Disk Drill

Disk Drill scans storage devices to find and recover deleted, lost, or damaged files on macOS and Windows. Supported sources include internal and external drives, SSDs, USB drives, memory cards, digital cameras, RAID arrays, virtual hard drives, and disk images. The free Basic edition can scan storage and preview files that may be recoverable; Windows users can recover up to 100 MB for free. PRO provides unlimited data recovery and includes Quick & Deep Scan, Lost Partition Search, and other recovery methods. One PRO license covers both supported operating systems, and one user can install or activate it on up to three devices. The free edition also includes Recovery Vault metadata protection and byte-level backups. The product says it can reconstruct more than 400 file types. PRO is for personal use; Enterprise is listed for multiple users and includes priority technical support and forensic data export. PRO costs $89 a year for an annual subscription or $149, paid once for a lifetime license. The license is personal and non-transferable, and PRO purchases are generally non-refundable except where consumer protection laws require refunds.

Disk Drill offers free scanning and previewing, with paid options for unlimited recovery and a multi-user Enterprise option. Windows free recovery is capped at 100 MB, and license and refund restrictions are worth checking before purchase.

It suits users trying to recover files from supported storage on macOS or Windows. People needing multiple company or client users can consider Enterprise, while the PRO license is for personal use.

Overview

Disk Drill is recovery software for people trying to retrieve deleted, lost, or damaged files from storage ranging from a computer’s drive to removable media and disk images. Its free scanning and previews make it a practical first step when you want to assess recoverability before paying; the Windows free-recovery cap and personal-use restriction make it a less natural fit for larger or commercial recovery work.

It supports macOS 10.15 and later and Windows 10 and later, and says it can reconstruct more than 400 file types. The maker, CleverFiles, was founded in 2011 and is based in New Castle, Delaware.

Key features

• Scan and preview before upgrading: Basic can scan storage and preview recoverable files. That lets users inspect what Disk Drill finds before committing to a paid license, though previewing is not the same as recovering the files.
• Broad storage support: Sources include internal and external drives, SSDs, USB flash drives, SD/CF and other memory cards, cameras, virtual drives, RAID arrays, and disk images. Memory card and RAID recovery are supported, making the range useful beyond a single computer’s internal drive.
• Recovery methods: PRO includes Quick & Deep Scan and Lost Partition Search, alongside other recovery methods. The free edition is better suited to evaluating scan results than completing larger recoveries.
• Protection and specialized options: Free protection features include Recovery Vault metadata protection and byte-level backups. The Mac edition can scan Time Machine backup disks and local snapshots, while the product page describes recovery for iOS and Android devices, including rooted Android devices. The Windows comparison also lists NAS and Linux scanning via SSH.
• Enterprise tools: Enterprise includes priority technical support and forensic data export in DFXML format. That makes it the relevant tier for multi-user or forensic work rather than a personal PRO license.

Pricing

Disk Drill uses a freemium model, with a free Basic edition and paid options. The free edition scans and previews recoverable files; Windows users can recover up to 100 MB at no charge. That cap can help with a small retrieval, but it is restrictive for a larger recovery. No free trial is offered.

• Basic: free. Includes free scanning and preview; Windows recovery is capped at 100 MB. It is the sensible starting point for checking whether files appear recoverable, not a substitute for unlimited recovery.
• PRO Subscription: $89 a year. Billed annually and renews automatically unless canceled before renewal. It covers one user and up to three simultaneous device activations, unlimited data recovery, and future updates and upgrades while active. The subscription can be canceled at any time, but remains functional through the paid billing period.
• PRO Lifetime License: $149, paid once. A one-time purchase for one user and up to three simultaneous activations, with future updates and upgrades included permanently. It cannot be canceled. It suits users who expect ongoing personal use and prefer a one-time payment to an automatically renewing subscription.
• Enterprise: custom pricing. Designed for commercial use and multiple users across company and client computers; it includes priority technical support and forensic data export. Its custom pricing and multi-user scope make it distinct from the personal PRO plans.

PRO covers both macOS and Windows under one license, but is for personal use only and cannot be used for money-making purposes. Licenses are personal, non-transferable, and cannot be shared or resold. PRO purchases are non-refundable except where consumer protection laws require a refund. Paddle processes orders as merchant of record and authorized reseller; major cards, PayPal, and wire transfers are accepted.

Platforms

Disk Drill supports macOS 10.15+ and Windows 10+. PRO works across both platforms under one license, with up to three simultaneous activations for one user. The Mac edition adds Time Machine disk and local snapshot scanning; Windows free recovery is limited to 100 MB.

Who it's for

Disk Drill is a good fit for individuals who want to scan a range of storage types, inspect recoverable files for free, and pay for unlimited recovery if the results justify it. The lifetime license is appealing for long-term personal use, while the annual plan suits users who want PRO for a defined period and can remember to cancel before renewal. Commercial teams should look at Enterprise instead: personal PRO is explicitly barred from money-making use, and its single-user license cannot be shared.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Free scanning and file previews let users evaluate recovery prospects before purchase.
• Pro: Support for RAID, memory cards, cameras, virtual drives, and disk images covers more than ordinary internal-drive recovery.
• Pro: One PRO license spans macOS and Windows and permits three simultaneous activations for one user.
• Con: Windows Basic recovery stops at 100 MB, limiting the free tier to small recoveries.
• Con: PRO is personal-use only, with non-transferable, non-shareable licensing; it is not suitable for commercial recovery work.
• Con: The annual subscription renews automatically, and PRO purchases are generally non-refundable.

Alternatives

For a broader starting point, compare Data recovery software; consider RAID Data Recovery Software, Partition Recovery Software, SD Card Recovery Software, or Photo Recovery Software when that specific recovery category is the priority.

• EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard may suit users seeking Android or iOS support as well as desktop platforms; its One-Month plan is $69.95 a month.
• DiskGenius is a Windows-only freemium option with a free edition and a free trial.
• Sherlock Forensics Recover is a Windows option whose free plan lets users browse, preview, and export files and create raw or E01 disk images.
• TestDisk is free software for Linux, macOS, and Windows, with partition recovery, boot-sector repair, and file undelete.
• ReclaiMe Free RAID Recovery is a free Windows choice for several RAID levels, including hardware RAID, software RAID, and NAS disk sets.
• DMDE is a freemium option for Linux, macOS, and Windows; its Express — 1 Year plan costs $20 a year.
• DiskInternals RAID Recovery may be worth comparing when you need a Windows RAID recovery product with plans tiered by disk count.
• Klennet Recovery is a paid Windows option with separate personal and commercial plans.

Verdict

Choose Disk Drill if you want to preview recovery results before buying and need broad storage support, with a paid personal license for unlimited recovery. Look elsewhere if the Windows 100 MB free cap is too small, you need a shareable commercial license, or you want a paid purchase with a general refund option.