Five Photo Recovery Tools Checked

Best Photo Recovery Software 2026

Deleted photos are not always gone, though every new write can reduce the odds of getting them back. We compared five tools for previews, card imaging, RAW support, pricing, plus ease of use.

By Mepis Blog Editorial Team Published · Updated
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⚡ TL;DR · Quick answer
Disk Drill is the best photo recovery software for most people because it balances clear previews, broad storage support, plus a safer byte-to-byte imaging workflow. Try the free scan first to confirm that your missing photos appear before paying for unlimited recovery.
★ Best overall
1

Disk Drill

9.2/10

Best for: Photographers who want guided recovery from SD cards, external drives, or computer storage without giving up advanced imaging tools

  • Clean photo thumbnails plus useful result filters
  • Runs on Windows or macOS under one PRO license
  • Byte-to-byte imaging is included
  • Handles common photos, camera RAW files, plus video
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2

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

8.5/10

Best for: Home users who prefer a simple recovery wizard plus a meaningful free allowance for a small lost photo folder

  • Straightforward wizard suited to first-time users
  • Up to 2GB of free recovery
  • Useful photo filtering plus previews
  • Supports formatted cards, lost partitions, plus external drives
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3

R-Photo

8.2/10

Best for: Windows users recovering personal photos or videos from SD cards, USB drives, plus common Windows-formatted storage

  • Completely free for noncommercial photo or video recovery
  • No registration required
  • Creates plus scans disk images
  • Built-in image previews
Visit Site →

Best Photo Recovery Software Compared

This table compares platform coverage, disk-image support, verified entry pricing, plus our editorial score. The scores reflect photo-recovery usefulness, safety features, usability, plus value rather than a universal recovery-rate benchmark.

Tool Windows / Mac Disk imaging Price Score
1.Disk Drill PICK ● Yes ● Yes $89/yr 9.2/10
2.EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard ● Yes ● No $69.95 one-month 8.5/10
3.R-Photo Windows only ● Yes Free 8.2/10
4.DMDE ● Yes ● Yes $20/yr 7.9/10
5.PhotoRec ● Yes ● No Free 7.5/10

The 5 Best Photo Recovery Software Options, Reviewed

01

Disk Drill

Windows / macOS · CleverFiles

9.2/10

Disk Drill produced the most usable experience in our photo-focused evaluation. It recognized the test SD card immediately, grouped images by type, then provided thumbnail previews before recovery. Its score reflects broad RAW-format support, readable scan results, plus tools that do not feel buried.

The byte-to-byte backup feature is a major reason it ranks first. It lets you create a sector-level image before scanning unstable media, reducing repeated reads from the original card. Advanced Camera Recovery also gives owners of GoPros, drones, plus newer cameras a specialized path for fragmented footage.

The catch is pricing. Disk Drill Basic can scan plus preview files, while unrestricted recovery requires PRO. Windows users get a small free recovery allowance, though Mac users should treat Basic mainly as a preview tool.

Best forPhotographers who want guided recovery from SD cards, external drives, or computer storage without giving up advanced imaging tools

Standout featureAdvanced Camera Recovery reconstructs fragmented video files from cameras, drones, plus action cams
Disk Drill Pros
  • Clean photo thumbnails plus useful result filters
  • Runs on Windows or macOS under one PRO license
  • Byte-to-byte imaging is included
  • Handles common photos, camera RAW files, plus video
  • Recovery-chance estimates help narrow large scans
Disk Drill Cons
  • Unlimited recovery requires a paid license
  • No-refund policy makes the preview step essential
  • Deep scans can return duplicates or files with generic names
Basic $0 Scan plus preview included; Windows offers limited free recovery
PRO Annual $89/yr Unlimited recovery for one user on up to three devices
PRO Lifetime $149 Unlimited recovery with future upgrades included
Best Data Recovery Software & Tips! ↗ Download Disk Drill
Read our full Disk Drill review
02

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

Windows / macOS · EaseUS

8.5/10

EaseUS keeps the workflow simple: select a card or drive, start the scan, then filter the results to pictures. In our usability scoring, it required fewer decisions than DMDE or PhotoRec. Preview tiles made it practical to separate wanted shots from thumbnails, cache images, plus unrelated graphics.

The 2GB free limit is useful for a small incident, such as one deleted shoot folder or several hundred compressed phone photos. Larger RAW collections quickly exceed that allowance. Paid options are notably more expensive than DMDE, while the one-month plan lasts only for its stated upgrade period.

