

Maybe it's the trove of family photos that suddenly can't be found in its folder, or the important documents you scanned and saved as PDFs to a now-failing hard drive. Nothing can make you feel more helpless than trying to rescue a file from a failing PC, Mac, or external drive. (Opens in a new window) You've Lost a File, Now What? Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions.


Recuva is good, but there are similar applications that could be better suited to your needs. Overall, Recuva is a perfectly reasonable choice if you’re looking for a reliable data recovery solution. Scans are fast and thorough, and the program runs comfortably in the background. And although its client interface isn’t the most attractive we’ve seen, it is simple and effective. What’s more, Recuva is backed by powerful features, including a deep scan tool, secure file overwriter, and formatted drive scanning. The free version is great for those who want to test the software before purchasing, and annual subscriptions are very competitively priced.

Ultimately, Piriform Recuva is up there with the best data recovery programs we’ve tested. More specific questions can be asked in the active community forum and an impressive selection of short video tutorials is also available. The FAQ section contains answers to popular questions, and the technical documentation pages provide a detailed overview of the software. There are also four different self-help resources.
