You don’t really think about backups… until the moment you need one.
A few months ago, I accidentally wiped an external SSD that had a mix of documents and personal photos from a vacation ride. No warning, no recycle bin moment. Just gone. If you’ve ever deleted files from an external drive on a Mac, you already know, they often don’t go to Trash at all, especially when deleted directly from external drives.
That’s where Mac data recovery software becomes your only real option.
I spent time testing five of the most talked-about tools, not just surface-level installs, but actual recovery attempts on formatted drives, corrupted volumes, and accidental deletions. What you’ll find below isn’t marketing fluff. It’s what worked, what didn’t, and where each tool stands when you’re trying to recover deleted data from Mac, especially from external drives.
1. Stellar Data Recovery Free for Mac
My Experience
Stellar Free Mac Data Recovery was the first tool I tested, and honestly, it set the bar pretty high.
I connected a formatted exFAT external SSD and ran a scan. What stood out immediately was that like most tools, scanning is free, but here you can preview everything clearly before deciding to recover.. I could preview everything, photos, PDFs, even old project folders, before deciding whether to recover.
That “try before you buy” approach is rare in this category.
Key Features (What Actually Matters)
Supports APFS, APFS Encrypted, HFS+, NTFS, exFAT, FAT16/32 Works with external HDDs, SSDs, USB drives, SD cards, LaCie drives Fully compatible with Apple Silicon (M1 and newer) and T2 Macs Deep scan using signature-based recovery Pause & Resume scan (huge for large drives) Preview before recovery (even in free version) Recovers from: Deleted files Formatted drives Corrupted volumes Can scan encrypted APFS drives if you can unlock them with the correct passwordReal Use Case
I tested it on:
A formatted SSD (exFAT) → recovered most of the original folder structure accurately An APFS encrypted drive → surprisingly strong results A corrupted USB → partial recovery, but still usableThe folder reconstruction impressed me the most. Many tools dump files randomly, this one preserved hierarchy pretty well.
Pricing
Free: Up to 1GB recovery (no registration) Standard: $69.99 Professional: $89.99 Premium: $99.99 Technician: $199Pros
Full scan engine unlocked in free version Strong support for modern Mac file systems Excellent preview system Handles encrypted drives better than mostCons
1GB cap isn’t enough for large video files Deep scan can be slow on large HDDsWhat Makes It Different
Most tools tease you, scan results are locked unless you pay. Here, you see everything first, then decide.
That alone makes it the most transparent option for free Mac data recovery.
Remember: On SSDs, recovery success depends heavily on TRIM. If TRIM has already cleared the deleted data, no software can recover it.
2. Disk Drill
My Experience
After using Stellar, I wanted to see how Disk Drill stacked up. It’s one of the most popular tools, especially among Mac users.
The interface is clean, modern, and beginner-friendly. You can start scanning in seconds.
Key Features
Supports APFS, HFS+, FAT32, NTFS Recovery Vault & disk monitoring features Deep scan + quick scan File preview (limited in free version)Real Use Case
I tested Disk Drill on a USB drive where I deleted photos manually.
Results:
Quick scan found recent deletions fast Like most deep scans, it recovered more files but lost folder structureThat’s where it struggled with maintaining structure in deep scans.
Pricing
Free version: scan + preview only (no recovery on Mac) Paid: starts around $89Pros
Excellent UI Fast quick scans Good for recently deleted filesCons
Free version doesn’t actually recover files Folder structure recovery is weak Deep scan results can feel messyVerdict vs Stellar
Disk Drill looks better visually, but when it comes to actually recover deleted photos from external drive on Mac for free, it falls short, because you can’t recover anything without paying.
3. PhotoRec (with TestDisk)
My Experience
This one is… different.
No polished UI. No fancy buttons. It’s command-line based. But under the hood, it’s powerful.
If you’re even slightly technical, this tool can surprise you.
It ignores the file system entirely, which is why it works even on damaged drives, but also why filenames and folders are lost, especially on APFS.
