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Top 10 Best SD Card Data Recovery Software for Mac
Secure Digital (SD) cards are an excellent and widely used method of expanding the storage capacity of smartphones, digital cameras, and other mobile devices. The compact cards allow users to simply swap in a new card and continue taking photos or videos of important events. Using an SD card increases the utility of your digital device and makes it easy to share photos with others. As with all other types of digital storage media, SD cards can be impacted by data loss. This article discusses memory card data recovery software for Mac to help you recover from accidentally deleted information.
Selecting an SD Card Recovery Software Solution
Choosing the right SD card recovery solution can be an intimidating process. There are a lot of software products that claim to be able to safely recover lost data from a memory card on a Mac. Here are some of the factors that you should consider when deciding which recovery tool to use.
- Operating System Compatibility
While many solutions offer versions for Windows and Mac users, some products only support one operating system. Make sure the solution you choose is compatible with macOS.
- Device Compatibility
Make sure that the tool you select can handle recovering lost data from your SD card. Some solutions have a greater range of supported storage devices than others, and not all of them support SD card recovery.
- Filesystem and File Format Support
The tool you choose needs to support recovering the types of filesystems and file formats you are using on your SD cards. Your chosen solution needs to fully support the type of lost data you hope to recover.
- Reliability
You need a tool that reliably recovers your data. All other factors are irrelevant if the software’s algorithms cannot restore your lost data. Look for highly-reviewed products that include positive user experiences when recovering data.
- Ease of use
Recovering lost data can be a stressful exercise that can be compounded by software with a complicated interface. Many solutions feature intuitive interfaces that make it easy for non-technical users to recover their data. This factor should not be overlooked when choosing your SD card recovery tool.
- Price
Prices for recovery software ranges from freeware solutions to expensive packages that cost hundreds of dollars. Price should not be the main factor in your decision. Free tools may not provide the compatibility and reliability of a paid solution.
A combination of these factors should be considered when choosing the right SD card recovery solution for your specific situation. Don’t get hung up on saving a few dollars when it might mean you cannot successfully recover your valuable data.
Top 10 Best SD Card Recovery Software for Mac
#Let’s see which memory card data recovery software applications for macOS have the best rating.
1. Disk Drill
Top pick
4.79 • Best choice for Mac users – Disk Drill for Mac combines ease of use with excellent data recovery capabilities and many extra features that greatly increase its overall value.
macOS Windows
Freemium Some features are provided free of charge, but money is required to unlock the rest
Free preview
$89...$598
Disk Drill is a full-featured SD card recovery solution that can get back lost data from SD and memory cards as well as any other type of disk-based storage device.
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Two for one
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Abundance of extra utilities
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Structured scan results
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Mount results as a virtual disk
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RAID recovery capabilities
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Phone support
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No disk cloning
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Bootable drives
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Recovery over a network
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Video and photo repair
2. CardRescue
1.98 • Suitable for basic data recovery tasks – We’re still testing this software. Wait until we’re done for our final verdict!
macOS Windows
Freemium Some features are provided free of charge, but money is required to unlock the rest.
Preview only
$47.94...$47.94
CardRescue for Mac is a data recovery tool that claims a 90% success rate for SD card recovery. It is limited to recovering SD cards and does not support other types of storage devices.
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Protects data on the SD card by recovering files to a folder on your Mac
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Recovers deleted data from all major SD card manufacturers
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User-friendly interface for simplified recovery
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Recovers most image and video file types
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Only supports SD card recovery
3. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard
3.81 • Respectable free data recovery limit – Thanks to its generous free data recovery limit, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac is worth trying despite its shortcomings.
macOS Windows
Freemium Some features are provided free of charge, but money is required to unlock the rest
Recover up to 2 GB for free
$89.95...$499
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac is an all-purpose data recovery tool that can recover lost files from SD cards as well as many other types of storage devices.
