External hard drives are more and more important in our daily lives. We use external hard drives 
a lot and we often use them to store amazing videos, precious photos and other files/data from cameras, computers, and other devices.
However, data loss may strike your external hard drives at any moment. And you may accidentally lose or delete files on external drives . In an instant, some or all of your data can disappear, leaving you frozen in shock trying to understand what happened. So, what choices do you have if you want to recover data from external hard drive, stick drive, USB, CF/TF card, or other external devices?
Your next right step is to use a most reliable external hard drive recovery software to retrieve data back from external hard drives. Selecting the best one can be difficult though, as each external drive data recovery tool has specific strengths and weaknesses to consider for your system and storage needs.
To make this selection easier, we have dived deep into what causes external drive data loss and what's top external hard drive recovery software, and also we have thoroughly tested, analyzed, and hand-picked the best external hard drive recovery software you can try for free and truly helps you to recover lost data from external hard drive in an easy way.
Table of Contents
Part 1: Factors to Keep in Mind When Choosing the Best External Hard Drive Recovery Software
To determine which one is the most reliable and the best external hard drive recovery software, the fundamental criteria should be focused on recovery functions, performances, cost-effective prices, and data security.
We've developed a rigorous methodology that evaluates external hard drive data recovery software based on the fundamental criteria. Here's the details for our selection methodology:
|
Criteria |
Description |
|
⚙️ Functions |
Functions should be rich and cover all external drive recovery needs. Key factors evaluated are:
|
|
🚀 Performance |
Recovery process should be efficient. Key factors evaluated are:
|
|
🚫 Security |
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|
💵 Price |
|
Part 2: External Hard Drive Recovery Stats
2.1 What Causes External Hard Drive Data Loss
External hard drive data loss can occur due to various reasons. Understanding these causes and scenarios can help users identify the best recovery approach. According to our survey, the common causes are listed as follows:
| Cause | Description |
| 📊 Accidental Deletion/Formatting | This is the most frequent cause of data loss. External hard drives are accidentally deleted or formatted. |
| ⚠️ Power Surge or Improper Ejection | Sudden power loss or removing the external hard drive without properly ejecting can lead to severe corruption and data loss. |
| ⏳ Corrupted External Drive | File system errors, bad sectors, causing data loss or making data inaccessible. |
| 🔧 Physical Damage | Dropping the hard drive or exposing it to extreme temperatures or moisture can cause physical damage, potentially leading to data loss. |
| 📱 Device Malfunction | Sometimes, the device reading the external hard drive (like a PC) may malfunction, causing data loss. |
| 🧰 Virus or Malware Attacks | Virus or malware attacks can damage files on an external hard drive, making data inaccessible or causing data loss. |
Most common causes for external hard drive data loss include: accidental deletion/formatting, power surge, external hard drive corruption, virus attacks, human improper use error etc.
Understanding these scenarios is necessary because different types of data loss scenarios may require different recovery approaches. Best external hard drive data recovery software is designed to deal with all of these data loss scenarios, making it a versatile and perfect choice for external hard drive data recovery.
2.2 What Storage Devices People Recover Data From
According to our survey, we found out that users recover data from different devices, including inner hard drives of PC, external storage devices, recycle bin and PC desktop etc. The detailed portion data is: about 40% users recover their lost data from external storage devices (including external hard drives, USB drives, CF/TF card, portable hard drives etc.), and 35% users recover data from inner hard drives of computers. Other small segments of users recover data from recycle bin, desktop and so on. We have compiled a graph to provide an overall sight of the portions as follows;
2.3 What File Formats People Recover Most
Based on the file format types recovered by users in our survey, the photo/picture file type is the most commonly recovered file type (at 32%). Video files follow closely behind at 24%, while documents, audio, and archives comprise smaller portions of the total files recovered.
Knowing the distribution of file types can provide valuable insights into how data recovery software can meet users' requirements the most and can also remind users of the most vulnerable files to protect in their daily lives.
🖼️ Photo files account for the most portion (32%). People take more photos than ever using cameras and other digital devices. Also, photo/picture files tend to be larger in size and they are easy to be deleted or lost.
📹 Video files come in second place, representing 24%. Video content platforms like YouTube and TikTok are more and more popular. And video conferencing tools for remote work are increasing. As more and more videos are created and shared, there is a higher likelihood of losing video files.
