Head-to-head · Data Recovery Software
Recoverit vs PhotoRec
Recoverit leads on 0 checks, PhotoRec on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreRecoverit · 9.0/10
- Free planboth
- Most featuresRecoverit · 4 of 4
Recoverit scores higher on our rubric for data recovery software: 9.0 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #6.
Recoverit is the better fit for media-heavy recovery and fragmented-video repair. PhotoRec is the better fit for free forensic-style file carving.
- Recoverit fits best
Media-heavy recovery and fragmented-video repair
- PhotoRec fits best
Free forensic-style file carving
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Side by side
| Feature | Recoverit 9.0/10 Visit ↗ | PhotoRec 8.7/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.0 | 8.7 |
| Ranking | #4 in Data Recovery Software | #6 in Data Recovery Software |
| Best for | Media-heavy recovery and fragmented-video repair | Free forensic-style file carving |
| Pricing model | Free plan + paid | Free |
| Starting price | $99.95/yr | Free |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Desktop | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Support | Email, Live chat, Phone, Tickets, Docs · 24/7 | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Solo, Small business |
| Features Recoverit 4/4 · PhotoRec 2/4 | ||
| Memory card recovery | ✓ | ✓ |
| RAID recovery | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bootable recovery | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| File preview | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Specs | ||
| Recovery sources | computer/laptop, internal hard disk, external hard drive, USB flash drive, camera, memory card, SD card, NAS, Linux devices, disk images, RAID arrays | hard disks; CD-ROMs; memory cards; USB memory drives; DD raw images; EnCase E01 images |
| Operating systems | Windows, macOS | Windows; Linux; macOS; DOS; FreeBSD; NetBSD; OpenBSD; Solaris; other Unix systems |
| Free recovery limit | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Our review | ||
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | Recoverit is desktop data recovery software from Wondershare for recovering deleted, formatted, lost, or inaccessible files. It is suited to people working with internal and external hard drives, SSDs, USB drives, memory cards, cameras,… Read the review → |
PhotoRec is free, open-source file recovery software for retrieving photographs, videos, documents, archives, and other file types. It is designed for people recovering data from hard disks, optical media, memory cards, USB drives, and… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Recoverit — where it wins
- Recovers more than 1,000 file formats across varied storage media
- Premium adds fragmented-video recovery and corrupted video repair
- Supports RAID, NAS, Linux devices, and bootable Windows recovery
Where it doesn't
- Platform coverage is limited to Windows and macOS
- Advanced recovery features require the Premium annual plan
- Paid plans start at $69.99 per year
PhotoRec — where it wins
- Free and open source across Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Recovers files from damaged or reformatted filesystems
- Supports disk images, RAID devices, and command-line automation
Where it doesn't
- Does not provide verified file previews before recovery
- Does not provide bootable recovery media
- Signature-based carving may not preserve original filesystem structure
- Recoverit9.0/10 · Free plan
A broad recovery toolkit with strong media repair and storage-device coverage.
Visit RecoveritFull verdict → - PhotoRec8.7/10 · Free plan
A free, open-source file carver for damaged filesystems and broad media recovery.
Visit PhotoRecFull verdict →
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All data recovery software comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update






