Top 10 Mac Data Recovery Software for 2026

When files disappear on a Mac, either due to disk formatting, iCloud sync issues, deletion, system crashes, or more, recovery isn't always as simple as it sounds. Apple has built macOS around speed, reliability, and security. While it's great for everyday use, it complicates things when something goes wrong, such as the loss of important data. 

Modern Macs rely heavily on SSD storage, APFS, and Apple silicon security layers, which erase data much faster than older systems, making traditional recovery less effective. This is where specialized Mac data recovery software becomes essential for safely recovering lost files without further damaging your system.

We’ve rounded up some of the best Mac Data Recovery software to compare and determine what makes them a reliable choice.

What makes a great Mac data recovery tool?

There is a wide variety of terrific Mac data recovery tools, but what works for one user may not work for another. IT professionals or advanced users will require powerful recovery features and deep scan capabilities, while casual users may prefer a simpler, easier-to-understand user interface. So, the best Mac data recovery software depends on your specific data loss scenario. 

• Deep & Quick Scan Options: Deep scans find files even from formatted or broken storage by analyzing file signatures. Quick scans only work when something’s been recently deleted, as they scan the drive superficially using the file system.
• Supports Multiple File Types: It can recover hundreds of file types like photos, videos, documents, audios, etc.
• File System Support: Support Macintosh, Windows, Linux, and CD/DVD file systems
• Advanced Drive & System Recovery: Recovers data from unallocated, lost, deleted, damaged, formatted, RAW partitions, and even non-booting or crashed Macs.
• Preview Before Recovery: So that you are not restoring any kind of junk or unwanted files.
• Clean Interface: A great software should allow you to figure it out without a tutorial.
• Respect for Privacy: The software shouldn’t collect your data or upload anything behind your back.
• macOS & Chip Support: Data recovery for T2, M1, M2, M3, M4 Macs, encrypted file systems, Time Capsule, and Time Machine backups.
• Price: Once you’ve worked out exactly what it is you need a Mac data recovery software to do, find one that meets your needs at the best price. You’ll obviously need to pay more if you require plenty of powerful features.

1. Stellar Data Recovery for Mac 

Stellar Data Recovery for Mac is the ultimate overall data recovery software to retrieve lost or deleted files from a Mac. No matter how the data was lost, whether it’s due to deletion, hardware or software failures, human errors, etc., Stellar Data Recovery for Mac is incredibly effective at restoring files from all data loss scenarios.

This Mac data recovery software supports major file systems: macOS, Windows, and Linux. Stellar Data Recovery for Mac comes with a Deep scan feature, letting you perform a comprehensive signature-based search. And you can use the Preview feature to see the recoverable file in real time while the scan is in progress, which saves a lot of time for the users.

Pros: 

• Recover data from unallocated, uninitialized, RAW, unidentified, damaged, deleted, and formatted storage media.
• Data Recovery from a non-booting, crashed Mac and Time Machine Backup drive.
• Supports previewing of files before recovery while the scan is ongoing, which saves a lot of time.
• Save and resume recovery feature to recover data at a later stage without scanning the drive again.
• Support data recovery from T2 security chips as well as M1, M2, M3 and M4 chip.
• Supports the creation of images for hard disks and volumes for recovery.
• Support multiple file systems of APFS, HFS+, exFAT, FAT32, NTFS (read-only), Linux EXT.
• Clean interface, easy walkthrough.
• Recovers all the essentials: photos, videos, audio, documents.
• Compatible with macOS Tahoe 26 and below.
• Offers 'Pause and Resume' scans with file restoration during scanning.  new
• Supports previewing of files before recovery for most file types.
• Supports over 300 file types by default, with the ability to add and edit unlimited custom file types.

Cons:

• Takes time in Deep scan.
• You can activate this tool only on one system.
• No raid support

2. R-Studio for Mac 

R-Studio for Mac is another powerful data recovery software that’s primarily used to recover lost, deleted, or inaccessible data from the macOS system. It supports recovery from HFS+, APFS, FAT/exFAT, and NTFS, and it works with internal drives, external storage, and disk images.

