Even though iOS comes with a lot of safety nets for your data (e.g. iCloud), "irreversible" data loss can still happen due to accidents, viruses, etc. In such cases, the best DIY solution is to use iPhone data recovery software, which is a tool that utilizes advanced algorithms to extract lost files directly from the device (or a backup).
There are dozens of iPhone recovery apps available – many are highly effective, but just as many are complete junk. To help you make the right choice, we tested as many as we could find and compiled the 7 best iPhone data recovery software. We also highlighted each app's important details so you don't have to slog through pages of product information yourself. Read on!
What Makes iPhone Recovery Software Good Enough to be in this List?
For a software recovery tool to be on this list, it has to be able to recover your data and make it easy to do so. There are going to be several metrics that have been taken into consideration when putting together the rankings below.
- ✅ Reliability: When you launch a software application, you want it to run smoothly and not crash. No matter what the claims are that the company has made, if the software can’t run well in the first place, then it’s not going to be worth your time or money. I ensured that every tool on this list is stable and performs consistently.
- 📱 Compatibility: You want the software that you're running to be compatible with your device and ensure that it can recover the data from your iPhone and not just the newest model. I tested a range of latest models to guarantee this compatibility.
- 💰 Price: When selecting iOS data recovery apps, you want to get the most for your hard-earned money. I focused on solutions that offer the best value for your investment, balancing quality with cost-effectiveness.
- 😰 Ease of use: An app shouldn’t have to teach you how to use it, you should be able to use it without a manual and it should be intuitive enough to accomplish the task of recovering data from your iPhone. It can be frustrating trying to figure out how to use something that you just paid for and those options won’t be included for that reason. I prioritized tools with intuitive designs and clear user interfaces.
- ⚙️ Features: The best recovery apps for iPhone do more than just recover your deleted data, which means they provide more value for your money! I looked for those that provide additional features to enhance their overall utility and value.
What to Know Before iPhone Data Recovery
The success of a data recovery attempt is affected by many factors; while the outcome is never a 100% guarantee, there are certain precautions you can take to improve your chances. It also helps to know what to expect from the undertaking so you can proceed with confidence.
Here are a few short but useful tips to help you kick off the recovery process with better odds and prepare yourself for the process ahead:
- Limit your iPhone usage – The moment you notice that your data is missing, stop using your iPhone immediately! Further usage may inadvertently overwrite your old files with new data. We also suggest turning off your iPhone’s WiFi and mobile networks to avoid downloading files in the background.
- Manage your expectations – Proceed with the expectation that successful recovery isn’t a guarantee. The type of data loss, time passed, and other factors greatly affect the outcome – for example, iOS encrypts the file system in a way that restricts data recovery functionality. Additionally, iPhones utilize databases that get cleared randomly, making it almost impossible to predict recovery chances.
- Charge your battery – Most iPhone recovery apps require plugging your device into your Mac. However, it’s good practice to fully charge your device before attempting recovery to avoid interruptions due to power loss, which can cause unwanted consequences.
- Get ready to wait – Depending on the amount of data you want to restore, the recovery process can take up to a few hours. Be ready to not use your phone for a while.
Top 7 Best iPhone Data Recovery Software
The list below was put together taking into account the factors above and my personal experiences with each one. Based on those experiences, I was able to create the ranking that you will see below.
These opinions are all my own, and yours may vary depending on your opinions and experiences with the software applications from the list. The goal of this article is to evaluate each option to help give you an idea of which one would work best for you when it comes to the best recovery software for iOS.
In short, you can't go wrong with any of the software programs from this list certain things make some of the options better than the others.
1. Disk Drill iPhone Data Recovery
Disk Drill is a powerful and user-friendly data recovery tool for Mac that can also restore files from iPhones, iPads, iPods (when applicable), and even Android devices.
Its iPhone recovery tool provided a lot of coverage in terms of data types and recovery efforts. It can restore files from an iTunes backup you created, preventing the need to roll back your device. Even if you were unable to create any backups, Disk Drill can still restore your files by creating its own iTunes backup (circumventing iOS’ strict restrictions).
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Pros:
- Beautiful modern interface.
- Easy to use.
- Straight forward recovery steps.
- Works on both Mac and Windows.
- Preview your files.
- Allowed me to quickly scan my iPhone.
Cons:
- The free version doesn’t let you recover data, you can only preview what is recoverable.
User Experience
I gave Disk Drill the number one spot because it scanned my iPhone fast, was easy to navigate, and I was able to locate a ton of deleted pictures. Disk Drill gives you the best visual and overall experience when it comes to recovering data from your iOS device. I am a huge fan of the large file icons making it super easy to navigate. You can’t put a price on lost data from your iPhone and Disk Drill gives you the best experience and chances at recovering that data.
Features:
- Supports a wide range of iOS versions.
- Can recover data directly from an iPhone or from iTunes backups.
- Upcoming support for iCloud backups recovery.
- Can recover a variety of data types, including photos, videos, contacts, call history, chats, texts, and more.
- Offers free data protection tools, including Recovery Vault and Guaranteed Recovery.
- Allows users to preview all recoverable data before actual recovery.
- Restore attachments from popular apps like WhatsApp, WeChat, Line, and more.
