Written byChristinaUpdated on Feb 05, 2026
Top 10 Mac Data Recovery Software for 2026
Approved byGerhard Chou
Before we start: With the best Mac data recovery software, you can easily and effectively recover the deleted or lost files in different data loss scenarios. When data loss happened, stop using the drive immediately to avoid further damage. Then download the software like Donemax Data Recovery for Mac to get lost data back as soon as possible.
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Data loss on macOS can happen at any time—whether due to accidental deletion, formatting errors, system crashes, macOS updates, or hardware failure. With Apple's continued shift toward APFS, Apple Silicon chips, and stronger security mechanisms, data recovery in 2026 requires powerful and compatible tools.
Fortunately, several Mac data recovery software solutions are designed to recover lost files safely and efficiently. In this guide, we review the top 10 Mac data recovery software for 2026, comparing features, performance, compatibility, pricing, and ideal use cases to help you choose the right solution.
How to Select the Best Mac Data Recovery Software?
To ensure accurate and practical recommendations, we evaluated each tool based on the following criteria:
Compatibility
- Supports macOS Ventura, Sonoma, and newer 2026 releases
- Works on Apple Silicon (M1–M5) and Intel Macs
Recovery Capabilities
- Deleted and formatted file recovery
- Corrupted APFS/HFS+ partitions
- External drives, SSDs, USBs, SD cards
File Type Support
- Photos, videos, documents, emails, audio
- RAW camera files and professional formats
Ease of Use
- Beginner-friendly interface
- Simple recovery process
Performance
- Scan speed
- Deep scan accuracy
Security
- Offline recovery
- No data upload to cloud servers
Pricing
- Free version limits
- Subscription vs lifetime licenses
Top 10 Mac Data Recovery Software for 2026
Top 1. Donemax Data Recovery for Mac
Donemax remains one of the most popular Mac data recovery tools in 2026 due to its strong performance, intuitive interface, and wide file system support.
Key Features:
- Automatic deep scan
- Preview files before recovery
- Data recovery for unsaved documents and browser bookmarks
- Additional features: Export/Import scan result, disk manager
Pros
- Very user-friendly
- Fast scanning
- Wide file format support
Cons
- Free recovery limit is small
- Subscription pricing
Supported macOS: OS X 10.11 ~ macOS Tahoe, Apple Silicon
Pricing: From $69.95
Best For: Beginners who want a simple, guided recovery experience
Top 2. Disk Drill for Mac
Disk Drill offers a polished interface and excellent recovery success for both basic and advanced data loss scenarios.
Key Features:
- Recovers data from APFS, HFS+, exFAT, NTFS
- Supports internal and external drives
- Extra tools: disk health, cleanup, recovery vault
Pros
- Easy for beginners
- Strong recovery success rate
- Useful disk management tools
Cons
- Free version has limited recovery
- Advanced features require paid plan
Supported macOS: Ventura, Sonoma, newer versions
Pricing: Starts around $89
Best For: General Mac users who want reliable, all-in-one recovery
Top 3. Stellar Data Recovery for Mac
Stellar is known for handling complex data loss situations, including corrupted volumes and damaged media.
Key Features:
- Deep scan for corrupted drives
- Photo and video repair tools
- Bootable recovery media
Pros
- Excellent for damaged drives
- Strong media repair features
- Professional-grade recovery
Cons
- Higher price
- Interface can feel complex
Supported macOS: All modern macOS versions
Pricing: From $79.99
Best For: Advanced users and professionals
Top 4. Wondershare Recoverit for Mac
Recoverit specializes in video recovery and supports a wide range of devices including NAS systems.
Key Features:
- Video repair and recovery
- External drive and NAS recovery
- Preview before restore
Pros
- Excellent for video files
- Simple UI
- Reliable deep scans
Cons
- Limited free version
- Slower scans on large drives
Supported macOS: Apple Silicon & Intel
Pricing: From $79.99
Best For: Video creators and media professionals
Top 5. iBoysoft Data Recovery for Mac
iBoysoft focuses on encrypted drives and macOS crash recovery, making it ideal for modern Macs.
