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Top 8 Best USB Data Recovery Software You Should Try
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.
| Platform | |
| Distributed as | Freemium |
| Limitations | Recover up to 500 MB for free |
| Price range | $89...$598 |
| Platform | |
| Distributed as | Freemium |
| Limitations | Recover files smaller than 256 KB |
| Price range | $49.99...$899 |
| Platform | |
| Distributed as | Freemium |
| Limitations | Recover up to 2 GB for free |
| Price range | $69.95...$499 |
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?"
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 8 Best USB Recovery Software
#Let’s dive into our top 8 picks for the best software to recover deleted files from a USB drive on Windows and Mac.
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.
Windows macOS
Freemium Some features are provided free of charge, but money is required to unlock the rest
Recover up to 500 MB for free
$89...$598
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.
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Top-tier recovery performance. Disk Drill offers excellent USB data recovery performance, supporting hundreds of popular file formats.
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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.
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Easy-to-use interface. Disk Drill offers a straightforward and easy-to-use interface with well-organized scan results.
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Excellent value. A single purchase grants access to both Windows and Mac versions and includes several free additional tools.
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Corrupted USB recovery. It’s no problem for Disk Drill to recover data from corrupted USB drives whose contents isn’t readily accessible.
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Can't repair photos and videos. Disk Drill is unable to repair damaged photo and video files to make them playable again.
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.
Windows macOS Linux
Freemium Some features are provided free of charge, but money is required to unlock the rest
Recover files smaller than 256 KB
$49.99...$899
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.
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Multi-platform. R-Studio is a true multi-platform USB recovery software application capable of running on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
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Advanced settings. For tech-savvy users who crave more control, R-Studio offers a granular level of customization of the data recovery process.
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Compatibility with professional hardware. The software is compatible with professional data recovery hardware devices, like DeepSpar Disk Imager and USB Stabilizer.
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Custom file types. You can enhance R-Studio’s data recovery capabilities by manually creating custom file types.
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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.
3. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard
Decent recovery results
3.85 • 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.
Windows macOS
Freemium Some features are provided free of charge, but money is required to unlock the rest
Recover up to 2 GB for free
$69.95...$499
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.
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Great usability. The user-friendly design of EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard allows you to start recovering your crucial files without any hassle.
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Free data recovery. By giving their product a shoutout on social media, you can enjoy up to 2 GB of data recovery for free.
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Discounts always available. The value of EaseUS improves when you take advantage of their frequent promotional campaigns.
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Solid performance. With generally solid recovery performance, EaseUS can effectively handle a variety of USB data loss situations.
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Annoying pop-up ads. The inclusion of frequent pop-up ads for other products can interrupt your workflow and become annoying over time.
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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.
4. PhotoRec
Open-source solution
3.37 • 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.
Windows macOS Linux
Free All features are provided free of charge, and the software can be used, studied, and modified without restriction
Metadata recovery
Free
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.
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Portable software. This portable application can be launched directly without installation.
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Powerful signature scanner. PhotoRec boasts a potent signature scanner, capable of recognizing a wide array of signatures.
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Free and open source. PhotoRec offers some of the best USB data recovery out there at absolutely no cost.
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Basic user interface. The optional graphical user interface for Windows makes PhotoRec easier to use, but that’s about it.
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Bulk recovery only. PhotoRec always recovers all found files in bulk, so you better have enough free storage space on your drive for them.
5. DiskGenius
3.72 • 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.
Windows
Freemium Some features are provided free of charge, but money is required to unlock the rest
Only small files can be copied
$69.9...$699.9
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.
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Powerful NTFS, exFAT, and FAT32 scanners. If you need to recover lost files from these file systems, then DiskGenius will deliver great results.
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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.
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Dual functionality. Its double role as a data recovery utility and a disk manager makes DiskGenius a highly versatile tool.
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Complex user interface. The user interface of DiskGenius is far too complex for casual users to use comfortably.