📑 Documents represent 18%, which indicates that nowadays many users store work-related or personal documents on their devices. Accessing documents on the go is convenient, and there is an increasing trend of digital cooperation and work from home. Additionally, the prevalence of cloud storage services like Google Drive and iCloud means that users may accidentally delete or lose their documents.
🗂️ Archives represent 14%, which could suggest that users usually compress files for file management. Accessing individual files without needing to extract an entire archive may reduce creating archives.
💽 Audios represent only 10%, indicating that people are downloading and storing audios less, and data loss problems are fewer. Streaming service providers like Apple Music and Spotify decrease the need to download and store music locally.
2.4 What Device Brands People Recover Photos/Videos From
Our survey results show that users have their preferred brands for their photo/videos recovered. The details are as follows:
| Device Brands | Portion Details |
| Canon | 45.1% |
| Panasonic | 14.6% |
| Sony | 16.0% |
| GoPro | 14.1% |
| Nikon | 7.8% |
| DJI | 2.4% |
The top three camera brands include: Canon, Panasonic and Sony. About 45% users recover photos/videos from Canon cameras 
.
2.5 Top 4 Popular External Drive Data Recovery Tools
According to search frequencies for external drive recovery software from Google and other search engines, we select out the top four popular external drive data recovery tools: Recoverit, Disk Drill, EaseUS and Tenorshare. The general reviews and brief pros & cons from internet opinions about these data recovery tools are listed as follows;
#1. Wondershare Recoverit
Wondershare Recoverit's success recovery rate is around 99.5%, making it one of the most efficient data recovery platforms. It's among the fastest in the industry and still delivers high-quality data after recovery. It was able to recover anything we threw its way within minutes. Recoverit recovery performance is beyond pleased. Recoverit provides reliable 24x7 customer support options to assist users with their data recovery needs. Whether you prefer live chat, email, or phone support, Recoverit's team is always available.
Pros & Cons
#2. Disk Drill
Disk Drill provides data recovery services for Win & Mac. Disk Drill can sometimes slow down and is generally slower than other options. There are many reasons for this issue, but one is the technical requirements you must fulfill to run the program smoothly.
Pros & Cons
#3. EaseUS
EaseUS is a data recovery software provider. EaseUS gave consistent results. It's reliable and can retrieve the lost data pieces - it can even perform a double scan to ensure nothing goes unnoticed and all your data gets recovered.
Pros & Cons
#4. Tenorshare
Tenorshare is one of the popular recovery tools available. Once using it, the performance is generally good.
Pros & Cons
Part 3: Detailed Comparison of External Hard Drive Recovery Software
3.1: External Hard Drive Recovery Function Comparison
To find out which one is truly the best external hard drive recovery software, we will conduct a detailed, fact-based and profound function comparison between the top four popular recovery tools mentioned above (according to search frequencies for each software from Google and other search engines): Recoverit, Tenorshare, EaseUS and Disk Drill.
Overview of Top Popular External Hard Drive Recovery Software:
| Recovery tool | Overviews | Pricing |
| Recoverit |
|
|
| Disk Drill |
|
|
| EaseUS |
|
|
| Tenorshare |
|
|
Let's compare the function details of these external hard drive data recovery software in the excel below:
|
Functions |
Recoverit |
EaseUS |
Disk Drill |
Tenorshare |
|
📟 Supported File Formats |
1000+ |
1000+ |
400+ | 600+ |
|
🧱 Supported Devices |
2000+ |
2000+ |
2000+ |
2000+ |
|
🔍 Resume Scanning Process |
√ |
√ |
√ |
√ |
|
💽 Disk Image Recovery |
√ |
√ |
√ |
√ |
|
💻 Lost Partition Recovery |
√ |
√ |
√ |
× |
| 🧮 Unbootable Hard Drive Recovery |
√ |
× | √ | × |
|
📹 Video Fragments Match |
√ |
× |
× |
× |
|
🎞️ Corrupted Photo/Video Repair |
√ |
× |
× |
× |
|
👨💻 Recovery to Google Drive |
√ |
√ |
√ |
× |
| 🖥️ ODE/SCSI/PATA/SATA/PCle connection | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| 🚫 Bad sector recovery | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| 💾 BitLocker/T2/M1~M4 encrypted drive recovery | √ | × | × | × |
| 🔄 Continued scanning from breakpoint | √ | √ | × | × |
The following is a detailed comparison overview of key functions of each Mac data recovery tool:
When it comes to function comparison, Recoverit outperforms EaseUS, Disk Drill and Tenorshare in quite a few functions. This means that whether you’re trying to recover corrupt external drives, merge video fragments
, retrieve large documents/corrupted files
, recover bad sectors/RAID/M4 Mac/CF card or retrieve any other type of files, Recoverit tends to deliver excellent results.
