Getdata ★ Popular & Plus
While GetDataBack Simple is reasonable ($69), the Pro version with RAID recovery and network forensics jumps to $199. And Forensic Explorer starts at $499. This prices out casual home users.
Deep scanning a 2TB drive took over 8 hours on a decent i7 laptop. That’s 2-3x slower than DMDE or R-Studio. The progress bar is also misleading—it often hangs at 78% for an hour before jumping to 95%. getdata
Unlike pure recovery tools, GetData includes GetData Repair . This is a standalone feature that fixes corrupt JPEGs, ZIP archives, and Microsoft Office files. After recovery, many files are still unreadable; running them through the repair tool salvaged an additional 15% of photos that would otherwise be garbage. While GetDataBack Simple is reasonable ($69), the Pro
GetData struggles with newer formats like HEIC photos, Apple File System (APFS), or BitLocker-encrypted drives without manual decryption first. If you’re on a modern Mac or use encryption, look elsewhere. Who Should Buy GetData? | User Type | Recommendation | |-----------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Home user (1 lost drive) | ❌ Overkill and too complex. Try Recuva or Disk Drill first. | | IT technician | ✅ Yes. The recovery engine is top-tier for NTFS/FAT failures. | | Forensic analyst | ✅ Yes for Forensic Explorer. But compare with FTK Imager (free) first. | | Business with RAID array | ✅ GetDataBack Pro supports RAID 0/1/5/6 reconstruction—few tools do this well. | The Verdict: 4 Stars – Powerful but Not Beginner-Friendly Bottom Line: GetData is like a professional-grade wrench set—not pretty, but it will unbolt things no other tool can. If you are an IT pro facing a drive with a corrupted file system or need forensic-grade recovery, it’s worth every penny. If you’re a casual user who just emptied the Recycle Bin, start with a free trial of Recuva. Deep scanning a 2TB drive took over 8