Data Rescue for Mac Review – Has It Aged Like Wine or Milk?

Out of 5 Total Score
No. 8 Among all macOS solutions
Data Rescue for Mac is among the oldest data recovery software applications for macOS. The latest version (6.0.8) has been available since July 2023, and we’re excited to see what it has to offer.
Data Rescue – GalleryTop Pros
Top Cons
Top Competitors


Data Rescue for macOS – Overview
#Developed by a US-based software company, Data Rescue seems like a safe bet for anyone interested in mature data recovery software. The line between mature and outdated software can be thin, however.
Factsheet
Requirements | macOS 10.12-13.0 |
Latest version | 6.0.8 • Released 28th Jul, 2023 |
Download size | 18.1 MB |
Category | Data Recovery Software |
UI languages | English |
Sibling version
Data Rescue for Windows
Data Rescue isn't as well-known as industry-leading data recovery tools like Disk Drill and EaseUS. But, that may not be attributed to its effectiveness as a recovery solution. We take an extensive look at what Data Rescue has to offer so you understand exactly what it's capable of. Read full review
No. 16 Among all Windows solutions

Discounts and coupons
Discount | Description | Link |
---|---|---|
-15% | 15% Off Mac Data Rescue 5 Coupon code - drmac15. | Get the Deal |
Developer — Prosoft Engineering, Inc.
Prosoft Engineering, Inc. has been around as a company since the 80s. Data Rescue is the company’s flagship product.
1% 10.6% than avg
840 96.4% than avg
Based on the number of brand-related search queries on Google US according to ahrefs.com.
If you wanted to visit Prosoft Engineering, Inc. in person, you would have to travel to sunny California. Fortunately, you don’t have to do that to get tech support or questions answered, because Prosoft Engineering, Inc. has multiple customer support channels open during standard business hours.
Developer website | prosofteng.com |
Support email | support@prosofteng.com |
Founded | 1985 • 38 years on the market |
HQ location | 5424 Sunol Blvd Suite 10-253 Pleasanton, CA 94566 |
Phone | 877-477-6763 |
Social media | LinkedIn Twitter YouTube |
We like that it’s possible to speak to one of Prosoft’s US-based representatives Monday – Friday (8AM – 5PM PST). You can also contact the company via email and receive a reply within 1-2 business days.
Pricing
Distributed as | Freemium Some features are provided free of charge, but money is required to unlock the rest |
Trial version available | Trial version available |
Trial version limitations | With trial version you can:
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Paid plans |
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Price range | $79.00...$399.00 |
License model | Subscription |
No credit card to try | No credit card to try |
Money back guarantee | Money back guarantee |
Data Rescue has revised its pricing structure, but it remains on the pricier side:
- Trial: Free data recovery up to 1GB for new users.
- Standard License: $79 for unlimited software access for 30 days.
- Professional License: $399 for unlimited recovery for one year.
While this new model offers more flexibility for users, the cost is still relatively high, especially when compared to other solutions in the market that offer unlimited recovery for less.
The good news is that the website now provides clear pricing details, including the trial limitations, eliminating the need to download the software to view the costs.
Pricing details
1 | Price | $79.00 |
2 | Details |
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1 | Price | $399.00 |
2 | Details |
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Data Recovery with Data Rescue
Tested on: macOS 12.1 (21C52)
We’re always excited to test any popular data recovery software application—let alone the one that has been on the market for such a long time.
How We Test
We test data recovery software by following a meticulously crafted testing process whose purpose is to reveal all strengths and weaknesses of the test subject in the most objective and repeatable manner possible.
