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PhotoRec alternatives: 2 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 1, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave PhotoRec: recovered files usually lose their names and folders, and text-based interface is intimidating for beginners. We ranked 2 alternatives by how directly each one replaces PhotoRec, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Disk Drill currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Disk Drill logoDisk DrillFree plan + paidNomacOS, Windows8 of 862.6
2EaEaseUS Data Recovery WizardFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS8 of 859.6
  1. Disk Drill logo

    1. Disk DrillTop pick

    Best for: Mac and Windows users who want a guided app to undelete files and preview them before paying

    Free plan + paidmacOS, Windows

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from PhotoRec

    Graphical app with file previews that keeps original names when the file system is intact.

    Pros

    • Clear interface with previews before you pay to recover
    • Supports Apple Silicon and T2 Macs as well as Windows
    • Extras like Recovery Vault, byte-level backups and disk health monitoring

    Cons

    • Free edition recovers only a small amount of data
    • PRO licence costs far more than free tools like PhotoRec
    • No Linux version
    Visit Disk Drill 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 Disk Drill a good PhotoRec alternative?

    Verified facts

    8 of 8 verified
    Free recovery (Windows)
    Up to 100 MB
    Checked Oct 29, 2026cleverfiles.com(opens source in a new tab)
    File types
    400+
    Checked Oct 29, 2026cleverfiles.com(opens source in a new tab)
    macOS requirement
    macOS 10.15 to 26
    Checked Oct 29, 2026cleverfiles.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Windows requirement
    Windows 10 and 11
    Checked Oct 29, 2026cleverfiles.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Disk health monitoring
    S.M.A.R.T., free
    Checked Oct 29, 2026cleverfiles.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    $89 a year (PRO subscription)
    Checked Nov 1, 2026cleverfiles.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Lifetime price
    $149 (PRO lifetime license)
    Checked Nov 1, 2026cleverfiles.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free plan
    Yes, up to 100 MB recovery on Windows
    Checked Nov 1, 2026cleverfiles.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Ea

    2. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

    Best for: Windows and Mac users who want a step-by-step recovery wizard and a usable free allowance

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from PhotoRec

    Guided wizard for people who'd rather not use a text interface.

    Pros

    • Free edition recovers a meaningful amount of data
    • Covers RAID, NAS and formatted drives as well as simple deletions
    • Technician licences for repair shops and IT teams

    Cons

    • Unlimited recovery needs a paid subscription or licence
    • Separate products for Windows, Mac and phones
    • Heavy upselling to related EaseUS tools
    Visit EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    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 EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard a good PhotoRec alternative?

    Verified facts

    8 of 8 verified
    Free plan
    Yes, recover up to 2 GB
    Checked Nov 1, 2026easeus.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Paid editions
    Pro, unlimited recovery
    Checked Oct 30, 2026easeus.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Supported storage
    HDD, SSD, flash, RAID, NAS
    Checked Oct 30, 2026easeus.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Business edition
    Technician
    Checked Oct 30, 2026easeus.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    $69.95 one-time for one month (Pro, 1 computer)
    Checked Nov 1, 2026easeus.com(opens source in a new tab)
    One-Year plan
    $99.95 one-time (Pro, 1 computer)
    Checked Nov 1, 2026easeus.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Lifetime price
    $149.95 (Pro, lifetime upgrades)
    Checked Nov 1, 2026easeus.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Money-back guarantee
    30 days
    Checked Nov 1, 2026easeus.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best PhotoRec alternative for…

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

Disk Drill logo

Best PhotoRec alternative for most people

Disk Drill

Graphical app with file previews that keeps original names when the file system is intact.

Ea

Best PhotoRec alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

Guided wizard for people who'd rather not use a text interface.

Disk Drill logo

Best PhotoRec alternative for Mac

Disk Drill

Graphical app with file previews that keeps original names when the file system is intact.

Disk Drill logo

Best PhotoRec alternative for Windows

Disk Drill

Graphical app with file previews that keeps original names when the file system is intact.

PhotoRec alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to PhotoRec?

Disk Drill ranks first right now. Graphical app with file previews that keeps original names when the file system is intact.

Is there a free alternative to PhotoRec?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to PhotoRec?

None of the 2 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from PhotoRec?

The complaints we hear most: recovered files usually lose their names and folders; text-based interface is intimidating for beginners; fragmented files may come back incomplete.

How is this list ranked?

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