick Recovery Tools Can Be Useful

Data loss can strike at the most inconvenient times and it can be especially frustrating when it happens on a device as versatile and portable as a USB stick. Let’s examine some of these situations more closely:

  • Accidental deletion:

    It's easy to accidentally hit "Delete" when organizing files on a USB stick. Thankfully, USB data recovery tools can often recover these 'lost' files as they are not usually fully erased from your USB stick but simply hidden

  • Accidental formatting:

    It's a common practice to format USB flash drives to reclaim occupied storage space. Unfortunately, it doesn't take much to accidentally format the wrong drive. The best USB recovery software can work wonders in such situations, scanning the formatted drive to bring back your valuable files.

  • Files randomly disappeared:

    Files can seemingly vanish into thin air due to viruses, software bugs, logical errors, and user mistakes. Regardless of the cause, the right USB data recovery software can search the depths of your USB drive, seeking out your missing files and restoring them to their rightful place.

  • The flash drive appears to be RAW:

    A RAW USB flash drive either doesn't have a file system, or it has a file system the OS can't recognize. Fortunately, the very best USB data recovery tools are designed to scan RAW drives and recover lost files from them. 

  • USB drive asks to be formatted:

    Sometimes a computer decides that a USB flash drive is unreadable and needs to be formatted first. If you click "OK" in a rush, you're in big trouble. That is, unless you have the best USB recovery software at hand and use it to format the USB without losing data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best USB data recovery software for PC?

The best USB data recovery software applications for PC include: 

  • Disk Drill
  • R-Studio
  • EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

Yes, certain USB data recovery applications, like Disk Drill for Mac and Disk Digger, do offer the capability to recover data directly from Android devices. However, it’s important to note that the success of recovering files directly from the memory of an Android device can be influenced by many factors. Deleted files on mobile devices often don’t linger for long, so it’s crucial to act swiftly. Also, the desired recovery results can often be achieved only with root access. 

Most USB data recovery software applications can recover at least some data for free before they ask you to purchase a license. There are also completely free tools like PhotoRec, which are not limited in any way.

No, you won’t be able to find any legitimate free online data recovery software capable of recovering data from your USB drive. Instead, use reputable desktop USB data recovery software that offers a trial or freemium version.

David Morelo
Author

David Morelo is a professional content writer with a specialization in data recovery. He spends his days helping users from around the world recover from data loss and address the numerous issues associated with it.

When not writing about data recovery techniques and solutions, he enjoys tinkering with new technology, working on personal projects, exploring the world on his bike, and, above all else, spending time with his family.

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Nikolay Lankevich
Nikolay Lankevich
Approver

Nikolay Lankevich has over 15 years of strong experience in various fields and platform includes Disaster Recovery, Windows XP/7. System analysis, design, application (Inter/Intranet) development, and testing. Provided technical supports on desktop and laptops on Win-XP and Macintosh for about 2000 employees.