# | Step | Description |
---|---|---|
1 | Installation | We downloaded and installed the latest version of Data Rescue on our testing Mac computer. |
2 | Source selection | Next, we created data sets spanning virtually all types, including document, image, video, audio, and archive file formats. |
3 | Scanning process | We created virtual testing drives containing the various data sets to guarantee that our testing emulates the real-life situations. We then scanned the drives using Data Rescue for Mac. |
4 | Managing found data | After completing multiple scanning tests, we gathered recovered data for subsequent analysis, paying attention to the software's ease of use. |
5 | Recovery and post-processing | Finally, we analyzed the recovery results to determine how well Data Rescue performs when compared with other similar data recovery software applications. |
When testing data recovery performance, we evaluate all available recovery modes against our diverse data sets. In addition to how many files a data recovery software application can recover, we also focus on recovery speed and user-friendliness.
Installation
To get started, we first downloaded the free demo version of Data Rescue from its official website. To install it, we opened the downloaded image file and copied the application to the Applications folder.
When we launched Data Rescue for the first time, we were asked to give it Full Disk Access, which is a common requirement of all data recovery software applications for macOS.
Data Rescue requires the user to enter the admin password only for the first time. Subsequent launches are instant.
Source selection
While not immediately obvious, Data Rescue actually has two different user interfaces. The default one is intended for beginners, and it offers four self-descriptive options: Start Recovering Files, View Previous Scan Results, Clone, and Create Recovery Drive.
To access the other user interface, you need to click the View menu and select the Switch to Professional Mode option. As you can guess, Professional Mode is aimed at advanced users, and it gives you access to the application's hex editor and more.
We used the standard user interface, so starting a scan was as easy as clicking the Start Recovering Files option. We then selected our testing disk image and proceeded.
Scanning process
After selecting our testing disk image, we were asked to choose from two scanning modes: Quick Scan and Deep Scan.
Data Rescue provides a handy description of each mode, going over its characteristics, advantages, and potential disadvantages. Because we wanted to examine the test image using advanced techniques to find every recoverable file, we selected Deep Scan.
Scan progress was displayed in real time, which was reassuring because we could see the application doing what it's supposed to do, however Data Rescue doesn't display an estimated remaining time.
Managing found files
When it comes to the management of found files, Data Rescue doesn't offer much more beyond the basics. You can see files grouped into their original folders (when such information is available), preview the supported file formats, and search for specific files, but that's about it.
You can't filter the scan results in any way, and it's not even possible to change how the results are sorted, even though the user interface suggests that such functionality is supported.
Recovery and post-processing
Before you can recover any deleted file found by Data Rescue, you need to select it. To do that, you simply click the checkbox next to it. Data Rescue displays the total number of selected files at the bottom, along with their total size.
Once we had made our selection, we clicked the Recover button and were asked to specify the recovery directory. We confirmed our choice, and Data Rescue displayed a pop-up message, telling us the recovery had been completed.
Tutorials
Data Rescue for Mac – Tutorials and Other Videos
To help you better understand how Data Rescue works, we’ve put together a collection of useful tutorials and other video resources.
Data Rescue for Mac – Full Review
Let’s take a closer look at what Data Rescue can offer as a data recovery software application by evaluating everything from its reputation to its usability and data recovery performance.
Karma
13 rating criteria
Prosoft Engineering, Inc., the developers of Data Rescue, are headquartered in California, and they’ve been around for a long time. You can reach them during standard business hours and speak to one of their US-based representatives.
Data Rescue receives updates fairly often, but the developers have yet to implement native support for Apple Silicon Macs. And because it’s not possible to directly scan system drives on newer Macs, it’s clear that Prosoft Engineering, Inc. is struggling to keep up with the operating system for which they develop their software.
# | Feature | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Update frequency | Every 6 months |
2 | Updated recently | Yes |
3 | Changelog available | Available (View full update history) |
4 | Latest macOS supported | Nope, older versions of macOS |
5 | Runs natively on M1/M2 Macs | Does not support |
6 | Genuine or clone? | Genuine |
7 | Brand name popularity | Unpopular |
8 | Online market share | Poor |
9 | Maturity | Mature |
10 | Extensive knowledge base | Available |
11 | Helpdesk support | Available |
12 | Live chat | Available |
13 | Phone support | Yes |
Bang for the buck
8 rating criteria
Data Rescue has made strides in transparency by now displaying its pricing details directly on the website. Additionally, they now offer a trial mode where users can recover up to 1GB of data for free, providing an opportunity to test the software’s capabilities before committing to a purchase. However, while the pricing structure has been revised, it remains on the pricier side. The Standard license offers unlimited software access for 30 days at $79, and the Professional license provides unlimited recovery for $399 per year. Despite the clearer pricing presentation and improved trial offering, potential customers should still carefully evaluate the cost against the software’s capabilities and compare it with other solutions in the market.