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Detailed scan results
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Great scanning speed
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Bonus recovery
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Responsive tech support
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Scan settings
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Toxic in-app analytics
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Product updates
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Bad time estimates
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Limited support of formats for preview
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Basic usability issues
4. iBeesoft Data Recovery
2.33 • Suitable for basic data recovery tasks – We’re still testing this software. Wait until we’re done for our final verdict!
macOS Windows
Freemium Some features are provided free of charge, but money is required to unlock the rest.
Recover up to 200 MB for free
$49.95...$199.95
iBeesoft Data Recovery for Mac is a solution that can help address data loss situations on SD cards and other types of storage devices.
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Built-in recovery wizard to simplify the process
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Advanced scanning technologies
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Simple three-step recovery process
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60-day money-back guarantee
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Supports recovery from virtually all disk-based storage devices
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No data protection tools
5. Wondershare Recoverit
3.44 • Not as wonderful as it may seem at first. – Even though the software doesn’t look like it, it’s actually a one-trick pony that can be recommended mainly to those who want to recover damaged video files.
macOS Windows
Freemium Some features are provided free of charge, but money is required to unlock the rest
Recover up to 100 MB for free
$75.99...$449.96
Recoverit Data Recovery for Mac lets you get back lost images and videos from SD cards as well as recover data from other storage devices.
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Dedicated video search mode
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Modern interface
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Bootable disk creation
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Video repair
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High scanning speed
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Bootable disk creation limitations
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Fake scan types
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No results when scanning formatted APFS and HFS
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No recovery time estimation
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Can’t be resized
6. Stellar Data Recovery
Decent recovery results
3.30 • Not as stellar as its name suggests – Stellar Data Recovery for Mac may be one of the most popular data recovery applications for Mac, but it’s certainly not the best one.
macOS Windows
Freemium Some features are provided free of charge, but money is required to unlock the rest
Recover up to 1 GB for free
$69.99...$399
Stellar Data Recovery is a professional-grade data recovery tool that can retrieve lost data from SD cards and many other types of storage devices.
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S.M.A.R.T
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Preview in safe mode
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Backup creation
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Learning new signatures
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Search settings
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Long disk refreshes
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Automatic updates in the free version
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Loses license information
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Slow previews
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Preview limits
7. PhotoRec
Popular among tech-savvy users
3.31 • Excellent value in a not-so-appealing package – PhotoRec for Mac delivers decent data recovery performance, but the lack of a graphical user interface makes it more difficult to take advantage of it.
macOS Windows Linux
Free All features are provided free of charge, and the software can be used, studied, and modified without restriction
None
Free
PhotoRec is a freeware, all-purpose recovery tool that can restore lost files from an SD or memory card.
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Completely free
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Open source
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No installation required
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Good signature scanner
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Ability to narrow down scan results
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Command-line user interface
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Rarely updated
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No auto-update
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Scan automation
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Source selection
8. Mac Data Recovery Guru
0.78 • Suitable for basic data recovery tasks – We’re still testing this software. Wait until we’re done for our final verdict!
macOS
Freemium Some features are provided free of charge, but money is required to unlock the rest.
Preview only
$89.73...$89.73
Mac Data Recovery Guru is another versatile data recovery tool that works with SD cards, hard disks, and any other type of disk-based device.
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Provides thumbnails of recoverable files
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User-friendly interface
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Warns when saving recovered files to their original disk
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Can be difficult to locate recovered text files
9. Lazesoft Mac Data Recovery
2.72 • So old it doesn’t work properly anymore – Lazesoft Mac Data Recovery illustrates why you shouldn’t focus only on price when selecting data recovery software.
macOS Windows
Freeware All features are provided free of charge without any limitations
None
Free
LazerSoft Mac Data Recovery is a freeware tool designed to retrieve lost data from SD and memory cards as well as other storage devices.
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Free
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Scans non-mounted disks
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Selective scanning
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Recovery during scanning
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Recovery chances
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Outdated
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Three default signatures
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Limited to 50 MB per file by default
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Limited maximum file size
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Settings are not saved
10. Remo Recover
1.04 • Suitable for basic data recovery tasks – We’re still testing this software. Wait until we’re done for our final verdict!
macOS Windows
Freemium Some features are provided free of charge, but money is required to unlock the rest.