Best forHome users who prefer a simple recovery wizard plus a meaningful free allowance for a small lost photo folder

Standout featureThe free edition can recover up to 2GB, enough for a modest batch of JPEGs or selected RAW files
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Pros
  • Straightforward wizard suited to first-time users
  • Up to 2GB of free recovery
  • Useful photo filtering plus previews
  • Supports formatted cards, lost partitions, plus external drives
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Cons
  • Paid editions cost more than several rivals
  • Subscription-style options can be confusing
  • Scan results may include many unrelated image assets
Free $0 Recover up to 2GB
One Month $69.95 One computer with one month of upgrades
One Year $99.95 One computer with one year of upgrades
Lifetime Upgrades $149.95 One computer with lifetime upgrades
Try EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard
03

R-Photo

Windows · R-Tools Technology

8.2/10

R-Photo is unusually generous. Personal users can scan, preview, then recover photos or videos without buying a license. It supports FAT, exFAT, NTFS, plus ReFS, which covers most SD cards plus Windows storage devices that casual users encounter.

Its disk-image support makes it safer than many bare-bones free utilities. You can image a questionable card, load that image, then perform recovery away from the original media. The main limitation is platform coverage: R-Photo runs on Windows, with no native Mac version.

Best forWindows users recovering personal photos or videos from SD cards, USB drives, plus common Windows-formatted storage

Standout featurePersonal photo or video recovery is fully free with no activation or registration
R-Photo Pros
  • Completely free for noncommercial photo or video recovery
  • No registration required
  • Creates plus scans disk images
  • Built-in image previews
  • Supports deep file-signature searches
R-Photo Cons
  • Windows only
  • Limited to photos plus videos
  • Interface feels more utilitarian than Disk Drill
Personal $0 Unlimited noncommercial photo plus video recovery
Get R-Photo
04

DMDE

Windows / macOS / Linux / DOS · DMDE Software

7.9/10

DMDE is not a photo-first application, yet it can be very effective when the real problem is a damaged file system or missing partition. It offers file-system reconstruction, raw searches, disk imaging, plus detailed control over what gets copied.

The free edition can recover up to 4,000 files from one selected directory per request, with no stated limit on requests. That is generous, though the directory-based restriction makes large mixed recoveries awkward. Express costs only $20 for one year, making DMDE the strongest low-cost paid choice here.

Best forExperienced users who need low-level control over a damaged card, lost partition, or unusual storage layout

Standout featureIts disk editor plus file-system tools expose far more structural detail than typical consumer recovery apps
DMDE Pros
  • Powerful file-system plus partition analysis
  • Generous directory-based free recovery
  • Low-cost Express license
  • Runs on several operating systems
  • Portable operation is available
DMDE Cons
  • Dense interface has a real learning curve
  • Photo previews feel secondary to disk analysis
  • Easy for newcomers to select the wrong volume or result tree
Free $0 Up to 4,000 files from one selected directory per request
Express $20/yr Personal bulk-folder recovery for one OS family
Standard $48 Perpetual license for one OS family
Visit DMDE
05

PhotoRec

Windows / macOS / Linux · CGSecurity

7.5/10

PhotoRec ignores much of the file system, searching storage for recognizable file signatures instead. That approach can rescue photos from a reformatted card or badly damaged partition where ordinary undelete tools find little.

There is no recovery cap, license fee, or subscription. The tradeoff appears after the scan: original filenames plus folder paths are often lost, so a large recovery may produce thousands of generically named files. QPhotoRec gives Windows users a graphical front end, though the overall process remains less approachable than Disk Drill or EaseUS.

Best forPatient users who need free file carving from a reformatted card or a volume with badly damaged file-system records

Standout featureFile-system-independent carving can find image signatures even when folder records are no longer usable
PhotoRec Pros
  • Free plus open source
  • No recovery-size limit
  • Works across major desktop platforms
  • Read-only access to source media
  • Strong option for damaged file systems
PhotoRec Cons
  • Original names plus folders are commonly lost
  • Recovered output can require hours of sorting
  • Interface is intimidating for casual users
Open Source $0 Unlimited recovery under the GNU GPL
Open PhotoRec

How We Evaluated the Best Photo Recovery Software

We scored each tool around a typical accidental-loss workflow: identify an SD card or external drive, run the least invasive scan, filter for photos, preview full-size results, then save selected files to separate storage. Extra credit went to tools that create disk images, report likely recovery condition, recognize camera RAW formats, plus keep the source device read-only.

Pricing scores use publicly listed US prices available in August 2026. Recovery outcomes vary with overwriting, flash-memory behavior, file fragmentation, encryption, plus physical damage, so the ranking does not promise a fixed recovery percentage.

How to Choose Photo Recovery Software for Your Storage Device

Start with the device plus failure type. A recently deleted folder on a healthy SD card calls for a simple file-system scan with thumbnails. A reformatted card may need a deeper signature scan, while a freezing drive should be imaged or cloned before any lengthy search.

Use the free version to preview several important files at full size. Check a JPEG from the start of the shoot, one from the middle, one near the end, plus at least one large RAW file. A filename alone proves very little if the underlying image is incomplete.

Common Photo Recovery Mistakes That Can Overwrite Lost Images

Do not install recovery software on the affected drive or save recovered photos back to the same card. Both actions can overwrite deleted image data. Avoid formatting the card again, running repair utilities, or continuing to shoot pictures after noticing the loss.

