Lost photos on iPhone, Android, Windows, or Mac? Discover the best photo recovery software for iPhone, Android, Windows & Mac. Features, pricing, comparison, and how to choose.
Losing precious photos or videos can feel catastrophic—especially when they were memories you can’t recreate. Whether files were deleted, storage got corrupted, or a wrong format wiped out data, a robust photo recovery tool can rescue them. But which software works best on iPhone, Android, Windows, and Mac? In this blog, we’ll compare Stellar Photo Recovery, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, and Wondershare Recoverit in detail—covering features, trial limits, real-world performance, pros/cons, and tips to help you choose the right one.
We have listed some of the best iPhone Data Recovery software
What to Look for in a Photo Recovery Tool
Before we dive into tool comparisons, here are the essential criteria to evaluate. You can mention/optimize these points in your blog so Google picks them up:
- Cross-platform & Device Support
- iPhone, Android (via backups or mounted storage), Windows, macOS
- External media: SD cards, USB drives, cameras, etc.
- File Format & RAW Support
- JPEG, PNG, TIFF, BMP, HEIC, and RAW formats: CR2, NEF, ARW, DNG, etc.
- Recovery Scenarios Covered
- Accidental deletion, and Formatting/reformatting
- Partition loss, and Disk corruption / OS crash
- Virus/malware damage
- Scan Capability & Accuracy
- Quick scan vs deep scan
- Ability to pause, resume scans, and custom file signatures/header editing
- Preview & Selective Recovery
- Preview images before recovery and Filter by date, size, and extension
- Trial / Free Version Limitations
- What you can test before paying
- Maximum recoverable data
- Ease of Use / UI Quality
- Beginner-friendly flows
- Clean interface with guidance
- Performance & Recovery Success
- Real-world success rates
- Speed of scans and recoveries
- Pricing, Licensing & Support
- Subscription vs perpetual license
- Multi-device plans or technician licenses
- Refund policies, updates, and customer support
- Reliability & Trust
- Reviews, user feedback, and real cases of success or failure
We have listed some of the best Hard Drive Data Recovery Software for Windows and Mac
Photo Recovery Software Reviews & Comparison
Here’s an in-depth comparison of Stellar, EaseUS, and Recoverit across the above criteria.
1. Stellar Photo Recovery
Platform & Device Support
- Available on Windows and macOS.
- Supports recovery from SD cards, USB drives, memory cards, cameras, internal & external drives.
- You can even recover from BitLocker-encrypted drives if you supply the password.
- Let’s you add or edit file headers/custom signatures to support rare or custom formats.
File Format & RAW Support
- Very wide format support: Canon (CR2, CR3, CRW), Nikon (NEF, NRW), Sony (ARW, SR2), Fujifilm (RAF), Olympus (ORF), Pentax (PEF), Sigma (X3F), DNG, TIFF, JPEG, PNG, PSD, BMP, GIF, etc.
- The premium version can repair corrupted photos/videos in addition to recovery.
Recovery Scenarios & Features
- Supports lost partition recovery, RAW drive recovery (signature-based)
- Bootable recovery for crashed Windows (non-bootable systems) is supported in advanced editions.
- Allows saving scan sessions and resuming, so you don’t have to start over.
- Deep scan + quick scan modes.
Trial / Free Version Limitations
- The free / trial version allows scanning and preview, but only up to 1 GB of data recovery is allowed.
- To recover more, you’ll need a paid license (Standard, Professional, Premium).
Pros & Strengths
- Very user-friendly interface with guided steps.
- Ability to add custom signatures/file headers for uncommon formats — good flexibility.
- Good support for RAW formats and many camera brands.
- Refunds and support exist, but some user feedback indicates mixed experiences. (Some complaints of slower scans or customer support glitches)
Weaknesses & Real-World Feedback
- Scan speeds, especially deep scans, are seen as somewhat slower compared to rivals.
- Some recovered files may still be partially corrupted or not open properly in extreme cases.
- The subscription/pricing model is less appealing for single users.
Pricing & Licensing
- Standard / Professional / Premium versions, with increasing features (repair, partition recovery, bootable media).
2. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard
Platform & Device Support
- Supports Windows and macOS.
- Recover files from external drives, SD cards, USB, etc.
- Often bundled with phone-level tools (for Android/iPhone via USB or backups) in their broader suite.
File Format & RAW Support
- Supports 1,000+ file types, including RAW formats.
- Good coverage of image, video, and document formats.
Recovery Scenarios & Features
- Allows deep scan, quick scan.
- Filters by file type, file extension, and date.
- Video fragment reconstruction (to join broken video fragments) is a highlighted feature.
- Recovery from formatted drives, partition loss, virus attacks, etc.
Trial / Free Version Limitations
- The free version lets you recover up to 2 GB of data.
- Scanning & preview are allowed for free.
Pros & Strengths
- Very easy to use – the user interface is clean and the steps are intuitive.
- Good recovery results in many tests.
- Strong reputation and positive user reviews.
Weaknesses & Critiques
- Speed: Deep scans may lag behind competitors for large disks.
- Files found may not always open or preview properly in some edge cases.
- Pricing for premium versions can feel high for casual users.
Pricing & Licensing
- Pro version around ~$70 (one-time or subscription, depending on plan).
- Many users prefer the lifetime/perpetual versions.
3. Wondershare Recoverit
(Note: Wondershare brands their recovery tool as Recoverit and their repair tool as Repairit; I will treat the recovery tool primarily here, and mention repair functions.)
Platform & Device Support
- Works on Windows and macOS, with support for Apple Silicon in newer versions.
