The best Recuva alternative for Mac (Tried & tested)

The only thing worse than losing your files on Mac is to find out that there isn’t a Recuva for Mac. But don’t let that dampen your hope of recovering your files. In this guide, I’ll show other types of file recovery tools that work.

What is Recuva?

Recuva, as you might know, is a popular file recovery software for Windows. It’s easy to use, powerful, and can basically recover many types of files. Even files that you thought were permanently gone can sometimes be restored if you use Recuva’s deep scan feature.

Is there a Recuva for Mac?

No. At present, you won’t find Recuva for macOS. Its developer, Piriform, hasn’t announced plans to make it available for Mac users yet. So, I can only assume that in the coming years, only Windows users can download and use it. As for Mac users, you can try some of these Recuva macOS alternatives:

Best Recuva alternatives	Why choose the tool
Disk Drill	Easy to use and supports over 400 file types and vast device compatibility.
DMDE	Offers advanced disk repair features, such as RAID reconstructor and disk cloning.
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard	Deep scan for file recovery of over 2,000+ storage devices.
TestDisk	Partition recovery tool that can restore limited files.
Recoverit	Repairs corrupted photos and videos with advanced features.
PhotoRec	Recover severely damaged files in external storage devices.
R-Studio	Professional disk repair tools that support network recovery, RAID reconstruction, and more.

Interested in the topic? Here’s a full list of free and paid recovery tools for Mac.

Best Recuva alternatives for Mac

I know you’re in a hurry to get your files back. But if you have a minute or two to spare, check out the tools I’ve tried so you can decide which might work better for you.

Disk Drill: Avoid data loss with quick recovery options

DiskDrill is a Recuva alternative for Mac that seems to do everything the Windows file recovery tool does. Whether you want to find and recover lost files on your Mac, external disks, or an iOS device, DiskDrill gets it done without fuss. The best thing is that it groups the lost files found into categories like video, audio, and documents.

What I like:

It’s super easy to use. A few clicks are all it takes to recover my files
Supports almost every type of device, including iPhones, iPads, and Android phones
Can recover almost all types of lost files

Things that are missing:

The interface can feel a bit cluttered or less intuitive
The deep scanning process can be quite demanding on system resources

Verdict: Overall, Disk Drill is a pretty neat option if you want to get your lost files back quickly.

DMDE: Get advanced data recovery

DMDE is another tool you can try as an alternative to Recuva on Mac. But be warned: Many users find it overwhelming because it’s not exactly easy to use. On the other hand, if you’re used to ‘under-the-hood’ stuff, you’ll find DMDE useful. It provides advanced features that some data discovery tools don’t, such as RAID reconstructing, disk editing, and cloning tools.

What I like:

It’s fast. From scanning to recovery, DMDE outperforms many competing tools
Plenty of advanced features
A generous free option that lets you recover up to 4,000 files

Things that are missing:

May be too advanced for regular users
The layout and options are less intuitive, which can slow down the recovery process

Verdict: DMDE can do wonders at the hands of a data recovery expert, but most users might struggle with it.

EaseUS: Recover from various file storage

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard fits the bill of a great Recuva equivalent for Mac. It’s easy to use and lets you find files you’ve lost in just a few clicks. Likewise, you’ll also find recovery a pain-free process. Just select the files you want to recover, click Recover, and the EaseUS app will do the rest. My only complaint? It’s a tad slower than Disk Drill, particularly on large files.

What I like:

Neat and user-friendly interface
Can recover HDDs, SSDs, SD cards, etc.
Offers a free version with limited recovery capabilities

Things that are missing:

It takes more time to scan and recover large files
Severely corrupted, formatted, or physically damaged drives may not be recovered

Verdict: EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is a reliable file recovery tool for most circumstances unless you’ve lost a large number of files, like HD videos.