# | Feature | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Competitive pricing | No |
2 | Price-quality ratio | Poor |
3 | Free trial | Free demo is available |
4 | Is it free? | Paid license is required to recover files |
5 | Pricing policy | Unlimited subscription plans |
6 | Unlimited recovery in full version | Yes |
7 | Free upgrades | Yes, with an annual subscription |
8 | Commercial rights in the cheapest license | No |
Usability
18 rating criteria
Data Rescue isn’t a modern data recovery application with a beautiful user interface. The software has been around for a long time, and not all parts have aged equally well (and not all parts have received the same attention from the software’s developers).
Selecting the right storage device is fairly easy (as long as you know which volume you want to scan), but from there it’s a parade of usability issues. For example, Data Rescue doesn’t show the remaining scanning time, and the tool also doesn’t make it easy to browse recoverable files and select the right ones from them.
The Expert mode seems like a lazy way to provide more advanced users with extra options without making the software too complicated for beginners. Many other data recovery software applications are both capable and accessible, so why can’t Data Rescue be the same?
# | Feature | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Modern user-friendly interface | No |
2 | Dark mode | Yes |
3 | Easy-to-locate features | Yes |
4 | Automatic implementation of multiple appropriate scanning methods without user interaction | No |
5 | Auto-resuming scans of failing drives | No |
6 | Auto-resuming backups of failing drives | No |
7 | Convenient source selection on start | So-so |
8 | Convenient file-by-file preview of recoverable items | So-so |
9 | Convenient thumbnail preview of recoverable items | No |
10 | Mount recoverable items as disk | No |
11 | Built-in updater | Yes |
12 | Multiple view modes in scan results | No |
13 | Hex view for recoverable items | Yes |
14 | Filter recoverable items by type | No |
15 | Search recoverable items by file names | Yes |
16 | Sort results | No |
17 | Multilingual UI | No |
18 | Simple deployment | Yes |
Recovery performance
128 rating criteria
The price of any software application is setting the expectations. Data Rescue is priced like a professional data recovery software tool, but its recovery performance more closely matches a free tool.
The biggest issue we have with Data Rescue is the lack of support for certain commonly used file systems. It doesn’t help that encrypted storage devices are not supported as well, regardless of which file system they use.
As if that wasn’t enough, Data Rescue can’t even scan the system drive on newer Macs without you first booting into Recovery Mode, which is anything but convenient.
# | Feature | Result | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Deep scan | Bad | Only the HFS+ file system is supported. |
2 | Quick scan | Fine | Some of the most popular file systems, including FAT32, exFAT, and ext4, are either not supported at all or are supported poorly. |
3 | Other types of scan | Bad | Data Rescue doesn't offer too much when it comes to advanced data recovery capabilities. |
4 | Device support | Fine | Except for mobile devices and encrypted drives, the software can scan all storage devices. |
5 | Real-life recovery challenge | Fine | Data Rescue sometimes performs surprisingly great and sometimes surprisingly poorly. |
6 | Other notable recovery features | Fine | You can use Data Rescue to create a byte-to-byte copy of any storage device, among other things. |
Clever scan
# | Feature | Score |
---|---|---|
1 | HFS+ partitions | 5 |
2 | APFS partitions | 0 |
3 | FAT32 partitions | 0 |
4 | exFAT partitions | 0 |
5 | NTFS partitions | 0 |
6 | EXT4 partitions | 0 |
Data Rescue can recover files with their original names and folder structure only from HFS+ partitions—no other file systems are supported.
