Active@ File Recovery review
A low-cost Windows recovery utility with RAID, imaging, previews, and bootable tools.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Active@ File Recovery is a Windows data-recovery utility for restoring deleted files and recovering data from damaged or reformatted partitions and volumes. It is aimed at individuals and technicians working with hard drives, SSDs, external disks, USB drives, memory cards, digital cameras, disk images, and RAID arrays. The software supports Windows 11 through Windows XP, Windows Server 2022 through Windows Server 2003, and WinPE, giving it broad coverage across Windows systems but no listed support for other desktop platforms.
Pricing is structured as three one-time licenses. Standard costs $29.95 and includes deleted and damaged partition recovery with a personal license. Professional costs $44.95 and adds the Disk Editor, damaged RAID recovery, custom file signatures, and File Organizer. Ultimate costs $69.95, includes Professional features, and adds bootable WinPE and Linux-based LiveCD recovery environments. A free evaluation download is available for restoring files up to 64 KB, while the paid editions define the main capability tiers. The plan structure makes Standard suitable for straightforward recovery, Professional more appropriate for advanced storage cases, and Ultimate the choice when a computer may not start normally.
Its feature set reaches beyond basic undelete tools. QuickScan, SuperScan, and LastChance modes address different recovery situations; predefined and user-defined signatures support file-type recovery; and file previews help assess recoverable content before restoration. The utility can create and recover raw or compressed disk images, includes a hex viewer and disk editor, and reconstructs RAID-0, RAID-1, RAID-5, and Span arrays. Those capabilities suit users handling damaged media, unusual file types, or storage arrays. Choose it when Windows coverage, one-time pricing, imaging, or bootable recovery matters. Choose an alternative when you need recovery software for macOS or another non-Windows platform.
Active@ File Recovery pros and cons
- Where it wins
- QuickScan, SuperScan, and LastChance recovery modes
- RAID-0, RAID-1, RAID-5, and Span reconstruction
- Bootable WinPE and Linux recovery environments
- Where it doesn't
- Windows-only platform coverage
- RAID and custom signatures require Professional
- Bootable environments require Ultimate
Active@ File Recovery fact sheet, pricing and score →
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