10 Best Data Recovery Software for Mac in 2026

Best Data Recovery Software for Mac in 2026

After testing dozens of data recovery software for Mac, we were able to narrow them down to just 10 top applications, and here’s the final list.

If you need to choose the best Mac data recovery software right now and don’t have time to read the detailed sections about each tool, the comparison table below highlights the most important metrics — you can review it and select the option that best matches your priorities. If you’re not in a hurry, treat the table as a quick preview of the applications that are described in more detail further in the article.

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac is a long-standing data recovery tool for macOS that has been available on the market for many years and is commonly included in comparisons of Mac recovery software. The latest version runs on macOS Tahoe and older (up to Mac OS X 10.9), and it brings to the table a number of advanced features to address all kinds of data recovery scenarios.

One feature that stood out is the ability to recover lost files directly to cloud storage services, such as Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive. This feature solves the problem that happens when you want to recover data from your main system drive but don’t have any other storage device where you can store it.

Besides a long feature list, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac boasts a three-step data recovery process that makes it accessible even to users who have no previous experience with data recovery.

MacOS compatibility: EaseUS supports macOS 10.9 and later and runs on both Intel-based Macs and Apple Silicon machines. It works with APFS, HFS+, FAT32, and exFAT file systems without compatibility issues in standard recovery scenarios. However, the software does not support encrypted system volumes.

Ease of use: EaseUS stands out for its beginner-friendly interface. The dashboard is clean, scanning begins with minimal setup, and results are organized in a way that makes navigation straightforward. Filtering tools help narrow down file types, and preview functionality allows you to verify files before recovery.

Pricing: EaseUS offers a free version that allows limited data recovery (2GB), which is more generous than some competitors but still restrictive for large recovery tasks. Paid licenses are available in monthly, annual, and lifetime tiers, starting at $89.95. Compared to other tools on this list, pricing falls into the higher range.

Additional features: The software provides a disk backup feature to create an image of a storage device before scanning, which is useful when working with unstable or failing drives. It also offers the ability to create a bootable macOS installer and video repair, designed to fix corrupted or partially damaged video files after recovery.

This Mac-focused data recovery tool has been steadily growing in popularity among macOS users who prefer software designed specifically for their platform. Unlike many cross-platform solutions, iBoysoft is built from the ground up for Mac, so it’s fully compatible with APFS, HFS+, exFAT, and FAT32 file systems. It also works on macOS Tahoe and older versions.

iBoysoft Data Recovery for Mac has the ability to recover data from unbootable Macs through macOS Recovery Mode, which eliminates the need for a second computer. It can also scan Mac system drives that are encrypted, but you should keep your expectations grounded because Mac system drives are virtually always TRIM-enabled, and the presence of encryption further complicates things, so this capability is useful mostly for finding misplaced or hidden files.

MacOS compatibility: iBoysoft runs natively on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs (M1-M5) and supports macOS versions from 10.11 El Capitan up to the latest releases, including Tahoe. It also works on Macs equipped with the T2 security chip. The software recognizes APFS (including encrypted volumes), HFS+, FAT32, and exFAT file systems.

Ease of use: The interface is clean and beginner-friendly. Previews are available after scanning, and filtering options help narrow down results. However, the interface feels slightly outdated compared to more modern macOS applications.

Pricing: Although the official website mentions up to 1GB of free recovery, in practice, recovering files of any size requires upgrading to the Pro version first. The free version mainly allows scanning and previewing results. Paid licenses start at $89.95 for a one-month subscription and $99.95 for a one-year license. There is no lifetime license option available, which may make the pricing less competitive compared to alternatives that offer perpetual plans.

Additional features: iBoysoft focuses primarily on core recovery functionality and does not offer additional tools.

Stellar Data Recovery for Mac is for Mac is one of the long-standing recovery solutions on the market and remains a consistent choice for users who want a balance between accessibility and functionality. The software handles common data loss scenarios such as deleted files, formatted drives, and system crashes, while maintaining a workflow that does not overwhelm non-technical users.

The application supports all major macOS file systems and stands out for allowing you to define custom file types. By specifying a file header and sample files, it can extend its recognition database beyond built-in formats, which may be useful in niche recovery cases.

Stellar also includes tools for recovering data from unbootable Macs through bootable media creation, making it suitable for situations where the system fails to load normally. Overall, the software positions itself as a structured and feature-complete solution designed primarily for home and office environments rather than advanced forensic use.

MacOS compatibility: Stellar runs on macOS 10.12 and later, including modern versions such as Tahoe. It supports both Intel-based Macs and Apple Silicon machines. The software works with APFS, HFS+, HFS, exFAT, FAT32, and NTFS volumes.

Ease of use: The interface uses a tile-based layout with clear prompts and logical navigation. File type selection, scan options, and result previews are clearly labeled, making the workflow accessible even for users with no prior recovery experience. Both Light and Dark Mode are supported, and overall navigation feels consistent with modern macOS standards.

Pricing: Stellar offers multiple paid tiers for Mac users, each unlocking additional features. The demo version allows scanning and previewing recoverable files, but saving files requires purchasing a license, starting at $99.99.