TestDisk: Recover lost partitions and more

TestDisk is a free file recovery tool that you can download on several operating systems, including previous versions of macOS. However, you will have to launch it through a command line interface, as it does not offer the user interface found on Disk Drill and EaseUS. Moreover, TestDisk can recover only some types of files, so if you’ve lost many files, it’s not the right option.

What I like:

Can recover lost partitions and repair disk structures
Works with previous macOS versions

Things that are missing:

Not ideal for recovering a large number of files
Incorrect commands or misinterpretation of prompts could potentially lead to further data issues

Verdict: Go for TestDisk if you’re comfortable prompting the tool with the command, and you only need to recover a few files.

Wondershare Recoverit: Get comprehensive data recovery

Another file recovery tool worth mentioning is Recoverit by Wondershare. Like Disk Drill, it’s easy to use and can recover various types of files.

On Recoverit’s dashboard, you can browse various parts of your disks or devices. The recovery process is also a breeze. It only takes a few minutes to recover a handful of small files.

Also, it boasts a patented technology that lets you put together video fragments so you can get the entire file back again. But I must stress that this feature is only available on the premium version, which is quite expensive.

If you choose the free version, you can still access basic file recovery tools, which will still recover most files. However, you can only recover up to 100 MB of files at any one time.

What I like:

Supports simultaneous file repair
The high recovery rate for most file types
User-friendly with a simple recovery workflow

Things that are missing:

Recovery size is limited to 100MB in the free version
Deep scanning, especially on large or heavily fragmented drives, can be time-consuming

Verdict: Recoverit can bring your lost video files back again with powerful video repair tools.

PhotoRec: Recover severely damaged files

If you’re a coding wizard, you’ll love PhotoRec. It’s a free file recovery tool that works from the command line interface. The key is in the right command, which is difficult for most users, and you can restore deleted files. The only caveat is the recovered files don’t carry their original names, making it difficult to find them.

What I like:

Can recover files even if the media's file system is severely damaged or reformatted
Recovers from various media, including SD Cards

Things that are missing:

It uses a text-based interface, which can be intimidating for users who prefer graphical interfaces
You can’t preview files before recovery

Verdict: PhotoRec is a budget-friendly option if you want to recover images from an SD Card.

R-Studio: Get software and hardware advanced recovery

R-Studio is a professional-grade data recovery software that features advanced tools like RAID reconstruction, bootable image creation, and more. While it can recover files quickly, you’ll need to spend time learning how the tool works. If a steeper learning curve doesn’t discourage you, you’ve got one of the most powerful Recuva alternatives for Mac in your hand.

What I like:

Provides advanced file recovery tools
Supports various file formats
Can recover files that are lost due to various causes

Things that are missing:

It’s mostly designed for advanced users, not basic recovery
High resource intensity for large or severely damaged drives

Verdict: More suitable for experts, R-Studio offers powerful features to recover lost files, regardless of how they’re lost.

How to choose the best Recuva equivalent

Before choosing the best tool that fits your needs, consider this:

First, look for file recovery tools that work on macOS.
Then, check the file types it supports. For example, if you’ve lost an entire folder of photos, you’ll want a tool that can recover photos, preferably in bulk.
Then, consider if the tool is easy to use. Otherwise, you’ll have a hard time figuring it out.

Of course, price is also important. Some file recovery tools, especially those built for professionals, can be expensive. So, it’s better to choose one that lets you try it out before paying.

Now, you can recover files with a Recuva macOS equivalent

By now, I hope you have a better idea of which file recovery app to use as a Recuva alternative for Mac. Each of the tools I mentioned has its respective advantages and purposes. So, choose one that has the features that will get you out of your predicament right now.

And if you’re not sure where to start, you can try Disk Drill. So far, it never fails me. Also, remember to back up the files you’ve restored with Get Backup Pro. Trust me, losing them again for the second time doubles the frustration.

You can download the apps I mentioned on Setapp. This platform has more than 250 macOS and iOS apps for pretty much anything you need, whether you’re looking to boost your productivity or tap into your creative side. And guess what? You can try them for seven days for free!