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Limited multimedia recovery. DiskGenius leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to some multimedia file formats.
6. Stellar Data Recovery
3.31 • Frequently recommended – Stellar Data Recovery is a good example of data recovery software that doesn’t to anything exceptionally wrong nor exceptionally right.
Windows macOS
Freemium Some features are provided free of charge, but money is required to unlock the rest
Recover up to 1 GB for free
$49.99...$599
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.
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Modern design. Stellar Data Recovery boasts a modern, well-organized data recovery experience.
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Photo and video repair. Stellar Data Recovery sets itself apart with its unique capability to repair photos and videos.
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Custom signatures. Stellar Data Recovery makes it possible for users to add custom file signatures.
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Sluggish previews. It takes more time than it should for Stellar to generate file previews.
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Limited previews. The free version of the software lets you preview only up to 100 MB of data.
7. DiskDigger
3.37 • 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.
Windows macOS Linux
Freemium Some features are provided free of charge, but money is required to unlock the rest
5-second delay after each recovered file
$0...$14.99
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.
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Portable software. DiskDigger can be launched without installation, making it a handy choice among the best USB data recovery software.
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Technically free. DiskDigger’s free version allows for unlimited file recovery, albeit with a 5-second delay between each.
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Dated user interface. Do you have a modern monitor? Then DiskDigger will look awful on it.
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No-so-great performance. The recovery performance of DiskDigger is acceptable only when recovering recently deleted files.
8. DMDE (DM Disk Editor and Data Recovery Software)
3.63 • UX designer’s nightmare. – DMDE is a high-value data recovery application whose biggest downside is its poor usability.
Windows macOS Linux
Freemium Some features are provided free of charge, but money is required to unlock the rest
Recover up to 4000 files in the opened directory
$7...$133
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.
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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.
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Extensive file system support. The data recovery software can scan all file systems that are commonly used with USB flash drives.
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Fast scanning speed. Time is of the essence, and DMDE delivers with its fast and accurate file system scanners.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Limited multimedia recovery performance. Modern audio, video, and photo formats often fall outside DMDE’s recovery capabilities, limiting its usefulness in multimedia recovery.
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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.
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.
Wondershare Recoverit
We recommend Wondershare Recoverit to those who need to recover a partially corrupt video file from a USB drive. Plus, it offers an intuitive interface that ensures the data recovery process is as smooth as possible.
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Comparison table
#The comparison table below provides an overview of all data recovery software applications that have made our list.
| Feature | Disk Drill | R-Studio | EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard | PhotoRec | DiskGenius | Stellar Data Recovery | DiskDigger | DMDE (DM Disk Editor and Data Recovery Software) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Score | 100% | 85% | 85% | 74% | 82% | 73% | 74% | 80% |
| Requirements | Windows 10-11 (x64 only) | Windows 2000-11 | Windows 7-11 | Windows XP-10, 11 (unofficial support) | Windows 7-11 | Windows 7-11 | Windows Vista-11 | Windows 98-11 |
| Clever in-depth scan | ||||||||
| Quick scan | ||||||||
| Distributed as | Freemium | Freemium | Freemium | Free | Freemium | Freemium | Freemium | Freemium |
| Trial version available | ||||||||
| 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 |
| Starting price | $89.00 / Perpetual | $49.99 / Perpetual | $69.95 / 1 month | Free | $69.90 / Lifetime | $49.99 / 1 year | Free | $7.00 / 1 month |
| See Plans & Pricing | Pricing details | Pricing details | Pricing details | Pricing details | Pricing details | Pricing details | Pricing details | Pricing details |
| Raw photo recovery | ||||||||
| Video formats recovery | ||||||||
| Document formats recovery | ||||||||
| S.M.A.R.T. | ||||||||
| Helpdesk support | ||||||||
| Live chat | ||||||||
| Phone support |
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
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 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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Houston, Texas, United States
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.