Quick scan
# | Feature | Score |
---|---|---|
1 | HFS+ partitions | 4 |
2 | APFS partitions | 4 |
3 | FAT32 partitions | 0 |
4 | exFAT partitions | 2 |
5 | NTFS partitions | 4 |
6 | EXT4 partitions | 0 |
The Quick scan mode works fine when scanning supported file systems (with the exception of exFAT), but several commonly used file systems are not supported at all.
Other scan types
# | Feature | Score |
---|---|---|
1 | The number of formats supported by deep scan | 3 |
2 | Native deep scan of system drives on M1/M2-powered Macs | 0 |
3 | Native deep scan of system drives on T2-encrypted Macs | 0 |
4 | Native data recovery from local Time Machine snapshots | 0 |
5 | Scan for lost partitions | 0 |
6 | HFS+ directory rebuild | 0 |
7 | Recovered files' labeling | 0 |
8 | Partial file recovery | 5 |
9 | Disk images: scan and recovery | 5 |
Despite the fact that Data Rescue has a special Expert mode that you can activate to reveal additional options, the data recovery software doesn’t offer much in terms of advanced recovery capabilities.
Device Support
# | Feature | Score |
---|---|---|
1 | Internal and external HDD | 5 |
2 | Internal and external SSD | 5 |
3 | USB thumb drives / Classic iPods (non-iOS) / FireWire devices | 5 |
4 | Memory cards | 5 |
5 | iOS devices | 0 |
6 | iOS backups | 0 |
7 | iCloud | 0 |
8 | Android devices | 0 |
9 | Recovery from RAID arrays | 3 |
10 | Encrypted device support | 0 |
11 | Unmountable partitions | 5 |
Data Rescue doesn’t support mobile devices (of course, you can still remove a memory card from your Android smartphone and scan it directly). Unfortunately, it also doesn’t support encrypted storage devices, which are becoming more and more common.
Real-life recovery challenges
# | Feature | Score |
---|---|---|
1 | Document formats recovery | 4 |
2 | Raw photo recovery | 2 |
3 | Video formats recovery | 3 |
Raw photo recovery
# | Feature | Score |
---|---|---|
1 | 3FR | 0 |
2 | ARW | 3 |
3 | BMP | 5 |
4 | CR2 | 3 |
5 | CR3 | 0 |
6 | CRW | 2 |
7 | DCR | 3 |
8 | DNG | 3 |
9 | CinemaDNG | 0 |
10 | ERF | 2 |
11 | EXR | 0 |
12 | FFF | 2 |
13 | GPR | 0 |
14 | HEIC | 0 |
15 | IIQ | 2 |
16 | INSP | 0 |
17 | JP2 | 2 |
18 | JPG | 5 |
19 | KDC | 5 |
20 | MEF | 5 |
21 | MOS | 0 |
22 | MPO | 0 |
23 | MRW | 3 |
24 | NEF | 4 |
25 | NRW | 0 |
26 | ORF | 3 |
27 | PEF | 3 |
28 | RAF | 3 |
29 | RAW | 3 |
30 | RW2 | 2 |
31 | RWL | 3 |
32 | SR2 | 0 |
33 | SRF | 2 |
34 | SRW | 0 |
35 | TIFF | 3 |
36 | X3F | 3 |
37 | X3I | 0 |
Strangely, some RAW photo file formats, namely KDC, MEF, and NEF, can be recovered without any struggle, but most other file formats used by modern digital cameras fall through the cracks during scanning.
Video formats recovery
# | Feature | Score |
---|---|---|
1 | 360 | 5 |
2 | ARI | 3 |
3 | ARX | 0 |
4 | AVI | 4 |
5 | AVI | 5 |
6 | BRAW | 4 |
7 | INSV | 3 |
8 | INSV | 3 |
9 | MOV | 3 |
10 | MOV | 3 |
11 | MOV | 4 |
12 | MOV | 2 |
13 | MOV | 3 |
14 | MP4 | 4 |
15 | MP4 | 4 |
16 | MXF | 0 |
17 | MXF | 0 |
18 | MXF | 0 |
19 | MXF | 0 |
20 | R3D | 2 |
21 | WMV | 3 |
Your experience with Data Rescue will depend greatly on which file format you want to recover. File formats like MP4 or AVI can be recovered easily, but the likes of MOV or WMV will give you trouble.
