Head-to-head · Photo Recovery Software
PhotoRec vs Hetman Photo Recovery
PhotoRec leads on 1 check, Hetman Photo Recovery on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scorePhotoRec · 9.3/10
- Free planonly PhotoRec
- Most featuresHetman Photo Recovery · 3 of 3
PhotoRec scores higher on our rubric for photo recovery software: 9.3 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #6.
PhotoRec offers free plan; Hetman Photo Recovery doesn't.
PhotoRec is the better fit for free open-source signature recovery. Hetman Photo Recovery is the better fit for dedicated photo recovery with imaging support.
- PhotoRec fits best
Free open-source signature recovery
- Hetman Photo Recovery fits best
Dedicated photo recovery with imaging support
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Side by side
| Feature | PhotoRec 9.3/10 Visit ↗ | Hetman Photo Recovery 8.7/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.3 | 8.7 |
| Ranking | #1 in Photo Recovery Software | #6 in Photo Recovery Software |
| Best for | Free open-source signature recovery | Dedicated photo recovery with imaging support |
| Pricing model | Free | Paid |
| Starting price | Free | — |
| Free plan | ✓ (best) | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Desktop | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Support | Community, Docs | Email, Live chat, Phone, Docs · 24/7 |
| Built for | Solo, Small business | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Features PhotoRec 0/3 · Hetman Photo Recovery 3/3 | ||
| Raw photo recovery | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| Disk image support | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| Photo preview | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| Specs | ||
| Supported platforms | Not checked yet | Multi-platform |
| Recovery sources | Not checked yet | HDDs, SSDs, USB drives, SD and other memory cards, digital cameras, disk images |
| Scan modes | Not checked yet | Both |
| Free recovery limit | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Our review | ||
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | PhotoRec is free, open-source file recovery software from CGSecurity for retrieving photographs, videos, documents, archives, and other files from storage media. It is suited to people recovering data from hard disks, optical media, memory… Read the review → |
Hetman Photo Recovery is desktop software for recovering deleted or lost photos from HDDs, SSDs, USB drives, memory cards, digital cameras, and supported disk images. It is aimed at photographers, home users, offices, and commercial… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
PhotoRec — where it wins
- Recovers files from severely damaged or reformatted filesystems
- Supports memory cards, USB drives, disks, and disk images
- Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, and several Unix-like systems
Where it doesn't
- No verified preview capability before recovery
- Command-line automation may require a more technical workflow
- Signature carving focuses on recovery rather than photo organization
Hetman Photo Recovery — where it wins
- Content-aware scans and Fast Scan cover varied recovery needs
- Recovers camera RAW files from drives, cards, and cameras
- Previews, filters, and disk-image analysis support careful recovery
Where it doesn't
- A license is required to save recovered files
- Each listed license is valid for one computer
- Plans separate personal, office, and third-party commercial use
- PhotoRec9.3/10 · Free plan
A broad, free recovery tool for difficult media, with a less convenient photo-first workflow.
Visit PhotoRecFull verdict → - Hetman Photo Recovery8.7/10 · Paid
A photo-focused recovery tool with RAW support, previews, filtering, and disk-image analysis.
Visit HetmanFull verdict →
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All photo recovery software comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update