Key Features:
- T2 and Apple Silicon encrypted recovery
- macOS boot failure recovery
- APFS and HFS+ support
Pros
- Great for newer Macs
- Strong encryption support
- Lightweight software
Cons
- Fewer extra tools
- Limited free recovery
Supported macOS: Ventura, Sonoma
Pricing: From $89.95
Best For: Apple Silicon Mac users
Top 6. Tenorshare 4DDiG Mac
Tenorshare 4DDiG offers fast scans and strong file preview features for quick recovery.
Key Features:
- Deep and quick scans
- File preview
- External device recovery
Pros
- Fast scanning
- Clean interface
- Affordable pricing
Cons
- Fewer advanced features
- No RAID support
Supported macOS: Apple Silicon compatible
Pricing: From $59.95
Best For: Budget-conscious users
Top 7. PhotoRec (TestDisk)
PhotoRec is a free, open-source recovery tool that uses file signature scanning.
Key Features:
- Works on many file systems
- Completely free
- Cross-platform
Pros
- No cost
- Powerful recovery engine
- Supports many file types
Cons
- Command-line interface
- No file previews
- No folder structure recovery
Supported macOS: All versions
Pricing: Free
Best For: Tech-savvy users who want a free solution
Top 8. R-Studio for Mac
R-Studio is a professional data recovery solution used by IT specialists and forensic experts.
Key Features:
- RAID and network recovery
- Advanced file reconstruction
- Hex editor
Pros
- Extremely powerful
- Supports complex recovery
- Great for IT professionals
Cons
- Steep learning curve
- Expensive
Supported macOS: All modern macOS
Pricing: From $79.99
Best For: Professionals and forensic recovery
Top 9. Data Rescue (Prosoft)
Data Rescue has been a trusted Mac recovery tool for years and still performs well in 2026.
Key Features:
- Deep scans
- Drive cloning
- File preview
Pros
- Reliable recovery
- Simple interface
- Good for older Macs
Cons
- No longer frequently updated
- Limited modern features
Supported macOS: Ventura and earlier
Pricing: From $99
Best For: Traditional Mac users
Top 10. Do Your Data Recovery for Mac
DoYourData offers a lightweight and straightforward recovery experience.
Key Features:
- Quick scans
- External device support
- File preview
Pros
- Easy to use
- Affordable
- Good for home users
Cons
- Limited advanced tools
- Slower deep scans
Supported macOS: Apple Silicon supported
Pricing: From $49
Best For: Casual users with basic recovery needs
Compare Free and Paid Mac Data Recovery Software
When it comes to Mac data recovery in 2026, one of the first decisions you'll face is whether to use free software or invest in a paid tool. Both approaches can recover lost files, but they vary significantly in features, usability, and reliability.
Understanding the trade-offs can save you time, frustration, and — most importantly — your data.
What Free Mac Data Recovery Software Offers
Free data recovery tools can be useful, especially for simple scenarios like recovering recently deleted files. They are appealing because they cost nothing and often support multiple file types and devices. However, there are important limitations to understand before relying on them.
Pros of Free Tools
- Zero Cost: You pay nothing upfront, which is ideal if you're on a tight budget or testing whether recovery is possible.
- Broad File System Support: Open-source tools like PhotoRec can scan APFS, HFS+, FAT, and NTFS drives.
- Supports Many File Types: Photos, documents, videos, and more can often be identified by their file signatures.
- No Subscription Lock-ins: Free tools don't require yearly renewals or upgrades.
Cons of Free Tools
- Limited Ease-of-Use: Many free tools lack graphical interfaces — some, like PhotoRec, use command-line screens. This can be intimidating for beginners.
- No File Previews: You may not see a preview of recoverable files before restoring them, making it hard to distinguish duplicates, damaged files, or unwanted items.
- Folder Structure Lost: Free tools often recover files individually without preserving the original folder hierarchy, forcing you to reorganize everything manually.
