Top 10 Best SD Card Recovery Software That Are Actually Worth Trying! (2021)

What to Consider When Selecting SD Card Recovery Software

While there’s no shortage of great SD card recovery software, there are also quite a few bad apples that you should avoid to successfully recover lost files. Here’s what you should consider when selecting recovery software:

Supported file formats: SD cards can be used for all kinds of wonderful things, from recording video to storing an entire operating system. Depending on what kind of files you’ve lost, you need to select SD card recovery software that can actually recover them because some applications focus only on certain file formats.
Ease of use: If you’re reading this article, you’re most likely not a data recovery professional, and this might even be your first time recovering lost files. Don’t make the situation more difficult than it already is by choosing a complicated tool that requires a lengthy manual for you to know how to use it.
Customer support: It’s always nice to have someone you can ask for help when things go south, and that’s exactly what customer support is for. Unfortunately, free SD card recovery software rarely comes with professional support, which is one reason why spending extra money to recover important data makes sense—at least in some cases.
Price: When selecting SD card data recovery software, you should always consider how much the software costs. Some companies rely on subscription-based pricing to generate a steady revenue stream, requiring you to renew your subscription each year, while other companies let you purchase a no-strings-attached lifetime license.
Compatibility: Some of the best SD card recovery software applications are available for both Windows and Mac (and some even run on Linux), but that’s not always the case. Before you make your purchase, double-check if the solution you’ve selected is compatible with your operating system to avoid having to ask for a refund.

Top 10 Best SD Card Recovery Software

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1. Disk Drill

Disk Drill is a free SD card repair tool that delivers powerful features in a sleek package, allowing anyone to quickly and easily restore lost or accidentally deleted data. Here are just a few highlights of what makes it so great.

Free trial

Windows

macOS

Pros

Recover up to 500 MB of data for free on Windows.
Preview an unlimited number of files.
Support for hundreds of file formats.
Compatible with all memory card types.
Ability to perform RAW SD card recovery.
Built-in data protection capabilities.
Intuitive user interface and one-click approach to data recovery.
Comes with a bunch of extra disk tools.

Cons

No portable version.

Overall experience

Disk Drill is an exceptionally versatile recovery software application because it supports all types of memory cards. Besides memory cards, Disk Drill can also recover data from traditional hard drives, modern SSDs, USB flash drives, and all other storage devices recognized by major operating systems.

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2. Recuva

Recuva is among the most popular truly free SD card recovery software applications, but its somewhat outdated user interface makes it clear that its development has been stagnating for the last few years. Still, you would be hard-pressed to find a more cost-effective solution for simpler data recovery jobs.

Freeware

Windows

Pros

Supports over 40 languages.
Offers completely unlimited recovery.
Features a handy recovery wizard.
Can securely delete sensitive files.

Cons

Hasn’t been updated since 2016.
Outdated user interface.

Overall experience

There’s a good reason why so many users rely on Recuva when it comes to performing SD card data recovery even though the tool was last updated in 2016: it just works. As long as you don’t need to recover newer file formats or address complex data loss scenarios involving partition loss, Recuva should be able to get the job done for free.

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3. Remo Recover

Remo Recover, also referred to as Remo File Recovery Tool, is a great alternative to more popular SD card data recovery software tools, offering a well-rounded mix of features and the ability to recover files from any storage device.

Free trial

Windows

macOS

Pros

Recovers 300 plus file formats.
Supports all commonly used Windows file systems.
Can preview recoverable files.

Cons

Scans take a while.
Expensive technician license.

Overall experience

You don’t see Remo Recover mentioned on many lists of the best SD card data recovery software solutions, and we think that’s a shame. While it doesn’t really stand out in any particular way, it does everything you would expect a recovery application to do.

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4. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard has been recommended as one of the best SD card data recovery software applications for years, and we have no reason to break this tradition. The software is packed with useful features, giving you everything you need to recover from data loss.

Free trial

Windows

macOS

Pros

Simple yet capable user interface.
Great data recovery performance.
Lets you filter out scanning results by file type.
Is able to recover lost partitions.
Supports 1,000+ file formats.

Cons

Doesn’t accurately indicate how long a scan will take.
Many file formats can’t be previewed.

Overall experience

As a user, you may encounter countless data loss scenarios, from accidental deletion to formatting to data corruption. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is a complete data recovery suite that can address 100+ real-life data loss scenarios while providing a user-friendly approach to data recovery.

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5. Wise Data Recovery

Some SD card data recovery software applications are wiser than others, and Wise Data Recovery illustrates this perfectly. This Windows-only application supports more than a thousand different file types, so you shouldn’t have any trouble getting back all lost data.

