4 Free & Paid TestDisk Alternative Software

This article offers 4 TestDisk alternatives for you to recover deleted or lost files from HDDs, USB drives, SD cards, and other local storage devices.

By @Penny Last Updated December 16, 2024

Although TestDisk has gained popularity among open-source enthusiasts, its command user interface can be a hot potato for beginners.

If you’re not inclined to TestDisk, we’ve presented a selection of 4 TestDisk alternatives that offer seamless data recovery experiences and an intuitive graphical user interface.

This article explains what makes each TestDisk alternative tool stand out, explores their pricing structures, accesses their compatibility across various platforms, and provides insights into areas where further improvement may be desirable.

For your convenience, we’ve also included screenshots to offer a visual glimpse into each solution’s interface.

About TestDisk

TestDisk is a useful program, but it hasn’t been updated since 2019. Premium TestDisk alternatives can automatically update, keeping them with the latest features and security.

Here are a few reasons why you might consider an alternative to TestDisk.

πŸ’» User-friendly interface:

One major drawback of TestDisk and PhotoRec is their command-line GUI. In contrast, these TestDisk alternatives offer modern graphical user interfaces without typing CMD to recover deleted files.

🍎 Mac compatibility:

TestDisk and PhotoRec are not compatible with Macs that use Apple Silicon chips.

🟒 Separate tools:

In brief, TestDisk primarily serves as an open-source file recovery tool for deleted items, while PhotoRec is better suited for advanced recovery tasks such as retrieving lost files due to corruption, accidental formatting, or software failures.

Although both utilities are bundled in a single download, their user interfaces could be confusing, especially for newcomers. So determining when and how to use TestDisk or PhotoRec poses an additional challenge for users seeking a straightforward and efficient data recovery process.

❌ Warning:

If your drive suffers physical damage, you’d better stop using it and send it to a reliable data recovery service center like Geek Squad to retrieve your data.

Top 4 TestDisk alternative software

This part lists 4 TestDisk alternative Windows software for your reference.

1st. MyRecover

The first recommended TestDisk alternative is MyRecover because of its intuitive GUI, advanced scanning method, and high data recovery rate.

Supported by AOMEI Tech, MyRecover excels at recovering deleted and lost files from HDDs, USB sticks, SD cards, and other local storage devices.

MyRecover
πŸ‘Top 1 TestDisk Alternative Windows Software
  • Apply to comprehensive data loss scenarios: supportaccidental deletion recovery, Recycle Bin recovery, formatted hard drive recovery, computer crashed recovery, and virus attack recovery.
  • Recover 1000+ file formats: images (JPG, PNG, DNG, NEF, etc.), videos (MP4, MOV, AVI, etc.), MS Office files, WPS files, folders, compressed files, websites, etc.
  • Advanced scanning method: During scanning, you can filter and preview your wanted files according to filename, file format, saved path, storage size, deleted date, etc.
  • Keep the original file format: MyRecover will not change deleted files’ file format.
  • Excellent compatibility: Support Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, or Server PC and 4 file systems (NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, and ReFS).
  • πŸ”₯ 500 MB of data can be recovered for free.

πŸ’² Prices & versions:

  Free Version MyRecover Pro MyRecover Technician Availability
Monthly $0.00 $39.95 $99.00 Upgrade now >>
Yearly $59.95 $199.00
Lifetime $69.95 $99.95 $299.00 $399.00
Differences Recover data free 500MB Recover unlimited data on 1 computer/license Recover unlimited data on unlimited computers/licenses

Steps to recover deleted and missing files on Windows via MyRecover!

Step 1. Install and run MyRecover on your Windows > select the drive that saves your needed files before data loss > click Start Scan.

Step 2. After clicking Start Scan, MyRecover will automatically run Quick Scan and Deep Scan to search all the recoverable files on your selected drive.