Additional features: Stellar provides disk imaging for safer recovery workflows and bootable media creation for crashed systems. Higher tiers also include storage management utilities such as duplicate file detection and large file cleanup.

PhotoRec for Mac is certainly one of the more intimidating data recovery software applications featured in this article. The main reason for this is the fact that it doesn’t have a graphical user interface — at least not by default. Users who are not comfortable with the terminal sometimes avoid PhotoRec entirely, and that’s a huge shame because it has a lot to offer.

To start with, it can recover hundreds of file formats from all kinds of storage devices, and it uses read-only access to avoid causing more harm than good. Best of all, PhotoRec is completely free and unlimited. The application’s source code is publicly available, so you could theoretically modify how it works.

MacOS compatibility: PhotoRec runs on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs. It does not depend on a specific file system structure and can scan storage devices formatted as APFS, HFS+, FAT32, exFAT, NTFS, and others. Since it works at the raw disk level, compatibility is rarely an issue as long as macOS can detect the drive itself.

Ease of use: The interface is command-line based and may feel outdated or technical for many users. There are no thumbnails, no preview during scanning, and no advanced sorting or filtering options. Recovered files are saved with generic names into automatically generated folders, which means manual organization is required after recovery.

Pricing: PhotoRec is completely free and open source.

Additional features: PhotoRec focuses solely on file recovery and does not include additional tools.

If you have an older Mac and are looking for an easy-to-use Mac data recovery software, then Data Rescue for Mac isn’t a bad choice at all. The application is compatible with all Intel and M-based Macs running macOS 13 Ventura and older (up to macOS 10.12).

When you launch the application, you’re presented with the main window showing just four options. The first two options let you start recovering files and view previous scan results, the third option allows you to duplicate a potentially failing drive, and the last option lets you create a recovery drive so you can safely recover files from your main drive.

Data Rescue for Mac supports two main scanning modes: Quick Scan and Deep Scan. The former takes just a short while to complete because it utilizes existing directory information, while the latter uses advanced recovery techniques to find every recoverable file.

MacOS compatibility: According to the official website, the latest supported macOS version is macOS 13. In practice, the software runs on newer macOS releases, including macOS 26. It works on both Intel-based Macs and Apple Silicon machines. Data Rescue supports APFS, HFS+, FAT32, exFAT, and NTFS (read-only). It does not support scanning encrypted APFS or HFS+ system volumes, which limits its use in certain internal drive recovery scenarios.

Ease of use: The interface is functional but dated. It lacks modern conveniences such as advanced preview visualization, detailed scan scoring, or highly refined filtering tools.

Pricing: A limited free recovery quota (1GB) is available to new users. After this, paid plans start at $79 for a short-term unlimited recovery license, with higher-tier professional subscription options available for extended functionality.

Additional features: Data Rescue includes disk cloning for safer recovery workflows, a bootable Mac recovery drive creator, and the FileIQ feature, which allows you to define and learn custom file types. Professional editions also include limited RAID support.

So, Our Final Verdict

If you’re interested in our opinion, Disk Drill remains the best data recovery software for Mac overall. The combination of ease of use, versatility across different device types (including external drives and mobile devices), and a well-rounded set of additional features makes it difficult to recommend another tool as the top choice. On top of that, its pricing remains reasonable considering the functionality included.

Close behind it, we would highlight Tenorshare 4DDiG Data Recovery. The overall user experience is comparable in terms of interface simplicity and guided workflow, making it a strong alternative.

In third place, we would place the combination of TestDisk+PhotoRec as a fully free solution. Despite their command-line interfaces, both tools perform their core functionality and can be highly effective in capable hands.

What Are the Chances of Recovering Lost Data on Mac

The best data recovery software for Mac can save the day when the situation seems utterly desperate, but it can’t address every single data loss situation that you may experience.

When data recovery software can help:

Data recovery software can restore files as long as the data is still physically present on the storage device. In most common scenarios (accidental deletion, formatting, file system errors, or software-related corruption), files are not immediately erased from the disk. Instead, the operating system simply marks the space as available for overwriting. Until new data replaces it, recovery remains possible.

The actual cause of data loss matters less than the current state of the storage device. If the original data blocks have not been overwritten, data recovery software can often locate and reconstruct them. Some applications also include disk imaging functionality, which allows you to create a full byte-to-byte copy of the drive before scanning.

This approach is especially useful when a drive behaves unstable, does not mount properly in Finder, or shows read errors. However, recovery becomes impossible once the data is physically gone. Secure formatting, overwriting, or SSD TRIM operations permanently remove deleted file data at the storage level. In such cases, no software can restore what no longer exists.

If a disk has hardware failure, electronic damage, or mechanical issues, running recovery scans at home may worsen the situation. Instead of attempting software-based recovery, it is safer to consult professional data recovery services.

NOTE: Generally, lost data can be recovered for as long as they are physically present on the storage device (=not overwritten) and the storage device itself is in good working order. To increase your data recovery chances, minimize the use of the affected storage device and use the best recovery software available. For more information, read our detailed guide on how to recover deleted files on Mac.