However, R-Studio for Mac has a critical limitation: it cannot recover data from internal system drives on Macs with Apple Silicon M1–M4, possibly M5 or T2 security chips, because of secure boot and SIP restrictions. 

Pros: 

• Extensive file system support.
• Allow creating disk images and performing recovery from them.
• Let’s you preview recoverable data of most of the file types.
• Have great scanning capabilities.
• You can add your own custom file signatures to recover files not supported by default.
• R-Studio is compatible with the latest version of macOS and below, as well as Mac OS X Tiger.

Cons:

• The program can’t scan system disks on T2 and M1-M5 Macs.
• You have to wait for the scanning to finish to recover your files.
• The preview feature is very slow.
• R-Studio doesn’t come with a scan session manager.
• R-Studio doesn’t automatically resume interrupted scans.
• The interface is technical and complex, which means it is not beginner-friendly.

3. Wondershare Recoverit for Mac 

Wondershare Recoverit for Mac is a streamlined application that does a great job of recovering deleted photos, videos, audios, and other file formats. It’s great at recovering and repairing corrupted videos of popular file formats, including AVI, MOV, INSV, WMV, and more. The interface is modern and smooth, so you won’t trip.

Pros: 

• Simple and user-friendly interface.
• Recover thousands of file formats from a large number of storage devices.
• Preview recoverable files before actually saving them.
• Includes an option to recover and repair corrupted video files.
• Works in all popular data loss scenarios- accidental deletion, virus attacks, and more.

Cons:

• Can’t perform a full disk scan.
• Doesn’t automatically resume scanning.
• The program shows the same recoverable file twice or more times.
• There is no way to save a disk scan session.
• There is no way to save a disk scan session.

4. Disk Drill for Mac 

Disk Drill for Mac is another reliable tool for recovering lost or deleted files, from all data loss scenarios, from accidental deletion to system crash, etc. This tool runs smoothly on macOS 10.13 and later, including the newest macOS (Sequoia/Tahoe), and supports both Intel-based Macs and Apple Silicon machines natively.

Pros: 

• Modern and user-friendly interface.
• Preview files before recovery
• Runs natively on M1/M2/M3/M4/M5 devices
• Compatible with Mac, SD cards, and external drives.
• Supports over 400 file types
• Offers deep scanning capabilities

Cons:

• The free version only shows which files can be recovered
• Deep scans on large drives may take a long time to finish.
• Recovered files may end up in many folders.

5. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac 

Developed by a Chinese company, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac has quickly become a popular recovery software for Apple users. It offers recovery of deleted, lost, or inaccessible files from Mac's internal and external storage drives.

Pros: 

• Beginner-friendly user interface
• The software can run in the native recovery mode of macOS.
• Scan and recover at the same time.
• Use software on any Apple silicon Mac.
• Supports many file types & devices

Cons:

• Doesn’t support previewing all commonly used file formats like RAW files.
• The reported scan time estimates can be unreliable.
• The application contains pop-up ads.
• Deep scans and larger recoveries may require a paid plan.

6. Data Rescue for Mac (Prosoft) 

Data Rescue by Prosoft Engineering isn’t just a Mac data recovery tool. Its primary use is to recover data that has been lost due to accidental deletion, emptied trash, formatting, lost partitions, and more.  It can also help you to create a backup image for a failing drive before recovery.

Pros: 

• Simple and user-friendly interface.
• Only basic data recovery functionality
• View previous scan results
• Quick and deep scan options
• A single license provides Mac and Windows support

Cons:

• Inconvenient preview feature.
• Only basic data recovery functionality
• Can’t scan encrypted APFS or HFS+ volumes.
• The software always recovers files to a temporary folder before previewing them.

7. PhotoRec for Mac 

PhotoRec is a completely free and open-source data recovery tool for Mac that uses a signature scanner to scan any file system from Apple, Windows, and Linux to locate lost files.

This application has a terminal-like interface that runs in the command line, which can be intimidating for normal users.

