Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

TestDisk VS Recuva

Compare TestDisk VS Recuva 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 .

Recuva logo Recuva

Accidentally deleted an important file? Lost files after a computer crash?
  • TestDisk Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-28
  • Recuva Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-25

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.

Recuva features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Recuva features an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface that simplifies the data recovery process, making it accessible for users of all technical levels.
  • Effective File Recovery
    Recuva is capable of recovering a variety of file types from different storage media, including hard drives, USB drives, and memory cards, ensuring comprehensive data recovery solutions.
  • Free Version Available
    Recuva offers a free version with robust data recovery capabilities, making it an attractive option for individuals who need to recover lost files without financial investment.
  • Deep Scan Option
    The software includes a deep scan function that thoroughly searches for lost files, increasing the chances of successful recovery for more severely corrupted or hard-to-find data.
  • Secure Overwrite Feature
    Recuva provides a secure overwrite feature, allowing users to safely delete sensitive files, ensuring that they cannot be recovered in the future.

Possible disadvantages of Recuva

  • Limited Advanced Features
    The free version of Recuva lacks some advanced features available in other professional data recovery tools, potentially limiting its usefulness for more complex recovery tasks.
  • Variable Recovery Success
    The effectiveness of file recovery can be inconsistent, with some reports of incomplete or unsuccessful recoveries, especially for severely damaged or overwritten files.
  • Windows Only
    Recuva is only available for Windows operating systems, meaning it cannot be used on macOS or Linux, limiting its accessibility for users with non-Windows systems.
  • Long Scan Times
    The deep scan feature, while thorough, can be time-consuming, potentially requiring significant waiting periods for the recovery process to complete, especially on large drives.
  • Less Reliable for SSDs
    Recuva may be less effective at recovering data from solid-state drives (SSDs) due to the way these drives handle data deletion, making it less reliable for users with SSDs.

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

Recuva videos

Recuva Free Data Recovery - Review and Tutorial

More videos:

  • Review - File Recovery - Stellar Data Recovery VS. Recuva
  • Review - Recuva - Recover Deleted Files

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to TestDisk and Recuva)
Backup & Restore
51 51%
49% 49
Monitoring Tools
58 58%
42% 42
Data Recovery Software
43 43%
57% 57
Utilities
47 47%
53% 53

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 Recuva

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...

Recuva Reviews

The 8 Proven Mobile Phone Data Recovery Softwares [Updated in 2023]
Recuva Android data recovery is also a good mobile data recovery software. If you want to restore deleted photos, videos, documents, and other data files from your phone, Recuva is a good choice for restoring phone data.
Top 6 Effective SD Card Recovery Softwares ( Updated in 2023 )
Among many data recovery softwares, Recuva is also a good free SD card recovery option. We used Recuva to test the four data recovery scenarios mentioned above on the SD card, Recuva 100% restored JPG images. Recuva also performs well in other types of data recovery of SD cards. Although the free version of Recuva data recovery is more stable, there are certain limitations....
The 6 Most Effective WhatsApp Recovery Apps for Android Device
Recuva is also a great Android WhatsApp Recovery software, and its biggest feature is that it is free. Users can use the software to find deleted Android data without any pressure. This includes missing WhatsApp data such as chats, contacts, audio, photos, videos, other files, music, etc.
8 Reliable Hard Drive Recovery Softwares for Windows and Mac
Piriform Recuva is one of the well-known hard disk recovery software tools. Its main feature is the design of interaction with users. By asking the user a few questions, Recuva guides the user through data recovery in a very friendly way.
Top 10 Free Paid Photo Recovery Softwares in 2022
Another tool not to be missed on our list is Recuva, a desktop application that has become one of the most popular tools in the field. It is free to download and use with limitations. To remove these restrictions, you need to purchase a license and activate the software. On the other hand, Recuva is useful and free photo recovery software.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing TestDisk and Recuva, you can also consider the following products

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

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

PhotoRec - Jun 4, 2016 - PhotoRec is file data recovery software designed to recover lost files including video, documents and archives from hard disks, CD-ROMs, and lost pictures (thus the Photo Recovery name) from digital camera memory.

MiniTool Power Data Recovery - MiniTool Power Data Recovery is a freemium data recovery tool that works quite well considering the basic version is the only free aspect of the app.

GetDataBack - Free technical support for Runtime Data Recovery programs including GetDataBack, DiskExplorer, RAID Reconstructor and Captain Nemo.

Glary Utilities - The No. 1 Free, Powerful and All-in-one utility for cleaning your PC