- Claims to support over 2,000 devices (USB, SD, HDD, NAS) and 1,000+ file types.
- Can also target iOS / Android via file system or backups in some scenarios.
File Format & RAW Support
- Good support for common image/video/RAW formats. Some tests show strong recovery for JPEG, PNG, MP4, etc.
- May have issues with certain uncommon formats or heavily corrupted files.
Recovery & Repair Features
- Clean interface, guided workflow.
- Some advanced features like video repair, fragment stitching, and selective photo recovery.
- However, one user reported that after repair, the recovered photo was very small (~14 KB) and unusable.
Trial / Free Version Limitations
- Free version often allows scanning and preview, but actual recovery is limited (e.g., up to 2 GB or less, depending on version).
- For full functionality, an upgrade is needed.
Pros & Strengths
- Very beginner-friendly—users praise its UI and ease of use.
- Good option for media recovery of everyday formats.
- Offers repair and rebuilding features in higher-tier versions.
Weaknesses & Real-World Feedback
- Some limitations in extremely corrupted or rare-format data recovery.
- Occasional reports of incomplete or unusable recovered files.
- Ads or prompts to upgrade are frequent in the trial/free mode.
Pricing & Licensing
- Multiple pricing tiers: monthly, yearly, and lifetime.
- A lifetime license costs more but gives ongoing access.
Side-by-Side Feature Table
| Feature | Stellar Photo Recovery | EaseUS Data Recovery | Wondershare Recoverit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supported OS | Windows, Mac | Windows, Mac | Windows, Mac |
| Device Media Support | SD, USB, HDD, camera, encrypted drives | SD, USB, HDD, etc. | Broad external & internal media |
| RAW / Format Support | Very wide (Canon, Nikon, Sony, etc.) | Over 1,000 file types including RAW | Good common formats + some RAW |
| Custom File Signature Support | ✅ (add/edit header) | – | – |
| Recovery from Encrypted Drives | ✅ (BitLocker) | – | – |
| Deep Scan & Resume | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Preview Before Recovery | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Trial / Free Recovery Limit | 1 GB | 2 GB | ~2 GB / depends on version |
| Ease of Use | Beginner-friendly with guidance | Very intuitive | Clean UI, easy for non-tech users |
| Advanced Repair / Extras | Over 1,000 file types, including RAW | Video fragment stitching | Repair/fragment stitching features |
| Scan Speed | Moderate (slower in deep scans) | Good, but deep can be slower | Moderate, depends on size |
| Real-World Recovery Quality | Strong, especially on images & RAW | Strong across file types | Good, but some limitations in extreme cases |
| Price / License Options | Multiple tiers (Standard, Pro, Premium) | Pro / perpetual & subscription | Monthly, yearly, lifetime |
| Best For | Photographers needing RAW recovery & flexibility | Users needing broad recovery across media and formats | Users wanting ease + repair capabilities |
Which Tool Should You Use – Based on Scenario?
- For photographers working with RAW / SD cards/camera media → Stellar Photo Recovery is often preferred, thanks to its strong camera RAW format support and signature editing.
- For general users needing recovery of photos + documents + videos across OS → EaseUS offers a balanced, all-purpose solution.
- For ease of use + some repair capabilities → Wondershare Recoverit is good, especially for standard photo/video recovery; though extreme corruption or rare formats may push you toward Stellar or EaseUS.
- If you want to test before buying → EaseUS Data Recovery and Recoverit give more free recovery (2 GB) to test performance before committing; Stellar’s 1 GB limit is more restrictive.
- For extreme cases (encrypted drives, non-bootable OS, highly corrupted media) → Stellar’s advanced features (BitLocker, bootable recovery) may give it an edge.
Conclusion
Losing photos can be distressing, but with the right recovery software, you have a shot at retrieving them. For RAW-intensive, camera-based recovery, Stellar Photo Recovery is a compelling option. If you need versatility across multiple file types and OS support, EaseUS is a strong option. If you want a modern, easy UI + repair features, Recoverit is a solid pick.
Before choosing, test with free/trial versions (up to their limits) to see which recovers your actual files best.
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FAQ Section for Photo Recovery Software
Q: Can I recover deleted photos from my iPhone using these tools?
A: Direct internal iPhone photo recovery is limited by iOS system restrictions and encryption. The best chances are via iCloud / iTunes backups, or exporting visible data and running recovery on them. These desktop tools work better on mounted storage, backups, or external media.
Q: How about photo recovery for Android devices?
A: If your Android’s storage is accessible (via USB Mass Storage or when it’s mounted as an external drive), these tools can scan that storage. But if it’s deeply rooted or encrypted, you may need phone-specific recovery apps first.
Q: What’s the difference between a quick scan and a deep scan?
- Quick scan is faster and recovers recently deleted files.
- Deep scan takes longer and searches storage bit by bit, aiming to recover severely deleted or corrupted files.
Q: Will recovered photos always be perfect (no corruption)?
Not always. In badly damaged media or overwritten sectors, recovered files may be partial or corrupted. That’s why tools that repair or reconstruct are advantageous in some scenarios.
Q: Can I recover photos from formatted SD cards / USBs?
Yes — all three tools support recovery from formatted drives, lost partitions, and corrupted media (though success depends on how much was overwritten).
Q: How can I improve the chances of successful recovery?
- Stop using the affected drive immediately (to avoid overwriting).
- Use the recovery tool from a different drive.
- Save recovered files to a different drive.
- Use a deep scan if the quick scan misses.
- Try multiple tools (some recover what others don’t).