Pros: 

• Free and open source.
• No installation is required and can be run directly from any storage device.
• Wide-ranging file system support
• Supports recovery of many different file types.
• Support for Mac, Windows, and Linux operating systems.

 

Cons:

• Only a basic graphical user interface is available.
• Files are recovered with generic names and need to be renamed.
• The app is not as consistently updated as other recovery software
• It lacks visual features like file preview.
• It only has a signature scanner that decreases its overall recovery capability.
• No advanced features like disk imaging, filters, automatic sorting, etc.
• Can be slow and clunky for large drives

8. iBoysoft Data Recovery for Mac 

iBoysoft Data Recovery is another reliable recovery tool that can recover a wealth of file types lost or deleted from Mac internal and external drives. In addition to recovering files from an emptied Trash bin, it even recovers data from a Mac that won’t boot.  

Pros: 

• Compatible with M1/M2/M3/M4 and T2 Macs
• Support recovery of files from unbootable systems
• Scan results can be saved and reloaded
• Free scan and preview of recoverable files
• Quick and Deep scans for optimal recovery results
• Wide file system support

Cons:

• The Deep Scan only seems to be accessible through the Recovery Mode-based tool
• Deep scans on large drives may take a long time
• The paid license is expensive
• Filled with lots of irritating ads.

9. Cisdem Data Recovery for Mac 

Cisdem Data Recovery for Mac is the closest alternative to EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard that shares the same functionality and limitations. And just like its rivals, it scans your Mac's internal as well as external storage media to restore lost, deleted, or inaccessible files. The app can restore a wide range of file types and works in all basic data loss scenarios like accidental deletion, formatting, etc.

Pros: 

• Compatible with Apple silicon Macs.
• Detailed scan result with folder structure and file names.
• Scan many files and work with macOS drives and external media.
• Recover files while scanning is ongoing.
• User-friendly interface.

Cons:

• Inaccurate recovery timing estimates
• Limited preview capabilities
• Lacks detailed disk utilities, system health tools, and features.
• It requires you to switch off System Integrity Protection
• The scanning process takes up more time than usual
• It’s impossible to preview audio and video files

10. TestDisk for Mac 

If all you’re looking for is recovering lost partitions, fixing boot records, and repairing corrupted file system than single file recovery tool, TestDisk for Mac, is worth considering. It’s a command-line tool that focuses on restoring an entire partition rather than photos, videos, or documents.

 Pros: 

• Completely free and open-source tool for recovery
• Supports raw and dismounted disks
• Powerful tool for recovering lost partitions, rebuilding partition tables, and fixing boot sectors.
• Runs without installation
• Available on macOS, Windows, Linux, and other systems

Cons:

• Slow speed of scanning and recovery 
• Complicated command-line user interface
• Can’t restore data after formatting.
• Rarely updated, which means compatibility issues on newer Macs with Apple Silicon
• Not user-friendly; requires technical knowledge to navigate
• No file preview option
• Manual step-by-step scanning process.

Our Recommendation

For the best data recovery experience on the latest and earlier versions of macOS, we recommend Stellar Data Recovery for Mac. This tool is known for its ease of use and advanced recovery capabilities to restore a wide range of file types from all types of storage devices. Whether dealing with accidental deletion, formatting, drive corruption, or other data loss scenarios, Stellar has the highest success rates when it comes to recovering data from macOS.

Summary

It’s dangerous to assume that your Mac is immune to data loss or that you will never stumble across a situation where your important photos and documents are lost. The good news is that recovering your data can be easy and affordable.

If you are a casual computer user who lost their Mac data, then Cisdem Data Recovery for Mac, Disk Drill, and EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac are enough to recover the deleted data, thanks to their user-friendly interface.

However, for complex recovery scenarios involving lost partitions or forensic analysis, Data Rescue and R-Studio for Mac are better as they may require technical expertise. For users who are looking free and open-source data recovery tool, TestDisk for Mac and PhotoRec are good enough. However, if you use a Mac to store important data, we recommend using a paid solution with more features, such as Stellar Data Recovery for Mac.