Document formats recovery
# | Feature | Score |
---|---|---|
1 | ACCDB | 0 |
2 | KEY | 4 |
3 | PAGES | 4 |
4 | NUMBERS | 4 |
5 | DJVU | 0 |
6 | DOC | 5 |
7 | DOCX | 5 |
8 | FB2 | 0 |
9 | MDB | 0 |
10 | ODP | 3 |
11 | ODS | 5 |
12 | ODT | 5 |
13 | 5 | |
14 | PPT | 5 |
15 | PPTX | 4 |
16 | RTF | 2 |
17 | XLS | 4 |
18 | XLSX | 5 |
Commonly used document file formats, including DOC, DOCX, PDF, PPT, PPTX, XLS, and XLSX files can be recovered without any serious issues. Less popular document file formats are often not supported, unfortunately.
Other notable recovery features
# | Feature | Score |
---|---|---|
1 | Overall non-intrusive read-only algorithms | 3 |
2 | Network recovery | 0 |
3 | Effectively filters out corrupted scan results | 0 |
4 | Byte-to-byte device backups | 5 |
5 | Bootable recovery drive creation | 5 |
6 | Runs in macOS native recovery mode | 0 |
7 | Convenient scan session management | 5 |
8 | Bad sector management | 0 |
9 | Recovery chance prediction | 0 |
10 | RAID reconstructor | 3 |
11 | Disk vitals monitoring and tracking during scan | 0 |
12 | Data protection | 0 |
13 | Links to in-lab recovery service for physically damaged devices | 0 |
14 | Scan speed | 4 |
15 | Scan free space only | 0 |
16 | Start file recovery without interrupting the scan | 0 |
17 | Preview recoverable items without interrupting the scan | 0 |
18 | Forensic features | 0 |
Data Rescue focuses on the recovery of lost data, and all available features reflect this. It would be nice to also see at least some data management features because such features can prevent data loss from occurring in the first place.
Extras
12 rating criteria
Data Rescue isn’t exactly a feature-packed data recovery software application, which should be evident just by glancing at the table below.
# | Feature | Result | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Disk space mapping | No | Not supported. |
2 | Disk clean up | No | Not supported. |
3 | Corrupted video repair tool | No | Not supported. |
4 | Corrupted photo repair tool | No | Not supported. |
5 | Time Machine backups parser | No | Not supported. |
6 | S.M.A.R.T. | No | Not supported. |
7 | Bootable macOS installer | Yes | Data Rescue can create a bootable recovery drive. In fact, you need to create one if you want to recover a system drive. |
8 | Duplicate finder | No | Not supported. |
9 | Built-in disk space secure eraser | Yes | The Erase Drive/Volume feature allows you to easily erase the selected drive or volume. |
10 | Disk cloning | Yes | Data Rescue can clone any storage device, and the feature can be accessed directly from the main menu. |
11 | Disk surface test | No | Not supported. |
12 | Secure data shredding | No | Not supported. |
Considering how many data recovery software applications these days come packed with extra features to help their users manage data, the developers of Data Rescue should strongly consider introducing additional extra features to make the software more competitive.