Free trial

Windows

Pros

Clear and simple user interface.
Support for more than 1,000 file formats.
Portable version.

Cons

Subscription-based pricing.
Lacks file type filters.

Overall experience

Wise Data Recovery can recover documents, graphics, videos, audios, emails, file archives, executables, and much more. It supports FAT, NTFS, HFS, HFS+, HFSX, Ext2, and Ext3 file systems, which is more than what we would expect from a Windows-only SD card recovery software tool.

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6. Stellar Data Recovery

Stellar Data Recovery is yet another SD card recovery software that doesn’t really need a lengthy introduction because it has been around since forever. Over the years, it has managed to convince countless users from around the world to use it as their data recovery software of choice, and it’s easy to see why.

Free trial

Windows

macOS

Pros

Quick and deep scan modes.
Capable of scanning a specific folder.
Step-by-step recovery process.
Repairs corrupted photos.

Cons

Slower deep scan.
Subscription-based pricing.
It costs a lot of money to unlock all features.

Overall experience

With the trial version of Stellar Data Recovery, you can recover up to 1 GB of data free of charge. The tool boasts a no-frills 3-step data recovery process that can be summarized as such: you select the type of data you want to recover, pick the folder or drive to scan, and select all files you want to get back.

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7. IObit Undelete

IObit Undelete is a good-looking SD card data recovery software application whose target audience are less experienced users who might feel overwhelmed by more complicated tools.

Freeware

Windows

Pros

Good-looking user interface.
Capable of scanning a specific folder.
Respectable scanning speed.
Portable application.

Cons

Doesn’t do so well when recovering older files.
Lacks advanced recovery options and features.

Overall experience

If you’re a Windows user and are looking for the best SD card data recovery software that doesn’t overwhelm you with a ton of features, then IObit Undelete might just be the right choice for you. When you launch this application, you’re asked to select the file types you wish to recover. Once you’ve made your selection, you can simply click the Start button and go make yourself a cup of tea.

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8. MiniTool Power Data Recovery

There’s a lot that MiniTool Power Data Recovery does right and not much it does wrong. But it takes more than that to be considered one of the best SD card recovery software solutions available, and MiniTool Power Data Recovery has demonstrated again and again that it’s up to the challenge.

Free trial

Windows

macOS

Pros

Straightforward recovery process.
Can deal with corrupted SD cards.
Frequently updated.

Cons

Slow with large SD cards.
Expensive monthly and annual subscriptions.

Overall experience

MiniTool Power Data Recovery is a venerable SD card data recovery software application that receives updates on a regular basis, allowing it to reliably recover even new and less commonly used file formats. The latest version lets you scan only specific folders, which can be useful if you’re in a hurry and don’t have time to scan your entire SD card.

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9. R-Studio

R-Studio doesn’t hide the fact that casual home users are not its target audience. But if you consider yourself to be a power user who is always keen to learn new things, then this might just be the best SD card recovery software for you.

Free trial

Windows

macOS

Linux

Pros

Professional features.
Supports Windows, Mac, and Linux file systems.
Built-in hex editor.
Recovery over network.

Cons

Complicated user interface.
Less straightforward data recovery process.

Overall experience

You would be hard-pressed to find another SD card recovery software with support for NTFS, NTFS5, ReFS, FAT12/16/32, exFAT, HFS/HFS+ and APFS (Macintosh), Little and Big Endian variants of UFS1/UFS2 (FreeBSD/OpenBSD/NetBSD/Solaris), and Ext2/Ext3/Ext4 FS (Linux) partitions.

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10. PhotoRec

PhotoRec is the king of open-source SD card recovery software. You can use it to recover an unlimited amount of data for free, but it won’t help you much if you don’t get used to its command-line user interface.

Freeware

Windows

macOS

Linux

FreeBSD

Sun Solaris

Pros

Completely free and open-source.
Supports many different operating systems.
Step-by-step recovery process.

Cons

Doesn’t have a graphical user interface.
The least user-friendly tool on this list.

Overall experience

If you’re a fan of open-source software, then you’ll love PhotoRec. Distributed as a companion program to TestDisk, this unassuming command-line application can deliver the same results when recovering lost data from SD cards and other storage devices as commercial alternatives. While its name implies a focus on picture file formats, PhotoRec actually supports more than 480 file extensions, including all commonly used video, audio, and document file formats.

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Most Common Reasons for SD Card Data Loss

SD card data loss doesn’t happen without reason. Understanding the most common causes of SD card data loss can help you prevent it and keep your data safe.