🌟Tip: During scanning, you can filter and preview your wanted files according to Name, Type, Path, Size, Date, etc.
  • Name: Enter the relevant filename of your desired files to quickly locate them.
  • Date modified: Set the date (today, yesterday, last 7/30 days, etc.)
  • Size: Set file size (<128KB, 128KB~1MB, 1MB~512MB, etc.)

Step 3. Under the Deleted Files/Recycle Bin/Other Missing Files folder, choose the files you want to retrieve > click Recover x files.

Please store your recovered files in another drive instead of the original drive.

2nd. Recuva

β˜…β˜…β˜… Performance:

Recuva is another TestDisk alternative that can recover files from Windows computers, camera SD cards, MP3 players, etc.

Recuva features a low price and good performance.

It’s easy for beginners to operate because of its clear GUI (graphical user interface).

Support customized scanning.

The quick scan can automatically last for 1-3 minutes, however, the deep scan needs to be launched manually and lasts for 30-60+ minutes.

Many recovered files might lose their original filenames and paths.

🟒 Pros:

The quick scan can be finished quickly.

Recover data from damaged hard drives.

πŸ”΄ Cons:

No preview.

The quick scan process is relatively long.

Sometimes, it cannot keep the filenames and directories.

πŸ’² Prices & versions:

 

Free

Pro

Price

$0.00

$24.95

Differences

Only supports data recovery

Automatic updates

3rd. R-studio

β˜…β˜…β˜… Performance:

The third TestDisk alternative Windows is R-Studio. This powerful data recovery utility can deal with many data loss scenarios.

It offers dynamic volumes/VMware support and Forensic Mode in different versions.

Its GUI (graphical user interface) is quite complicated and a little hard for users to use.

It allows searching completely & sector by sector and also supports extra scans for File Types.

During the test, it takes 20-60 minutes to finish scanning.

Retain the original filenames and saved paths.

It allows previewing and filtering.

🟒 Pros:

Deal with comprehensive data recovery scenarios.

Work on local and network drives.

Support saving and resuming scanning information.

πŸ”΄ Cons:

Complicated GUI.

High prices.

No refunds.

Its demo version cannot recover files more than 256KB.

πŸ’² Prices & versions:

  Demo FAT NTFS Standard T80+ Corporate Technician
Prices $0.00 $49.99 $59.99 $79.99 $80.00 $179.99 $899.00
Differences Cannot recover files larger than 256KB Only support FAT/exFAT/Ext2/3/4 Only support NTFS/ReFS/Ext2/3/4 Multi-file-system

Commercial use;

No permanent license

Multi-file-system;

Recovery over network

Multi-platform;

Commercial use
Note These prices are only for 1 license.

4th. Stellar Data Recovery

β˜…β˜…β˜… Performance:

The last recommended alternative to TestDisk is Stellar Data Recovery software. It can recover deleted or lost Windows files in any data loss situation.

Recover data from encrypted, RAW, or corrupted hard drives.

Offer customized scanning.

Allow previewing during scanning.

Provide quick scan (2-5 minutes) & deep scan (20-40 minutes).

Cannot retain the original filenames of the deleted files in the Recycle Bin.

🟒 Pros:

Keep the directories of the scanned files.

Provide customized scanning.

Support preview.

πŸ”΄ Cons:

Its demo version needs you to pay for it if you want to recover files.

Some filenames might be lost.

Conditional refund policy in 7 or 30 days.

πŸ’² Prices & Versions:

 

Demo

Standard

Professional

Premium

1 Year License

$0.00

$59.99

$89.99

$99.99

Lifetime License

$99

$149

$199

Lifetime License

Only demonstration, no data recovery

Standard data recovery

Advanced data recovery

Advanced data repair

Wrapping up

TestDisk and PhotoRec are excellent data recovery tools, but there are another 4 free or paid TestDisk alternatives.

These alternatives offer a friendlier GUI and simpler operating steps, and MyRecover is the most recommended alternative to TestDisk.

MyRecover

Top 1 TestDisk Alternative Software