To ensure uniform testing, I deleted the same files on both machines two weeks prior to testing. The MacBook Pro features a 120GB solid-state drive (SSD), whereas the Mac Mini uses a 500GB hard disk drive (HDD). Both systems run the same version of macOS Sierra.

I tested Disk Drill alongside four other recovery utilities using two Macs: an early-2015 MacBook Pro and a late-2014 Mac Mini. Windows users should also note that the Mac version is more feature-rich. People running older desktops can use an earlier version of Disk Drill or consider Seagate or DiskWarrior, which offer more generous legacy support.

Those with older Macs should also note that the latest version of Disk Drill requires OS X 10.8.5 or later, which would have come preinstalled with any Apple computer purchased after the fall of 2013. While Disk Drill is a relatively small outfit that lacks dedicated recovery (as with Seagate or Prosoft), the enterprise version of the software allows users to export forensic data (DFXML) for further analysis. Installable on three desktops, the utility's license is less generous than DiskWarrior (unlimited) and Data Rescue (five desktops), but more straightforward than Stellar Phoenix Mac Data Recovery 7 (one transferable) or the Seagate Premium File Recovery Suite 2.5 (one desktop, 24 recoveries or one year).įinally, CleverFiles offers enterprise licensing (for $399), which can be installed on an unlimited number of desktops. CleverFiles also offers 20 percent discounts for education, non-profit, and government workers, and lifetime upgrades for a sensible $29. At $89, the Pro version, which I tested, is more affordable than competitors, which retail between $99 and $119.

Options and PricingĭiskDrill Basic compares favorably with other try-before-you-buy options: In addition to allowing you to verify recoverable data, Basic also allows you to back up failing disks and to recover protected data. But if you have an Apple computer with a traditional hard drive, Disk Drill Pro offers one of the most advanced data recovery utilities available. Like its peers, Disk Drill won't be of much service if your computer uses a solid-state drive, and the Windows version is less feature-rich than its sibling on the Mac (which I tested). Thanks to exceptionally thorough scanning and vast signature support, it returns a trove of results that you can winnow with advanced filters.

The data recovery utility scans a desktop's hard drive-and any external drives connected to it-in order to retrieve and reconstruct lost files. CleverFiles Disk Drill Pro 3 ($89) turns back that clock. If you've ever accidently saved over a document or deleted a presentation, you know the pain that comes with losing a file.

Disk drill 3