Top 5 Best Mac Data Recovery Software for 2024

This page covers the top 5 best Mac data recovery software for 2023, detailing their pros and cons. Here, you'll learn how to use the best Mac data recovery software to retrieve deleted or lost files from your Mac or external hard drive in just 3 simple steps.

What is the best data recovery software for Mac? Top 5 recommendations

As you know, files and data can be lost due to accidental deletion or formatting on Mac. In such cases, you can try restoring files from a Mac data backup or retrieve lost data from the emptied Trash. However, if you can't restore files from the Trash or your backup doesn't include the missing data, your best bet is to seek help from professional Mac data recovery software.

With a reliable Mac data recovery tool, you can immediately restore all your lost files from a Mac or external hard drive that were deleted, formatted, or even lost due to a virus infection – without having a backup. But what is the best Mac data recovery software out there?

What is the best data recovery software for Mac?

The best Mac data recovery software supports retrieving all types of files from various data loss scenarios, including deletion, formatting, virus attacks, and more. It caters to users of all levels and enables the restoration of lost files from emptied Trash, inaccessible/damaged Mac HDD/SSD, SD cards, USB drives, external hard drives, and more. It is also compatible with the latest macOS versions, such as Catalina and Mojave.

Here's the list of the best data recovery software for Mac. To find the best data recovery software for Mac, we tested 15 different apps and picked the top 5. Here's an overview of the test results.

Top 5 Recommendations for the Best Data Recovery Software for Mac

So, how to find the best and most suitable Mac data recovery software to protect your data from unexpected data loss? Here's a list of the top 5 best Mac data recovery software for 2022 to choose from to be your ultimate data guardian:

1. Mac Data Recovery Wizard 2. Ontrack EasyRecovery for Mac 3. Data Rescue 5 4. Stellar Data Recovery Professional for Mac 5. Disk Drill

Select the Best Data Recovery Software to Retrieve Data from Mac

Bonus Tip: If you're looking for a completely free data recovery option for your Mac, check out our article on the Top 5 Free Data Recovery Software for Mac to try them out.

If you're looking for a smooth and unlimited data recovery experience, read on to find the best data recovery software for you.

# 1. Mac Data Recovery Wizard [Catalina Compatible]

Intended for: Comprehensive and efficient Mac data recovery for all levels of Mac users with just 3 simple steps.

Data Recovery Wizard for Mac is a top-tier data recovery software that is fully compatible with the latest macOS Catalina, Mojave, and older versions of Mac OS X. Both individual users and small-to-medium businesses can utilize the free, pro, or technician editions of this software to recover various types of lost data on their Mac computers.

It excels in data recovery from various Mac storage devices, including SD cards, USB flash drives, external hard drives, SSDs, HDDs, and hybrid disks. With its built-in Quick Scan and Deep Scan modes, the Mac Data Recovery software enables users to effectively scan and recover lost files and data in just three practical steps.

Advantages:

• Supports bootable data recovery in case of Mac failure or crash.
• Comprehensive support for data recovery from all Mac file system devices: APFS, HFS+, HFS X, FAT (FAT16, FAT32), exFAT, and NTFS.
• Cross-platform recovery capability to retrieve lost data on both Windows and Mac computers.
• Free version offers 2GB of free data recovery, while the Pro version provides unlimited data recovery services.
• Provides live chat and email support. Support email: support@tools.com.

Data Recovery Wizard is a user-friendly free file recovery tool for both Windows and Mac that can restore up to 2 GB of deleted data. https://t.co/qdmO3016bk — Lifewire (@lifewiretech) December 29, 2022

Disadvantages:

• For data recovery over 2GB, users need to upgrade to the Pro version to continue with unlimited recovery of lost data.

• Supported Operating Systems: Latest macOS 10.15 (Catalina) and above, OS X 10.9 or later
• 3-Step Data Recovery: Select location - Scan - Preview and Recover
• Installation Size: 37 MB

It's perfect for all levels of Mac users to fully recover lost data from any complicated situations on all Mac computers and external storage devices. It offers a 3-step Mac data recovery solution.

#2. Ontrack EasyRecovery for Mac

Ontrack EasyRecovery for Mac is described on its website as a Do-It-Yourself data recovery software. Its powerful capabilities have also earned it high praise from professional review sites and editors. It's a well-regarded application, especially for small to medium-sized businesses, which can take advantage of the special attention offered by EasyRecovery Professional.

In addition to recovering deleted files, including backups removed from Time Machine, it's specifically geared toward fixing photos and videos.

Advantages:

- Its Premium and Technician versions support the repair of damaged photo and video files. - Offers cross-platform recovery support on both Mac and Windows operating systems. - Provides phone assistance: 855.411.0560.

Disadvantages:

- No bootable recovery option is supported. - The free trial doesn't come with any free recovery space. Users have to pay even if they need to recover a 10MB file. - There's no live chat support or email support available.

• Supported Operating Systems: macOS 10.14 (Mojave), 10.13, 10.12, 10.11
• 5-Step Data Recovery: Select what to recover - Choose location - Scan - Preview - Recover
• Installation Size: 40.9 MB

Best DIY recovery software for photos and videos on Mac.

#3. Data Rescue 5

Data Rescue 5 boasts an intuitively designed interface that makes it easier for Mac users to follow the guidelines and complete each data recovery step. The excellent feature of excluding duplicate files from the recovery results indeed saves valuable time for Mac users, allowing them to swiftly identify their lost content and quickly weed out unnecessary data.

Advantages:

Exclude duplicate files from the recovery results. (Saves time for Mac users by quickly locating and restoring the desired data.)

