AppBreakup
Submit an app

Disk Drill alternatives: 2 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 1, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Disk Drill: free edition recovers only a small amount of data, and PRO licence costs far more than free tools like PhotoRec. We ranked 2 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Disk Drill, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1PhotoRec logoPhotoRecOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 462.6
  1. PhotoRec logo

    1. PhotoRecTop pick

    Best for: People who want free, thorough file recovery and don't mind a text-based interface

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Disk Drill

    Free, open-source file carver that works even on badly damaged file systems.

    Pros

    • Free and open source with no recovery limits
    • Works even on reformatted or badly damaged file systems
    • Read-only access to the source drive
    • Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and BSD

    Cons

    • Recovered files usually lose their names and folders
    • Text-based interface is intimidating for beginners
    • Fragmented files may come back incomplete
    Visit PhotoRec Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is PhotoRec a good Disk Drill alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL v2+
    Checked Nov 1, 2026cgsecurity.org(opens source in a new tab)
    File formats
    480+ file extensions
    Checked Nov 1, 2026cgsecurity.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Read-only access
    Yes
    Checked Nov 1, 2026cgsecurity.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Latest version
    7.2 (22 February 2024)
    Checked Nov 1, 2026cgsecurity.org(opens source in a new tab)

The best Disk Drill alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Ea

Best Disk Drill alternative for most people

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

Similar guided recovery app with a more generous free recovery allowance.

PhotoRec logo

Best Disk Drill alternative for a free option

PhotoRec

Free, open-source file carver that works even on badly damaged file systems.

Ea

Best Disk Drill alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

Similar guided recovery app with a more generous free recovery allowance.

PhotoRec logo

Best Disk Drill alternative for open source

PhotoRec

Free, open-source file carver that works even on badly damaged file systems.

Ea

Best Disk Drill alternative for Mac

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

Similar guided recovery app with a more generous free recovery allowance.

Ea

Best Disk Drill alternative for Windows

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

Similar guided recovery app with a more generous free recovery allowance.

PhotoRec logo

Best Disk Drill alternative for Linux

PhotoRec

Free, open-source file carver that works even on badly damaged file systems.

Disk Drill alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Disk Drill?

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard ranks first right now. Similar guided recovery app with a more generous free recovery allowance.

Is there a free alternative to Disk Drill?

Yes. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard (free plan + paid) and PhotoRec (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Disk Drill?

Yes: PhotoRec.

Which Disk Drill alternatives work on Linux?

PhotoRec runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from Disk Drill?

The complaints we hear most: free edition recovers only a small amount of data; PRO licence costs far more than free tools like PhotoRec; no Linux version.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Disk Drill, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.