- Slow Deep Scans: Deep scanning without optimization can take hours or even days on large drives.
- No Official Support: If something goes wrong, there's no dedicated customer service to help.
- No Additional Tools: Features like disk health checks, bootable recovery drives, drive cleanup, and data protection aren't included.
Best Use Cases for Free Software
- You accidentally deleted a small number of files
- You're comfortable with technical interfaces
- You just need to verify if recovery might be possible
What Paid Mac Data Recovery Software Offers
Paid recovery tools are professional-grade solutions built for reliability and ease of use. They tend to cost between $60 and $120 but offer powerful features that justify the investment — especially when valuable data is at stake.
Pros of Paid Tools
- User-Friendly Interfaces
Intuitive dashboards and guided workflows make recovery accessible even for beginners. Most paid tools let you click through scans, filter results, and preview files before restoring them.
- Preview Before Recovery
One of the biggest advantages is seeing thumbnails or full previews of pictures, documents, and videos before recovery — helping you avoid clutter and recover only what's needed.
- Preserved Folder Structure
Paid tools often maintain your original folder tree, so recovered data goes right back where you expect it.
- Faster, More Efficient Scans
Optimized scanning engines in paid software deliver quicker results — especially for deep scans — while minimizing CPU load.
- Advanced Recovery Modes
Paid tools often include: APFS snapshot analysis; Partition reconstruction; RAID and NAS recovery (in professional plans); Corruption repair (video, photo, archive files)
- Customer Support & Updates
Paid licenses typically include: Tech support via live chat, email, or phone; Regular updates to stay compatible with new macOS releases; Bug fixes and feature enhancements
- Extras Tools Included
Many paid suites offer additional disk utilities: Disk monitoring and health checks; Disk cleanup and space optimization; Bootable recovery USB creators; Data protection vaults (prevent future losses)
Cons of Paid Tools
- Cost: Even though prices are reasonable, they are still an investment.
- Feature Overlap: Some users might never use all the advanced features they pay for.
- Subscription Models: A few tools charge annual fees instead of one-time purchases.
Best Use Cases for Paid Software
- You're recovering critical or business files
- Your drive is corrupted, formatted, or not mounting
- You want fast results with minimal technical know-how
- You want support and ongoing updates
How to Choose the Right Mac Data Recovery Tool?
Choose based on:
Your Data Loss Scenario
- Deleted files → Donemax, Disk Drill
- Corrupted drives → Stellar
- Encrypted drives → iBoysoft
Your Skill Level
- Beginners → Donemax, Cisdem
- Professionals → R-Studio
Your Budget
- Free → PhotoRec
- Affordable → Tenorshare, Cisdem
Your Device
- Apple Silicon Macs → Donemax, iBoysoft
- External drives → Recoverit, Stellar
Common Mac Data Loss Scenarios in 2026
- macOS update failures
- APFS volume corruption
- SSD wear and failure
- T2/Apple Silicon security restrictions
- External drive compatibility issues
Final Verdict
For 2026, Donemax offers the best overall balance of performance, ease of use, and features.
DoYourData is ideal for beginners, while R-Studio suits professionals. If you need a free solution, PhotoRec remains a strong choice for advanced users.
No matter which tool you choose, act quickly after data loss to maximize recovery success.
Donemax Data Recovery for Mac
Donemax Data Recovery for Mac is one of the best Mac data recovery software. It is easy-to-use and can help in recovering deleted, formatted, inaccessible or lost data from Mac HDD/SSD, external disk, USB drive, SD card, camera or other storage devices.
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Contributing Writer
Christina
Christina is the senior editor of Donemax software who has worked in the company for 4+ years. She mainly writes the guides and solutions about data erasure, data transferring, data recovery and disk cloning to help users get the most out of their Windows and Mac. She likes to travel, enjoy country music and play games in her spare time.
Editor in chief
Gerhard Chou
In order to effectively solve the problems for our customers, every article and troubleshooting solution published on our website has been strictly tested and practiced. Our editors love researching and using computers and testing software, and are willing to help computer users with their problems