When I first bought DR4 years ago it worked great. I was able to recover data with it, no problem. It worked up through 10.14 Mojave and I was happy with it. Then it suddenly stopped working. It couldn't contact the licensing servers. I emailed Prosoft support and they gave me a link for an updated version. Okay, fine. This updated version would not work on anything later than Mac OS 10.10. Even though they were selling it up until the release of 10.13 and were advertising it as compatible with the latest version of Mac OS, so it should at least be functional in 10.12. They had switched off the licensing servers, then gave paying customers a kneecapped version and told me to just pay to upgrade to DR5 instead. I can't help but think that was a deliberate move to try and milk more money out of people. Fat chance. This is an unbelievably awful move and probably grounds for a class-action lawsuit, but I'm not a lawyer. In any case, I didn't take their lousy upgrade offer and I will never purchase another product from this horrible scum company for as long as I live.
SomeoneElse
If I could give it zero stars, I would. Useless, worthless, confusing, overpriced, over complex, not user friendly, useless customer support, upgrade pricing is ridiculous. NOT worth $0.99 based on my experience. Bought/paid a riduclous $99 for my mom's Mac and the documentation did not clearly indicate what it would work on. DOES NOT WORK/ they greedily want to charge for upgrade instead of doing great customer service and offering to replace for my $99 to a version that does. P.O.* pure....Crapware
cade1
Data Rescue used to be about helping the customer - it now seems more about helping the developer make money. They have lost their way and in the process come up with a product inferior to Data Rescue 3. Thumbs down
mzulgis
Bottom line
Data Rescue for Mac is a trustworthy data recovery application developed by a company that has been around for a long time, but the latest version leaves a lot to be desired in terms of how much value it provides.
With so many other excellent data recovery software applications available, many of which we have already reviewed on this site, justifying the expensive Data Rescue subscription is not just difficult—it’s unwise.
We hope that future versions of this data recovery software will improve compatibility with ARM-based Macs and introduce a new user interface. Then, Data Rescue could once again deserve our recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the answers to the frequently asked questions about Data Rescue.
What is Data Rescue for Mac?
Data Rescue is a data recovery software application developed by Prosoft Engineering, Inc. The application can be used to recover permanently deleted files from hard drives, external USB flash drives, and other devices.
Is Data Rescue safe for Mac?
Yes, Data Rescue is developed by a reputable company, Prosoft Engineering, Inc., and it won’t harm your Mac in any way even though it does require elevated access permissions.
Where can I download Data Rescue for macOS?
A free demo version of Data Rescue can be downloaded from the official website of the application.
How to install Data Rescue on a Mac?
To install Data Rescue on your Mac, you need to:
- Download the free demo version.
- Open the installer image.
- Drag the Data Rescue icon to your Applications folder.
How to uninstall Data Rescue from Mac?
To completely remove Data Rescue, you can use a third-party app uninstaller. Alternatively, you can simply drag the application from the Applications folder to Trash.
How to access Data Rescue on Mac?
To access Data Rescue, open the Applications folder and double-click the Data Rescue icon. Alternatively, you can launch the software using Spotlight.
How do you use Data Rescue on a Mac?
You can use Data Rescue on your Mac to scan most internal and external storage devices by selecting the Start Recovering Files option.
Is Data Rescue for Mac free?
No, Data Rescue for Mac isn’t free, but there’s a free demo version that you can use to evaluate the application before purchasing a license.
How long does Data Rescue Mac take to scan?
When scanning a fast SSD, the entire scan process shouldn’t take a lot of time, but the same can’t be said about traditional hard drives, which may take over an hour to scan.
How do I know if Data Rescue for Mac has found the files I need to recover?
To know if Data Rescue has found the files you’re looking for, you need to go through the list for recoverable files. Fortunately, there’s a handy search feature that can help you locate files by name.
How to create a recovery disk with Data Rescue for Mac?
To create a recovery disk so that you can recover data from a Mac that refuses to boot properly, launch Data Rescue for Mac and click the Create Recovery Drive button on the welcome screen.
👍 Worth a try
Out of 5 Total score
No. 8 Among all macOS solutions
Because of its steep price and limited performance, we wouldn’t recommend Data Rescue as the first data recovery software to try. But if you’ve already used multiple solutions and have yet to see any positive results, then don’t hesitate and give Data Rescue a try.
Visit developer's website

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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.
What Users Say about Data Rescue