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SD Photo Rescue

Free#38 of 44 in Photo Recovery SoftwareSD Card Recovery Software

SD Photo Rescue: A focused open-source choice for RAW photo recovery from SD cards on macOS and Linux. Ranked #38 of 44 in Photo Recovery Software by our editors (5.6/10); pricing: Free plan; best for free SD-card RAW recovery on macOS or Linux.

5.6/10Editor score
Try SD Photo Rescue
SD Photo Rescue5.6 Try SD Photo Rescue

At a glance

  • Editor score
    5.6 / 10
  • Pricing
    Free plan
  • Best for
    Free SD-card RAW recovery on macOS or Linux
  • Free plan
    Yes
  • Paid from
    Free
  • Supported platforms
    Multi-platform
  • Facts checked
    20 Sep 2026
SD Photo Rescue screenshot

  • Where it wins

    • Supports CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF, ORF, RW2, DNG and PEF
    • Read-only scanning protects the original SD card during recovery
    • EXIF-date and megapixel filters help separate photos from thumbnails

  • Where it doesn't

    • Limited to SD cards and raw disk-image recovery sources
    • Command-line workflow may not suit users seeking a graphical interface
    • No quick/deep scan modes or pre-save photo preview

Our verdict on SD Photo Rescue

SD Photo Rescue is a free, open-source command-line tool for recovering photos and videos from formatted or corrupted SD cards. It runs locally on macOS and Linux, scans raw card bytes without writing to the card, and saves recovered files to a separate folder. The tool is aimed at photographers and technically comfortable users who need targeted recovery for JPEG, HEIC, camera RAW, MP4, or MOV files rather than a broad recovery suite for many storage types.

Its standout strength is the depth of its photo-focused carving workflow. SD Photo Rescue supports CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF, ORF, RW2, DNG, and PEF camera RAW formats alongside JPEG and HEIC. EXIF capture-date filtering can narrow results by when images were taken, while megapixel-based filtering helps separate full-size photos from thumbnails. Recovery can also work from a raw disk-image file, giving users an alternative to scanning a physical card directly.

The trade-off is a deliberately narrow scope and a command-line recovery wizard. The published feature set centers on SD cards and raw disk-image files, so it is less suitable for users who need recovery across a wider range of storage sources or prefer a visual, preview-led workflow. Choose SD Photo Rescue for free, local RAW recovery on macOS or Linux, especially when read-only scanning and photo-specific filters matter. Choose an alternative if broader device coverage, graphical navigation, or more guided scan modes are priorities.

Your product? Our editors can test SD Photo Rescue in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

SD Photo Rescue pricing

Plans Free planFree Free to use — no paid tier required for the core job.
See plans on github.com

SD Photo Rescue fact sheet

Free planYes
Paid fromFree
Supported platformsMulti-platform
Recovery sourcesSD cards; raw disk-image files
Scan modesNot verified
Raw photo recoveryYes
Disk image supportYes
Photo previewNot verified
Free recovery limitNot verified
DeploymentSelf-hosted
PlatformsmacOS, Linux
SupportCommunity
Built forSolo, Small business (editorial estimate)
PricingFree plan
Websitegithub.com
Facts checked20 Sep 2026

Alternatives to SD Photo Rescue

See all SD Photo Rescue alternatives →

Also Ranked In

SD Photo Rescue is ranked in 2 of our directories.

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Featured on iTechGuides

Featured on iTechGuides — SD Photo Rescue 5.6/10

SD Photo Rescue is listed in our Photo Recovery Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/sd-photo-rescue/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/sd-photo-rescue.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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