Key Features
Completely free and open-source Works with almost every file system Signature-based recovery Supports hundreds of file typesReal Use Case
I ran PhotoRec on a formatted SD card.
Results:
Recovered a huge number of files BUT… filenames were gone Folder structure? Completely missingYou end up sorting files manually.
Pricing
100% freePros
Truly free recovery with no limits Extremely powerful deep scan Works even when other tools failCons
No GUI (not beginner-friendly) No folder structure recovery File names are lostVerdict vs Stellar
PhotoRec is like a raw engine, powerful but rough.
If you’re comfortable digging through hundreds of unnamed files, it works. But for most users, Stellar is far more practical and organized.
4. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free for Mac
My Experience
EaseUS is heavily marketed, so I went in expecting solid performance.
The interface is clean and guided, very beginner-friendly.
Key Features
Supports APFS, HFS+, FAT32, NTFS Quick scan + deep scan File preview available Recovers photos, videos, documentsReal Use Case
I tested it on a corrupted external HDD.
Results:
Found a decent number of files Preview worked well But recovery was limited heavily by free capPricing
Free: up to 2GB (with conditions) Paid version: ~$89.95Pros
Easy to use Decent recovery performance Slightly higher free limit than StellarCons
Free recovery often requires sign-ups/social sharing Scan results were decent, but not as well organized in my testing Slower on large drivesVerdict vs Stellar
EaseUS gives you a bit more free recovery (2GB), but it comes with friction.
Stellar feels more straightforward — scan, preview, recover — no hoops.
5. Wondershare Recoverit Free
My Experience
Recoverit positions itself as a premium recovery tool with a polished experience.
And yes — it looks great. But looks aren’t everything.
Key Features
Supports APFS, HFS+, FAT, NTFS Deep scan + video recovery features File preview available Focus on media recoveryReal Use Case
I tested it on a drive with deleted videos and images.
Results:
Video recovery was decent Scan took longer than expected Free recovery was very limitedPricing
Free: limited recovery (~100MB) Paid: starts around $79.99Pros
Strong for media files Good UI and guided workflowCons
Very restrictive free version Slower scans Not great for document recoveryVerdict vs Stellar
Recoverit is decent for videos, but its free tier is too restrictive.
If your goal is Mac file recovery for free, this won’t get you far.
Quick Comparison
SoftwareFree Recovery LimitBest ForBiggest LimitationStellar Data Recovery1GBExternal drives + structured recoverySlow deep scanDisk Drill0GB (Mac)Scanning & previewNo free recoveryPhotoRecUnlimitedAdvanced usersNo file names/foldersEaseUS2GBBeginnersConditional limitsRecoverit~100MBMedia filesVery restrictiveWhy Recovery Sometimes Fails on Mac
Current Macs behave very differently from older systems. If you’re using an SSD, TRIM can permanently erase deleted data on SSDs, sometimes within minutes or after the next idle cycle.
APFS also handles storage differently, using containers and snapshots, which can make recovery harder in some cases.
What this means is simple: recovery success depends more on timing and storage type than on the software itself.
Final Verdict (What I’d Actually Recommend)
Here’s the honest answer after testing all five.
If you want something:
Simple Reliable Actually free (not fake-free) And capable of handling real-world scenarios like formatted drives or encrypted volumesThen Stellar Data Recovery Free for Mac is one of the more transparent tools I tested
It’s not perfect, the 1GB cap is real, but the fact that you can:
Scan everything Preview everything And then decide…makes it the most trustworthy tool in this list.
If you’re technical and patient, PhotoRec is a powerful backup option.
If you just want a pretty interface, Disk Drill and Recoverit look good, but they won’t help much without paying.
One Tip That Matters More Than Any Software
The moment you realize files are deleted:
Stop using that external drive immediately.
No copying. No editing. No saving new files.
Because here’s the thing, recovery tools don’t magically “bring files back.” They recover data that hasn’t been overwritten yet.
The more you use the drive, the lower your chances.
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