Key reasons for Recoverit superior performance is its advanced algorithms, 21 years' recovery experience and 35+ technology patents. These algorithms are designed to thoroughly scan your external hard drive and locate lost or deleted files more effectively. Recoverit possesses 35+ patents in the field of data recovery and offers specialized recovery options tailored to different file types.
With a success recovery rate of 99.5%, Recoverit can completely recover all files, videos, even raw photos, other 1000+ file formats from 2000+ storage devices, including Macintosh HD, HDDs/SSDs, external devices, crashed Mac, NAS server & Linux PC etc. Corrupted video/photo repair are also supported.
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Related Video >>:
How to Recover Data from External Devices?
3.2: External Hard Drive Recovery Performance Comparison
Performance is also a key factor in determining the best data recovery software for external drive. Users need a tool that recover data in a fast and effective way. Let's compare the performance of these top popular external drive recovery tools across the following metrics:
|
Performance Metric |
Recoverit |
EaseUS |
Disk Drill |
Tenorshare |
| Memory Usage During Installation (Win) | / | / | / | / |
| Memory Usage During Installation (Mac) | 97.5MB | > 97.5MB | > 97.5MB | > 97.5MB |
| Memory Usage During Scanning (Win) | 174.6mb | 273.7mb | / | 361.5mb |
| Memory Usage During Scanning (Mac) | 1.05GB | 1.72GB | 1.89GB | / |
| Installation Speed (Win) | 3.4s | 4.7s | / | / |
| Installation Speed (Mac) | 3.5s | 5s | 10s | 5s |
| Launch Speed (Win) | 4.095s | 6.985s | 4.98s | 6.8725s |
| Launch Speed (Mac) | 2.83s | 6.3s | 14.5s | / |
| File Display Speed (average) | 3.94s | 4.62s | 4.9s | 5.11s |
| Scan Speed (average) | In general, average 40min | Corruption happens | In general, average 59.76min | / |
| Files Recovery Speed (6GB) | 74s | 78s | 82s | / |
|
Scan Quality (general) |
90% | 85% | 88% | 84% |
| Data Recovery Quality (average) | Great | Good | Good | Generally Good |
| FAT32/EXFAT Scan Speed (average) | 7.48min | 5.88min | 12.37min | 6min |
According to overall performance data above, Recoverit outshines EaseUS, Disk Drill and Tenorshare in startup speed, scan speed, scan quality and recovery quality.
The following are detailed test data for key performance factors, including test data of file display speed, scan speed, scan quality, recovery speed, recovery quality and so on.
3.2.1 File Display Speed Test Data
We conducted a series of strict tests to see how these external drive recovery tools behave in the files display speed (the shorter time spent, the better). The table below shows the file display speed (unit: second) of these recovery software under different testing scenarios.
|
Testing Scenarios |
Recoverit |
EaseUS |
Disk Drill |
Tenorshare |
| Win / External drive (encrypted) | 3.36s | 3.68s | 3.47s | 3.47s |
| Win / External drive (not encrypted) | 2.39s | 3.87s | 2.9s | 2.56s |
| Win / USB (SanDisk) | 4.37s | 4.69s | 6.08s | 4.64s |
| Win / USB (Kinston) | 4.93s | 5.83s | 7.29s | 11.08s |
We can see that Recoverit shows the most significant efficiency in file display speed by only using fewer seconds in most testing scenarios.
3.2.2 File Scan Speed Test Data
The scan speed is the speed for searching and finding your lost files. The table below shows the scan speed (unit: second) of these recovery software under different testing environments (the shorter time spent, the better).
|
Testing Scenarios |
Recoverit |
EaseUS |
Disk Drill |
Tenorshare |
| Win / External Drive (HDD/NTFS/GSH) | 256s | 466s | 367s | 344s |
| Win / External Drive (SSD/NTFS/DCSC) | 294s | 176s | 259s | 290s |
| MacOS 15 / ARM chip | 1398s | 8356s | 8480s | 8405s |
| macOS 14.3.1 / ARM chip | 776s | 955s | 2492s | 1058s |
We can see that Recoverit behaves as the best in file scan speed in most testing scenarios.