Preview only
$59.97...$179.97
Remo is a software tool that can recover your lost photos and videos from SD cards as long as you use the correct version of the application.
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Live 24/7 chat support
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Free version will identify recoverable files
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Recovered data is displayed in a Mac Finder style window
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The Basic edition cannot recover photos
The Reasons Behind Memory Card Failure
Your memory card can fail or suddenly lose files for a variety of reasons. Some of the most common are:
- Human error in the form of accidentally deleting files or formatting the wrong card. Verifying that you are handling the correct card before performing these types of potentially destructive actions can help minimize this risk.
- Physical damage to the card can result in it being undetected by your digital device or operating system. Damage to the connectors can be caused by improperly inserting or removing the card from a device. You may need to repair the connections in order to attempt data recovery on the card.
- Infection with malware or a virus can lead to data loss on any type of digital storage device. Using an SD card with a strange computer or device may inadvertently expose it to malicious and destructive software. Checking all computers and devices with an antivirus tool is strongly recommended to help you avoid this problem.
The Main Advantages of SD Card Recovery Tools for Mac
There are several advantages to using memory card recovery software for Mac including:
- It provides the most reliable recovery method.
- Recover files that have been erased from the Recently Deleted folder.
- Recovered files can be saved to new and safe locations to avoid further corruption.
- SD recovery software can be used to address data loss on other types of storage devices.
Did You Know?
SD cards need to be formatted before use or reformatted when used with different operating systems or devices. Regularly formatting your card will keep it operating at peak performance. It also forces you to transfer your files to another storage media which reduces the chance that they will be corrupted. Formatting is often the remedy for cards that are experiencing problems or causing error messages to be displayed on your digital camera. The recommended method of formatting an SD card is to perform the operation using the device in which it will be used.
Conclusion
After weighing all the factors, SD recovery software for Mac is the most reliable way to undelete photos from a memory card. It can be used to recover from accidental formatting or any other type of data loss that your SD card experiences. Files that have been removed from the Trash can easily be restored with a quality recovery tool.
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Comparison table
#
| Feature | Disk Drill | EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard | Wondershare Recoverit | Stellar Data Recovery | PhotoRec | Lazesoft Mac Data Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Score | 100% | 80% | 72% | 69% | 69% | 57% |
| Requirements | macOS 10.15-14.0 beta | macOS 10.9-14.0 beta | macOS 10.10-13.0 | macOS 10.11-13.0 | macOS 10.6-12.0 | macOS 10.5-10.9, 10.10-10.14 (unofficial support) |
| Clever in-depth scan | ||||||
| Quick scan | ||||||
| Distributed as | Freemium | Freemium | Freemium | Freemium | Free | Freeware |
| Trial version available | ||||||
| Trial version limitations | Free preview | Recover up to 2 GB for free | Recover up to 100 MB for free | Recover up to 1 GB for free | Freeware. No limits | Freeware. No limits |
| Starting price | $89.00 / Perpetual | $89.95 / 1 month | $75.99 / 1 month | $69.99 / 1 year | Free | Free |
| See Plans & Pricing | 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 |
Frequently Asked Questions
There are several methods to fix the issue of your SD card not being recognized by your Mac.
- Open Finder and select Preferences. Ensure that the External disks checkbox has been selected.
- Try reinserting the SD card into the card reader or device that is attached to the computer.
- Restart your Mac. This may solve the problem by stopping processes that are hindering Mac’s ability to recognize the drive.
- Format the SD card. Using this option will delete the data on the drive, though you may be able to recover it with data recovery software.
PhotoRec is a freeware solution that enables you to recover SD card data on a Mac for free.
Yes, it can. As long as the drive can be recognized by your Mac, data recovery software can scan the device and recover its data.
Robert is a freelance writer and technology enthusiast who graduated from Pace University in New York with a degree in Computer Science in 1992. He is a former computer specialist at IBM. During his long career in IT, he has worked for a number of major service providers in various roles related to data storage, management, and protection.
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.