Drawback:

• Incompatible with macOS 10.14's Time Machine feature.
• Does not support the latest macOS 10.15 Catalina system.
• Does not support the APFS file system.
• Trial version only offers a free trial, not free recovery capacity.
• Customer service: No online chat support, only email service available.

• Supported Operating Systems: 10.14 (Mojave) / 10.13 (High Sierra) / 10.12 (Sierra) and Mac OS X 10.11
• 5-Step Data Recovery: Start Recovery - Select Device - Scan - Preview - Recover
• Installation Size: 15.7 MB

The best option for powerful data recovery on an older version of Mac OS X using a small data recovery software.

#4. Stellar Data Recovery Professional for Mac

The user interface of Stellar Data Recovery Professional for Mac is also very friendly. The 'Recover Data' option on the 'Welcome' window lets users directly proceed to what they are looking for with this software.

“Drive Monitor” – a SMART hard-drive monitor – is also excellent, allowing users to track the performance and health of their drives.

Advantages:

Two simple buttons on the main window – Recover Data and Monitor Disk – streamline the data-recovery process for Mac users.

Drawback:

• No bootable recovery option.
• Does not support APFS and HFS+ formats.
• No free or trial version - no free recovery quota offered.
• Support: Live chat only (not available at night), no email support.

• Supported Operating Systems: macOS Mojave 10.14, High Sierra 10.13, 10.12, 10.11, 10.10, 10.9, 10.8, and 10.7
• 5-Step Data Recovery: Start Recovery - Select Device - Scan - Preview - Recover
• Installation Size: 41.3 MB

Best suited for simple software-based Mac hard drive recovery.

#5. Disk Drill

In addition to data recovery, Disk Drill allows Mac users to analyze disk space and free up hard drive space with its “Cleanup” feature. Rather than think of it as dependable data recovery software, it's more of a Mac disk management tool that comes with data backup, disk cleanup, and duplicate file finding features.

Of course, it has improved data recovery from both Macs and external storage devices.

Advantages:

• Free version offers 500 MB of data recovery quota.

Disadvantages:

• No bootable recovery support. • Does not support APFS and HFS+. • On the latest macOS 10.14/10.13, a Recovery Boot Drive is required for data recovery. • Support: No live chat support; available only via email.

• Supported Operating Systems: macOS Mojave 10.14, High Sierra 10.13, 10.12, 10.11, 10.10, 10.9, 10.8.5
• 3-Step Data Recovery: Select device - Click Recover & Scan - Recover
• Installation Size: 17.4 MB

Best Data Recovery Tool for Mac Disk Management.

Tutorial: 3 Steps to Recover Data from Mac

Serves: Recovers data for Mac users at all levels – home users, businesses, or technicians.

If you need a step-by-step guide to restore all lost files from your Mac, follow this tutorial and let the Mac Data Recovery Wizard tool help you recover your data right now.

Step 1: Select the location to scan

Run the Mac Data Recovery Wizard, select the hard drive, SSD, SD card, USB flash drive, or TF card from which you've lost data, and click “Find Lost Files” to start scanning.

Note: Before data recovery, it's better to click “Disk Backup” from the left sidebar and create a backup for your Mac to prevent further data loss. After the backup, the software can recover data from the Mac backup, and your computer can write new data again.

Step 2. Filter Lost Mac Data

The software will automatically scan for lost data on your MacBook or iMac. Once the scan is complete, you can filter the required data by clicking the “Type” and “Path” buttons.

Step 3: Recover Lost Data or Files

Preview the files and then click the “Recover” button to restore the lost data to another location.

Conclusions

Finally, if you're a new Mac user without any data recovery experience, a simple tool like Data Recovery Wizard for Mac or Stellar Data Recovery Professional for Mac might be easier to use.

If you need a fully featured tool to fix damaged photos and videos, OnTrack EasyRecovery is worth a try.

If you need timely customer support, Disk Drill for Mac stands out with its online chat and email support.

Read more: Frequently Asked Questions about Mac Data Recovery

This article answers the question "What is the best data recovery software for Mac?" and lists the top 5 Mac file recovery software to help you restore anything lost from your Mac and external storage devices. However, you may have more questions about Mac data recovery. If you have the same queries as others on Google, check them out and find the answers.

Out of the 5 recommended software, Data Recovery Wizard for Mac and OnTrack EasyRecovery offer technical versions for corporations, service providers, consultants, and businesses that allow for unlimited data recovery.

Which data recovery software is best for IT professionals or business service providers? In terms of macOS Catalina data recovery, the Data Recovery Wizard for Mac Technician Edition fares better than OnTrack EasyRecovery, which is incompatible with Catalina.

2. Is Mac data recovery safe?

Essentially, when you lose data from your Mac or storage device, it's unsafe to continue using the device to save more data and files. You should cease using the device immediately and promptly employ a reliable data recovery tool, such as Data Recovery Wizard, to retrieve your lost files.

Is it safe to use Mac Data Recovery Seed?

Most professional or trial Mac data recovery software requires an activation key or license code for activation. Some users may want to get it from unauthorized cracked sites or seeds provided by hackers. However, that's not a wise choice. We don't recommend you activate the software with cracked torrent keys.

Please use legitimate channels to obtain keys for upgrades to protect your rights and interests.

4. How to Perform External Hard Drive Recovery on Mac?

When you lose data from an external hard drive, follow the steps in this Mac external hard drive recovery guide:

Step 1: Don't plug the external drive into your Mac.

Step 2: Install and run a reliable data recovery software – for example, Data Recovery Wizard.

Step 3: Select the external hard drive from which you want to recover all the lost data.

Step 4: Preview and recover all lost data from the external hard drive to another secure location on your Mac.

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