3.2.3 Scan Quality Test Data
The scan quality reflects accuracy of files detected and recovered.
| Testing Environment | Recoverit | Disk Drill | EaseUS | Tenorshare | |||||
| Chip | Quick Scan | Deep Scan | Quick Scan | Deep Scan | Quick Scan | Deep Scan | Quick Scan | Deep Scan | |
| macOS 15Beta | M3 | Generally good | Great | Generally good | Not good | Generally good | Not good | Generally good | Not good |
| macOS 14.3.1 | M1 | Generally good | Great | Generally good | Not good | Generally good | Not good | Generally good | Not good |
| Win 11 | intel | Generally good | Generally good | Generally good | Generally good | Generally good | Generally good | Generally good | Generally good |
| Win 10 | intel | Generally good | Generally good | Generally good | Generally good | Generally good |
Generally good |
Generally good |
Generally good |
| macOS 12.3 | M1 | Generally good | Great | Generally good | Not good | Generally good |
Not good |
Generally good |
Not good |
| macOS 11.6.6 | intel | Generally good | Generally good | Generally good | Generally good | Generally good | Not good | Generally good | Not good |
From the table above, we can see that Recoverit's scan quality is the best and its deep scan delivers great quality when recovering lost data from external hard drives.
Recoverit works efficiently with all file systems, ensuring high-quality and reliable external hard drive data recovery. Whether you're dealing with the latest file system, the widely used FAT32/exFAT/APFS file systems or other file systems, Recoverit delivers exceptional performance.
3.2.4 File Recovery Quality Test Data
The recovery quality is the quality for recovered files (also known as match degree). The table below shows the recovery quality (unit: %) of these recovery software under different testing scenarios (the larger percentage, the better).
|
Testing Scenarios |
Recoverit |
EaseUS |
Disk Drill |
Tenorshare |
| SSD-NTFS-DCSC | 97.19% | 96% | 96.7% | 90% |
| HDD-FAT32-GSH | 97.89% | 96.8% | 97% | 95% |
We can see that Recoverit behaves as the best in file recovery quality in these testing scenarios.
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3.3: Security Analysis of External Drive Recovery Software
Security is paramount in the process of data recovery. Users need to trust that the software they're using won't compromise their data security or system integrity. Let's compare the security features of these top four external hard drive recovery software:
Data Privacy:
| Recovery Tool | Detailed overview |
| Recoverit |
Implements strong encryption for temporary files created during recovery and does not upload user data to external servers. Good data privacy measures. 100% virus-free guarantee. |
| EaseUS | Basic data privacy supported. |
| Disk Drill | Good data privacy measures. |
| Tenorshare |
Basic data privacy protection. |
When it comes to data safety & security, Recoverit truly stands out with its comprehensive approach to protecting both your data and your system. Recoverit uses strong encryption to safeguard your data during the recovery process. This means that your sensitive information remains secure and private, preventing unauthorized access.
Moreover, Recoverit is committed to regular security updates. These updates help protect against new and emerging threats, ensuring that the software remains effective and secure over time. This combination of virus scanning, strong encryption, and regular updates makes Recoverit the safest choice among the options for external drive recovery.
3.4: Price Comparison of External Hard Drive Recovery Software
While price shouldn't be the only factor in choosing data recovery software, it's certainly an important consideration for many users. Let's compare the pricing structures of these top popular external hard drive recovery tools:
|
Recoverit |
EaseUS |
Disk Drill |
Tenorshare 4DDiG |
|
|
Starting Price |
$59.99 |
$69.95 | $89.00 | $45.95 |
|
Free Version Available |
Yes |
Yes | Yes | Yes |
| License Model | 1 month, 1 year or lifetime | 1 month, 1 year or lifetime | Lifetime | 1 month, 1 year or lifetime |
| Versions for Win |
1 month (2 PCs): $59.99 1 year (2 PCs): $62.99 Perpetual (2 PCs): $129.99 |
1 month (1 PC): $69.95 1 year (1 PC): $99.95 Perpetual (1 PC): $149.95 |
Pro (1 PC): $89 Enterprise (1 PC): $499 |
1 month (1 PC): $45.95 1 year (1 PC): $59.95 Perpetual (1 PC): $79.95 |
| Versions for Mac |
1 month (2 Macs): $79.99 1 year (2 Macs): $80.99 Perpetual (2 Macs): $139.99 |
1 month (1 Mac): $89.95 1 year (1 Mac): $119.95 Perpetual (1 Mac): $169.95 |
Pro (1 Mac): $89 Enterprise (1 Mac): $499 |
1 month (1 Mac): $55.95 1 year (1 Mac): $69.95 Perpetual (1 Mac): $119.95 |
| No credit card to try | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Money Back Guarantee | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Price Analysis:
Recoverit offers the most flexible and cost-effective pricing options (the only recovery tool provides 2 PCs' licenses in one purchase), with monthly, annual and lifetime licenses available. While Recoverit is the second cheapest option, its advanced features and high success rate justify the price.
