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If you’re looking for a data recovery tool, especially for your Mac device, Disk Drill can be a good choice. Its deep KEXT-level Mac scans work even on newer versions, along with a very robust Windows, Android, and iOS platform.

Disk Drill's website boasts that any lost data file type can be recovered, from almost any data loss scenario you can think of. But does Disk Drill rediscover the deleted data you're expecting? We’ve put Disk Drill to the ultimate test to find out.

(Image credit: Disk Drill)Disk Drill: Plans and pricing

Disk Drill's pricing is slightly on the higher side, especially its one-year subscription, which costs $89 per year. In comparison, EaseUS costs $69.95/year. That said, you can install Disk Drill on up to three devices, whereas EaseUS offers only a single-device license.

However, you get the best value with Disk Drill if you get its lifetime license, which costs only $149. The prices also remain the same for both platforms: Windows and Mac.

Disk Drill: Features

The best thing about Disk Drill is that it is very inclusive in nature, since it supports both Windows and macOS, and a wide variety of file systems such as FAT16, FAT32, exFAT, HFS, APFS, EXT 2/3/4, and RAW disks.

The application can recognize around 400 file signatures on a host of devices such as SSDs and HDDs, USB flash drives, NAS devices, software RAID arrays, smartphones, and memory cards. This is by far one of the widest coverage ranges offered by any data recovery software.

(Image credit: Future)

Besides simple data recovery, Disk Drill also offers a byte-by-byte backup option, which allows you to clone each sector of your device one by one while dealing with failing hard drives. You also get several ancillary tools, such as SMART monitoring, which checks your device health, and a built-in disk cleanup tool that looks for useless files on your drives.

I really loved its Advanced Camera Recovery feature, which makes it easy to restore fragmented and lost video footage from devices such as drones, DVRs, or cameras. There's also a nifty recovery chance calculator, so that you can check the probability of a file being successfully recovered before attempting to do so.

(Image credit: Future)

Data recovery software usually requires direct access to storage devices to properly scan and recover data. However, this is not possible on newer macOS versions with T2 and Apple Silicon M1 to M5 chips.

This is where Disk Drill comes in handy. It deploys its own kernel extension, known as a KEXT, which allows it to cooperate with the macOS kernel and bypass standard OS-level limitations to access internal drives. Since Apple has been slowly phasing out KEXTs, Disk Drill’s ability to perform deep macOS scans is a significant advantage.

Scanning

The scanning speed with Disk Drill depends on the type of drive you are scanning. If it’s an external hard disk, it can take more than 10 hours to scan 1TB of data, which is way more than other platforms we’ve tested. However, internal drive scans are pretty quick – I was able to scan around 600GB of data within a matter of five minutes.

While the scan is in progress, you can review items that have already been found, including deleted files. This allows you to start the recovery process even before the entire scan finishes.

(Image credit: Future)

You will see a color-coded dashboard that segregates each scan into various file types such as pictures, videos, audio, documents, archives, and so on. There’s also an option to view the files in a standard tree view, just like the file explorer on your PC. You can simply click on any one of them to view scan results and recover them.

However, one issue with Disk Drill is that it doesn’t allow you to save scans. If you head back to the homepage before recovering anything, you’ll have to run the scan all over again.

Installation and in-use experience

While Disk Drill is easy to install, compared to other software we have reviewed before, the process took longer than expected, and the application requires a system reboot before you can start using it. In comparison, other software we have tested launches directly upon completion of installation.

(Image credit: Future)

That said, the interface itself is pretty modern and sleek, with a pitch-black design. On the homepage, you will find a side panel that allows you to access all software features, including data recovery and extra tools.

Once you finish a scan, you’ll see two options at the top: Recover All or Review Lost Data. The Review option lets you look for the exact files and folders you want to restore in an easy-to-view, tree-style format. You also have the option to filter results based on file type, size, date modified, and recovery chances.

(Image credit: Future)

Simply check the box next to the file you want to recover and click ‘Recover’ at the bottom right of your screen. Once you choose a destination, the file is recovered within a matter of a few minutes.

The whole process is seamless and pretty beginner-friendly. We didn’t face any lags or unusual delays throughout the process.