If a hard drive clicks, disappears, reports the wrong capacity, or causes the computer to freeze, stop the DIY attempt. Software cannot fix mechanical damage, while repeated scans can make a failing device harder to recover professionally.

Which Photo Recovery Software Should You Use?

Disk Drill earns first place because it makes photo previews, camera-media scans, plus disk imaging accessible without stripping away useful controls. EaseUS is easier for a small free recovery, while R-Photo is the better zero-cost Windows choice. Pick DMDE for detailed file-system work or PhotoRec when damaged metadata leaves file carving as the practical route.
Top pick Disk Drill
Stop using the affected card, create an image if the media seems unstable, then verify several full-size previews before buying any license.

Photo Recovery Software Questions Answered

What is the best photo recovery software for deleted pictures in 2026?
The best choice depends on where the photos were lost, but top tools in 2026 usually combine deep scan, preview, file type filters, plus a simple recovery flow. If you need the safest first try, pick software that supports read-only scanning so it does not write to the drive before recovery.
How do I recover permanently deleted photos from a Windows PC?
Install the recovery tool on a different drive, then scan the drive where the photos were deleted. Save recovered files to another location so you do not overwrite the original data.
Can photo recovery software restore pictures from an SD card?
Yes, most strong recovery tools support SD cards, microSD cards, plus camera memory cards. For best results, stop using the card right away, then run a deep scan before taking any new photos.
What should I do first after accidentally deleting photos from my phone?
Stop using the phone as much as possible so new data does not replace the deleted images. If the photos were backed up to iCloud, Google Photos, or a local backup, check there first before running recovery software.
Is free photo recovery software worth trying?
Free tools can work for small recovery jobs, especially if the files were deleted recently. For formatted drives, damaged cards, or RAW camera files, a paid tool usually gives better scan depth plus more preview options.
Which photo recovery software works best for formatted drives?
Look for software that can scan lost partitions plus formatted volumes, not just simple trash recovery. A good formatted-drive tool should still preview recovered JPG, PNG, HEIC, plus RAW files before you restore them.
Can recovery software bring back RAW photos from Canon, Nikon, or Sony cameras?
Yes, many tools support common RAW formats from major camera brands. Check that the software explicitly lists your camera file type, since some apps handle standard JPEG files well but miss proprietary RAW formats.
How do I choose the safest photo recovery app for an external hard drive?
Pick a tool that runs read-only scans, shows file previews, plus lets you recover to a separate drive. That setup lowers the chance of making the damage worse while still giving you a clear look at what can be restored.
What is the difference between quick scan plus deep scan in photo recovery software?
Quick scan looks for recently deleted files, so it is faster but less thorough. Deep scan checks the drive more carefully, which takes longer yet usually finds more photos after formatting or corruption.
Can I recover photos from a corrupted SD card without formatting it first?
Yes, you should avoid formatting it until after you try recovery. Many tools can read the card even when the file system is damaged, then rebuild the pictures from raw data.
How much does good photo recovery software usually cost?
Most reliable tools offer a free scan, then charge for recovery once you know the files are there. Pricing often depends on whether you want a one-time license, a yearly plan, or a bundle that covers several devices.
Do photo recovery apps work on Mac as well as Windows?
Some do, but not all, so platform support matters more than brand recognition. If you use a Mac, confirm that the app handles APFS, HFS+, plus the photo formats you care about before buying.
What file types should the best photo recovery software support?
At minimum, it should handle JPG, PNG, HEIC, TIFF, plus common RAW formats like CR2, NEF, ARW, and DNG. Video support can be useful too if your camera saves clips on the same card.
Can recovery software restore photos from a phone after a factory reset?
Sometimes, but success depends on the phone model, backup status, plus whether new data has been written since the reset. On modern phones, encrypted storage can limit what standard recovery tools can access.
How do I recover photos from an exFAT or NTFS drive?
Use software that recognizes the file system first, then run a full scan on the affected volume. If the drive shows as unallocated or unreadable, choose a tool that can search for lost partitions too.
Are there any photo recovery tools that let me preview files before restoring them?
Yes, preview is one of the most useful features because it shows whether the recovered file is actually usable. If a tool cannot preview images, you may waste time restoring damaged files you cannot open.
What is the best photo recovery software for beginners?
The best beginner-friendly option is one with a simple interface, clear device selection, plus an obvious scan button. Extra points if it explains whether to scan the whole drive or just the folder where the photos were deleted.
Can I recover photos from a dead USB flash drive?
If the drive is still detected by your computer, software may be able to recover some or all photos. If it is physically failing, cloning the drive first is safer than scanning it directly.
How long does a photo recovery scan usually take?
A scan can take a few minutes for a memory card or several hours for a large hard drive. File count, drive size, plus damage level all affect the total time.
What is a good alternative if photo recovery software cannot find my images?
Check cloud backups, device backups, plus the Recycle Bin or Recently Deleted folder first. If the photos are still missing, a professional data recovery service may be the next step for physically damaged storage.
Download Disk Drill Free Scan · #1 Pick