Tenorshare is the cheapest option but lacks many of the advanced features and compatibility options. Disk Drill and EaseUS are more expensive than Recoverit, but their functions are not as good or profound as Recoverit's.
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Recoverit provides the best value for money when considering its comprehensive feature set and excellent performance. EaseUS and Disk Drill are not budget-friendly and may not provide the best value for users who need advanced recovery capabilities or wide-ranging compatibility.
Bonus Part: 3 Steps to Recover Data from External Hard Drives
A superior product experience is essential for user satisfaction and loyalty. When users find a product easy to use, it greatly enhances their overall experience.
Recoverit focuses on user-friendly design that users can recover their data very efficiently. Recoverit offers a streamlined process that uses only three simple steps to recover data from external hard drives.
4.1 How to Recover Files from External Hard Drives in 3 Steps Using Recoverit?
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Here's how you can recover data from external hard drives in 3 steps using Recoverit:
- Click the download button above to install Recoverit. Lauch Recoverit. Select the drive location to start recovery.
- Recoverit automatically scans for lost/deleted data.
- Preview the files which Recoverit has found to check if that's what you're looking for. When confirmed, select the files you want to save and hit Recover.
This intuitive process ensures that even users with minimal technical knowledge can effectively recover deleted/lost files on external hard drive without any hassle.
Related Video >>: How to Recover Data From External Devices?
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4.2 G2/Trustpilot Reviews of Recoverit
Recoverit has received high ratings on both 
G2 and 
Trustpilot, reflecting the trust and satisfaction of its users. Recoverit has a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot, with a significant majority of users giving it a 5-star rating.
Recoverit was selected as the Leader in File Recovery Software by G2, which proves that Recoverit is one of the best and reliable data recovery tools.
Here are some user reviews highlighting the trust and satisfaction customers have with Recoverit from trust platforms like G2 and Trustpilot.
- MH Matts H. (Small-Business): Lifesaver! This software saved my life. A NAS with syncing enabled erased all my files on AWS S3. I was able to recover 99.9 percent of the files using this software.
- Brittany Charnley (United States): I accidentally formatted my hard disk, losing all my work files and photos. This program's deep scan quickly retrieved my data. It's very convenient.
These reviews reflect the wonderful experiences users have had with Recoverit, showing its reliability, professionalism and effectiveness in external drive data recovery.
Conclusion
In summary, after series of fact-based, profound and strict tests, we can see that Recoverit is the best external hard drive recovery software. With its user-friendly interface and streamlined three-step recovery process, even those with minimal technical knowledge can easily retrieve lost files.
Recoverit's advanced features, such as high-speed scanning, comprehensive file systems support, and enhanced recovery options, ensure that users can recover data from external hard drive quickly and effectively. Additionally, Recoverit's abilities to repair corrupted files, create bootable drive, provide 2 licences in 1 purchase and merge HD/8K/4K video fragments make it a versatile, cost-effective and reliable choice for external drive data recovery.
Whether you're dealing with accidental deletions/formation, system crashes, power surge or complex data loss scenarios, Recoverit provides a robust solution to retrieve all your valuable files from external devices.
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FAQs
-
Can an external hard drive be recovered after formatting?
Yes, recovering lost data from a formatted external hard drive is possible under the right circumstances. If you've used the quick format option and you haven't overwritten formatted files with new data, you should be able to get back lost files with a good data recovery tool. -
How do I recover files from my external hard drive after formatting?
Recovering data from a formatted external hard drive is a simple 5-step process:- Connect the formatted external hard drive to your computer.
- Download, install, and launch Wondershare Recoverit.
- Choose the formatted external device to start a scan.
- Preview the files that can be recovered.
- Select the files you want to retrieve and click Recover.
-
How do I recover permanently deleted files from my hard drive?
When you permanently delete files from a hard drive, there are two ways you can recover them – using built-in backup feature or with data recovery software like Wondershare Recoverit.