Disk Drill: How we tested

To test Disk Drill thoroughly, I installed the free version of the software on my Windows 11 system with 16GB of RAM and a 12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-12500H processor. Then, I downloaded an album of Mozart's music from the Internet Archive. This consisted of 22 files – 13 JPG files, 4 PNG files, 2 MP3 files, 2 FLAC files, and 1 torrent file.

I transferred the folder to a 1.36 TB NTFS hard drive and connected it to my Windows 11 system, after which I deleted it and emptied the Recycle Bin. Then, I ran a scan with Disk Drill, and within a matter of minutes, it found the deleted folder. I simply clicked on it and hit Recover, and all 22 files were recovered in our chosen destination within a few seconds. I repeated this test with local drives on my PC, and the results were similar.

Disk Drill: Support

Disk Drill is easy to use and it's fast. But what happens when you run into problems?

To help you out, a comprehensive selection of tutorials is provided on the website, covering everything from recovering data from specific device types, platforms, and file types. If these documents don't solve your problem, the detailed Lost file recovery university (Disk Drill's knowledge base) almost certainly will.

(Image credit: Disk Drill)

As readers have seen, we were particularly impressed by the knowledge base suggesting that users try to use their own OS built-in utilities to recover data before buying Disk Drill. The support section also provides balanced reviews of other data recovery tools. We particularly recommend the 'Understanding' section of the Knowledge Base, which contains some tutorials on basic subjects like how to recover just one lost file, as well as providing an overview of all Disk Drill features.

Failing that, a live chat service is available, and you can also get in touch with Disk Drill on Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, and LinkedIn.

Disk Drill: Final verdict

Disk Drill for Windows has lived under the shadow of the macOS “original” for quite some time, but based on our testing, this seems unfair. Disk Drill delivers an impressive data recovery experience, supported by features like deep macOS scanning via KEXT, byte-by-byte backups, and a host of free drive maintenance tools.

Its complete collection of features across platforms and scenarios is impressive, including the ability to mount and read previously unmountable virtual hard drives and recover data from them within a comparatively short timeframe.

Disk Drill spotted all the deleted test files and recovered them quickly, reinforcing its reliability as a recovery tool worth considering. The performance is a bit mixed, with external drive scans turning out to be slower than most of its peers. That said, its interface is a clear winner, thanks to its visually appealing and well-segregated scan results.

Pricing for the PRO version isn’t ideal for home users, although there are discounts for users of existing tools, as well as students and charities. While the pricing is on the higher side, the software delivers good value for those looking for a reliable data recovery option and who prioritize usability over cost.

• Also check out our complete list of the best data recovery software

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EaseUS is one of the biggest names in the world of data recovery software, and its Data Recovery Wizard has been around since 2005. After such a long time, you'd hope it's a top option for reliable data recovery. Is it?

Its set of features certainly suggests that it'll get the job done. It claims that it can help you recover lost or deleted files and folders from 2,000+ device types in 1,000+ formats. It can hunt through conventional hard disks and even damaged operating systems, and it supports more file and device types than virtually every rival. It's even got a generous free version alongside powerful paid options.

To find out whether these are simply claims or if EaseUS can actually bring back deleted system data, we’ve put the platform to the test in this detailed review.

(Image credit: EaseUS)EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard: Plans & pricing

EaseUS's pricing tiers are pretty straightforward. You can choose the one-month plan at $69.95 or the one-year plan at $99.95, with the latter being the better choice. Alternatively, you can purchase the lifetime upgrade for $149.95.

There’s also a free version available on its website, which allows you to recover up to 2GB of data at no cost.

Pro tip: If you’re purchasing the lifetime plan, don’t click “buy now” instantly – wait a couple of minutes, and a 20-30% discount coupon may appear.

We also like that all plans offer the same features and differ only in duration. You can also save 20-30% through bundled plans that combine Data Recovery Wizard with EaseUS Todo Backup and iPhone utilities.

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard: Features

EaseUS supports 2,000+ storage devices, including USB flash drives, memory cards, cameras, and external hard drives, along with 1,000+ file types such as photos, emails, archives, documents, and videos.

During our testing, we were able to recover JPG, PNG, MP3, and torrent files. The software also handles multiple data loss scenarios, including deletion, formatting, OS crashes, virus attacks, and inaccessible or RAW partitions.

You don’t need to stay in front of your screen during scans – EaseUS allows automatic recovery of scanned files to a selected location. It also allows you to preview files before restoring them, helping ensure you recover the correct files.

