Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

TestDisk VS Active@ File Recovery

Compare TestDisk VS Active@ File Recovery and see what are their differences

TestDisk logo TestDisk

TestDisk is a free and open source data recovery software tool designed to recover lost partition and unerase deleted files. DownloadDownload TestDisk & PhotoRec. TestDisk is a free and open .

Active@ File Recovery logo Active@ File Recovery

Active@ File Recovery recovers data as a result of having been accidentally deleted, formatted or otherwise lost, includes a Partition Recovery tool.
  • TestDisk Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-28
  • Active@ File Recovery Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-09

TestDisk features and specs

  • Open Source
    TestDisk is an open-source application, meaning it is free to use, modify, and distribute. This makes it accessible for a wide range of users without financial barriers.
  • Wide File System Support
    TestDisk supports a variety of file systems including FAT12, FAT16, FAT32, exFAT, NTFS, ext2, ext3, ext4, HFS+, and more, making it versatile for different recovery needs.
  • Cross-Platform
    The software is available on multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux. This ensures that users can utilize TestDisk regardless of their OS.
  • Comprehensive Data Recovery
    TestDisk can recover lost partitions, make non-bootable disks bootable again, and fix partition tables. It provides extensive data recovery options for various situations.
  • Active Community Support
    Being an open-source project, TestDisk has a community of users and developers who contribute to its development and can offer support through forums and mailing lists.

Possible disadvantages of TestDisk

  • User Interface
    TestDisk features a command-line interface which may be daunting for less tech-savvy users. It lacks the user-friendly GUI that many commercial tools provide.
  • Learning Curve
    Due to its comprehensive features and command-line nature, there is a steep learning curve. Users may need to consult documentation extensively to use it effectively.
  • No Official Customer Support
    As an open-source project, TestDisk does not offer official customer support. Users are reliant on community support which may not always be as prompt or reliable.
  • Risk of Data Overwrite
    Improper use of TestDisk, especially for complex data recovery tasks, could potentially lead to data being overwritten, making recovery impossible.
  • Advanced Usage Complexity
    For advanced recovery tasks, the complexity can increase significantly, requiring a deep understanding of file systems and data recovery principles.

Active@ File Recovery features and specs

  • Comprehensive File Recovery
    Active@ File Recovery supports recovery of a wide range of file types and file systems, making it versatile for different data loss scenarios.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The software offers an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface that caters to both beginners and experienced users.
  • Advanced Scanning Options
    It includes both quick and full scan modes, allowing users to choose between a fast recovery process or a more thorough scan for in-depth recovery.
  • Bootable Disk Image
    The software allows users to create a bootable disk image, which is useful for recovering data from a computer that won't boot.
  • Preview Functionality
    It provides the ability to preview files before recovery, which helps users ensure they are recovering the correct files.

Possible disadvantages of Active@ File Recovery

  • Cost
    The full version of Active@ File Recovery requires a purchase, which may not be ideal for users looking for a free solution.
  • Limited Free Version
    The free version provides limited functionality, restricting the recovery of larger files and advanced features.
  • Complex Recoveries
    In some cases, especially with severely damaged files, recovery might be complex and not always successful.
  • Resource Intensive
    The full scan mode can be resource-intensive, which might slow down performance on less powerful computers.
  • Learning Curve
    While the interface is generally user-friendly, certain advanced features may require a learning curve for less tech-savvy users.

TestDisk videos

Product Review - TestDisk

More videos:

  • Review - Data Recovery on a Formatted Drive with TestDisk by Britec
  • Review - Recover lost partition on Windows 8.1 with TestDisk

Active@ File Recovery videos

Active@ File Recovery: recover files on severely damaged disks

More videos:

  • Review - Recovery from a lost partition - Active@ File Recovery

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to TestDisk and Active@ File Recovery)
Backup & Restore
92 92%
8% 8
Monitoring Tools
95 95%
5% 5
Utilities
84 84%
16% 16
Data Recovery Software

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare TestDisk and Active@ File Recovery

TestDisk Reviews

Top 10 Best Data Recovery Software in 2021 (That Actually Worth Your Time!)
It’s true that TestDisk can undelete files from FAT, exFAT, NTFS, and xt2/ext3/ext4 file systems, but this functionality is tucked away inside the advanced menu, where most regular users never go. Besides, recovering individual files with TestDisk is extremely cumbersome because you can’t preview files before recovery.
Top 5 Best Free Data Recovery Software in 2021
Overall, TestDisk is a very specialized tool that will not serve the needs of average users suffering from inadvertent data loss. The functionality of this software can cause additional damage to potentially recoverable data when used by individuals with insufficient training.
Top 5 Free Recuva Alternatives on Windows
TestDisk is a freely available data recovery application that works efficiently on all kinds of operating systems. You can run it on Linux, SunOS, macOS, Windows, and even DOS. While the user interface is not that friendly, the free application will do the needed job.
Top 5 Recuva Data Recovery Alternatives for Windows
TestDisk is free Recuva Data Recovery software designed for windows. TestDisk is Powerful software that can recover a range of files including lost partitions and data files among others. If your disk is not booting, then this software is a tool that can make your disk bootable again. These problems could be because of software attack by viruses or human errors such as...

Active@ File Recovery Reviews

We have no reviews of Active@ File Recovery yet.
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing TestDisk and Active@ File Recovery, you can also consider the following products

Recuva - Accidentally deleted an important file? Lost files after a computer crash?

Free Data Recovery Mate - Free File Data Recovery Software provides 4 recover modes

Disk Drill by Cleverfiles - Recover any type of deleted files in Windows & Mac including Office documents, messages, and media files quickly and easily.

DiskPatch - Did the entire hard disk go blank? Does Windows complain that the volume needs to be formatted?

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard - Advanced data recovery software to do format recovery, unformat and recover deleted files emptied...

RecoveryRobot Partition Recovery - Best partition recovery software program app free download | Recover data, file, images, videos and more from lost, deleted, damaged partitions on hard drives.