Accidental Deletion

User errors are by far the biggest cause of SD card data loss. After all, it’s almost impossible to find someone who hasn’t accidentally deleted an important file before. But as long as you realize your mistake soon enough, you have a good chance of successfully recovering your files.
Formatting

It’s a good practice to format an SD card from time to time in order to avoid data corruption and issues with file system compatibility. The problem is that formatting is a fairly dangerous mass-delete operation, and all it takes for you to lose important files is one mistake, such as formatting the wrong SD card.
Logical Damage

The term logical damage encompasses a wide variety of data loss-causing events, ranging from data corruption to file system damage, and so on. While not as serious as physical damage, logical damage can still lead to permanent data loss if not addressed properly and in a timely manner.
Improper Use

Whoever engineered the first SD card clearly underestimated the destructive power of the average user. Not only are SD cards fragile and vulnerable to the elements, but they also need to be ejected safely when moved from one device to another—something not many users do.

Key Points for Successful SD Card Recovery

There are many variables when it comes to SD card recovery. By keeping in mind the following key points, you can maximize your chance of success and get your files back in no time.

Begin Recovery ASAP

Data recovery is a time-sensitive process, and the sooner you start, the better outcome you can expect. Disk Drill is available free of charge, and it can take as little as five minutes to recover SD card data with it. We recommend you use it before trying various SD card repair tools, many of which do more harm than good.
Avoid Physical Damage

Deleted and lost files can be recovered from SD cards because it takes some time for them to become overwritten. However, even professional SD card recovery software like Disk Drill, which can handle corrupted SD cards, can’t recover files from memory cards that have been physically damaged.
Get It Right on the First Try

Not all SD card recovery solutions are equally reliable, and some can even jeopardize your chance of successful recovery. That’s why you should always start with the most reliable solution you have at your disposal (hint: Disk Drill) and get it right on the first try.
Recover to a Different Storage Device

Never save recovered files to the storage device from which you’ve recovered them from. You could accidentally overwrite the very same files you’re trying to recover, which would result in their permanent and irreversible loss.
Create a Byte-to-Byte Backup

Before you begin the recovery process, it’s a good idea to create a byte-to-byte backup of your SD card. That way, you can recover your lost data from the backup and leave your SD card intact.
Back Up Your Files

Even though Disk Drill makes it easy to recover data from SD cards, you should still back up your files so that you always have an up-to-date backup ready in case something goes wrong. The good news is that the free version of Disk Drill comes with reliable backup features.

Frequently Asked Questions

Updated on Mar 5, 2021 by Disk Drill Team

Why is my phone not reading my SD card?

Several issues may cause this problem. Your phone might not read an SD card if the card is not inserted correctly. The card may need to have its contacts cleaned to eliminate debris. Another reason that your card cannot be read by your phone is that the card has become corrupted.

Can I recover deleted photos from an SD card?

Yes, you can recover deleted photos from an SD card. When you delete a photo from an SD card, it remains physically present on the storage device until new data is stored in its place. Before that happens, data recovery software can find the deleted photo a get it back.

Can I recover deleted photos from my SD card on my phone?

Yes, photos can be recovered from your phone’s SD card. The card needs to be connected to your computer through the phone or a card reader. Once the SD card is connected to the machine, your data recovery software application will identify the card as a disk and perform the restore.

Alternatively, you can download a mobile SD card recovery software app like Disk Digger, which lets you recover data directly on your phone. Just know that mobile recovery apps seldom deliver the same results as their desktop counterparts.

Can I recover photos from a formatted SD card?

Absolutely! Formatting lets you quickly mark an entire SD card as empty, but, in most cases, it doesn’t overwrite the stored data. As long as you begin the recovery process soon enough, you should be able to get back all or most photos from the formatted SD card.

How can I recover my SD card data for free?

You have two options:

Use a freeware SD card recovery software application, such as PhotoRec.
Use a commercial data recovery tool that offers a free trial, such as Disk Drill.

Generally, freeware software applications don’t offer the same ease of use, polish, and features as their commercial counterparts, but they can get the job done when it comes to simpler data loss scenarios.

Top 10 Best SD Card Recovery Software in 2021 (That Are Actually Worth Trying!)

What to Consider When Selecting SD Card Recovery Software

Top 10 Best SD Card Recovery Software

1. Disk Drill

2. Recuva

3. Remo Recover

4. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

5. Wise Data Recovery

6. Stellar Data Recovery

7. IObit Undelete

8. MiniTool Power Data Recovery

9. R-Studio

10. PhotoRec

Most Common Reasons for SD Card Data Loss

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my phone not reading my SD card?

Can I recover deleted photos from an SD card?

Can I recover deleted photos from my SD card on my phone?

Can I recover photos from a formatted SD card?

How can I recover my SD card data for free?