Scanning

EaseUS offers two scanning modes: quick scan and deep scan. When you select a drive and hit the scan button, the quick scan mode kicks in first, where the software reads the drive's file directory and master files to find files that were recently deleted and whose directory entry is intact with no data overwritten. This is very quick, often lasting a few seconds or a minute.

(Image credit: Future)

After this, EaseUS enters deep scan mode, where the entire drive is scanned for known file signatures, header-footer patterns, and specific binary codes. Deep scan comes in handy for older files that were lost accidentally or corrupted over time.

During my test, I noticed EaseUS was consuming 1 to 2% of CPU power at rest. However, as soon as we hit scan on the software, the CPU usage jumped to 7 to 8%, often reaching 10% at times.

(Image credit: Future)

This level of CPU usage is pretty acceptable and normal for a workload-heavy software such as a data recovery tool. I was able to comfortably browse the internet and stream videos without experiencing any performance lags while EaseUS scanned the drive in the background.

Installation and in-use experience

The installation experience of the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is pretty seamless. All you have to do is visit its official website and find the free trial button on its homepage, available for both Windows and Mac.

Click on it to download your free version and then double-click the installed file to launch the installer. Wait 3-5 minutes for the installation process to complete, after which you will see the EaseUS home dashboard.

The interface is modern and sleek, with a central pane showing you all your internal and external drives. Searching for lost data is simple, even if you are a complete beginner to data recovery tools.

(Image credit: Future)

Click on the drive from where the data was deleted and hit the “Search for Lost Data” button in the bottom right corner. EaseUS will then perform a complete drive scan to look for existing as well as deleted files. Besides scanning complete drives, you can also search for specific types of files such as pictures, videos, documents, or audio.

One good thing about EaseUS is that it lets you recover files as soon as you see them pop up while the scan is still running. Click on the file you want to recover and tap the “Recover” button in the bottom right.

(Image credit: Future)

You will then have to choose a destination path where you want to save the recovered file. As soon as you click “Save”, a new File Explorer window will open with your recovered file. All of this happens while the scan is still ongoing in the background.

After we recovered an MP3 file of 3.70MB, our free allowance was reduced to just 508.30MB, which was pretty shocking. It's possible that the 2GB limit might apply to the size of the drive being scanned instead of the amount of data recovered.

How we tested

We first installed the free version of EaseUS on our Windows 11 system, with 16GB of RAM and a 12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-12500H processor.

To test EaseUS's data recovery capability, we downloaded an album of Mozart's music from the Internet Archive. This consisted of 22 files – 13 JPG files, 4 PNG files, 2 MP3 files, 2 FLAC files, and 1 torrent file. We copied this folder onto a 1.36 TB NTFS hard drive and connected it to our Windows 11 system.

We then deleted this folder and emptied the Recycle Bin. After this, we ran a scan with EaseUS, and within a matter of seconds, it found the deleted folder. We simply clicked on it and hit recover, and all 22 files were recovered in our chosen destination within a few seconds.

I also tried to recover the same set of files from the local drive on my system, which EaseUS did comfortably. We noticed that the scanning process is much faster on a local disk than on an externally connected drive, likely due to the higher data transfer speeds and lower latency associated with internal storage interfaces.

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard: Support

(Image credit: EaseUS)

EaseUS offers a fairly comprehensive customer support system, accessible directly from its Support Center. From the dropdown menu, you can quickly navigate to options like Support Center, Download, Chat Support, Pre-Sales Inquiry, Premium Service, and even Manual Recovery Service for advanced cases.

There’s also a handy search bar that lets you instantly look up guides, licensing help, or troubleshooting queries without digging through menus.

For more urgent issues, EaseUS provides direct access to human support. You can reach out via email, call their support number, or use live chat to speak with a representative. This makes it easy to get real-time assistance, whether you're dealing with technical problems or pre-sales questions.

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard: Final verdict

EaseUS is an all-round data recovery software that allows you to get back your data in various loss case scenarios, such as deletions, virus infections, or accidental OS crashes. Along with two scanning modes – quick scan and deep scan – the process is fairly quick, with low CPU utilization at around 7 to 8%.

The interface is modern and very easy to use, even for beginners. The pricing is fair and at par with industry standards, although cheaper options exist. There’s a handy 2GB free data recovery option, which lets you test out the platform before getting a subscription.

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