Price: Lifetime license - ($89)
CleverFiles (Disk Drill’s developers) is currently offering a 2-for-1 deal where you get the Windows version for free when you purchase a license for macOS. Note that iPhone recovery only works for the Mac version of Disk Drill, but it’s useful if you have a Windows machine!
2. iMobie PhoneRescue
iMobie PhoneRescue has a modern interface that is easy to use and navigate through. It has a simple interface that allows you to quickly recover your data and doesn't make you go through a ton of steps to accomplish the task at hand.
Pros:
- Has a modern and beautiful interface.
- I was able to find and recover a large amount of lost data.
- Easy to navigate and use.
- Allows you to recover from iTunes and iCloud.
- Includes Device Rescue features.
Cons:
- You must pay to recover data and can only preview with the free version.
- It took a long time to scan my iPhone.
User Experience
PhoneRescue is second on this list because it does a good job at finding your data, offers extra tools for the price, and the interface is intuitive and easy to use.
After you scan your device and have it analyze your data (which took about an hour for me which is quite a long time), you’re greeted by an easy-to-use and digestible list of your personal data where you can then view and select what you would like to recover. I think the scan time is really worth the wait though, as the software did a good job overall at finding my deleted data.
Features:
- Capability to restore data from both iOS devices and backups (iTunes, iCloud).
- Fixes various iOS system issues, including screen of death issues and devices in Recovery/DFU mode.
- Provides functionality to safely remove both Lock Screen Passcode and Screen Time Passcode.
- Preview feature allowing users to select specific files for recovery.
Price:
- 3-Month Subscription: Unlimited Devices / 1 PC - $65.99
- 1-Year Subscription: Unlimited Devices / 1 PC - $69.99
- One-Time Purchase: Unlimited Devices / 1 PC - $99.99
Note: as of the latest update to this article, the app is currently being offered at a discounted rate. However, the price listed here represents the regular cost of the app, as promotional prices may vary over time.
It’s good to see that PhoneRescue provides four different recovery and repair modes to maximize the chances of recovery. However, each mode is not without problems. (JP Zhang, softwarehow.com)
3. FoneLab
FoneLab iPhone Data Recovery allows you to recover deleted data from your iOS device. The interface is quite simple and has a white backdrop with colorful sidebar icons that are organized in a list which makes it easy to navigate and you won’t have a hard time understanding how to use this one either.
Pros:
- Runs reliably and smoothly.
- Includes large preview icons that make it easy to see your data.
- The software recovers data from iTunes and iCloud.
- Is competitively priced.
Cons:
- You must purchase the iOS recovery software to recover the data it was able to find.
- My photos were put under a different category than what I was expecting.
User Experience
FoneLab iPhone Data Recovery is third on this list because it offers an easy-to-use interface, has large preview icons, is reliable, and it gets the job done.
The only issue that I found with FoneLab is that it put some of my pictures under a different category and at first I didn't think it was able to recover any of them.
If you’re not seeing a photo that you think should have been recovered, check under the Camera Roll category as it puts some photos under there as well. They won't all be under the Photo Library category but split between the two.
Features:
- Allows you to recover deleted or lost data from your iPhone.
- Preview detailed information about your lost data.
- Supports a long list of iOS devices.
- Includes the ability to restore from an iTunes backup.
- Includes the ability to restore from an iCloud backup.
Price: $69.95.
Note: as of this article update, the app is being advertised with a discount. The price mentioned reflects the regular cost, as discounts may change over time.
My only complaint (I was recovering a document from the Notes application) was that I couldn’t restore the note onto the phone directly, but had to export it as an HTML document, then import it back onto the phone. (A. Forrest, amazon.com)
4. Dr.Fone - iOS Data Recovery
Dr. Fone recovers deleted and lost data from any iOS device. You can restore things such as photos, text messages, contacts, reminders, and all other sorts of data that are stored on your iPhone.
Pros:
- A solid recovery option that runs reliably.
- Includes large previews of your data that makes it easy to distinguish what you’re looking for.
- Includes additional iPhone features.
Cons:
- You can’t recover data unless you pay and register the app.
- Some other options are more intuitive, easier to use and cost about the same price.
User Experience
Dr. Fone is number four on this list as it is a solid option and does what it is intended to do. While it doesn’t bring anything groundbreaking to the table, I would only really consider this one if you can find it on sale. You won’t make a mistake purchasing this one, but there are just better alternatives higher up on the list that come in around the same price and in my opinion, give you more bang for your buck when it comes to the interface.
Features:
- Comes with iPhone data recovery support.
- Includes screen unlock, system repair, phone transfer, and virtual location functionality.
- Option to extract recovered data directly to the PC or back to iOS devices.
- Designed with a user-friendly interface.
- Offers 3 recovery modes: from the device's internal storage, iTunes backup, and iCloud backup.
- Allows selective recovery, enabling users to choose specific files they want to restore.
Price:
- macOS version:
- 1 Year License: $69.95/Year
- Perpetual License: $79.95 (One-time payment)
- Windows version:
- 1 Year License: $59.95/Year
- Perpetual License: $69.95 (One-time payment)
5. FonePaw
FonePaw is a professional iPhone data recovery software tool that allows you to recover deleted data from your iPhone.
Pros:
- The interface is easy to use.
- A visual scanning bar is useful and shows the user the scan progress.
Cons:
- Took a long time to complete a scan
- Cost more than some of the other alternatives.
- You must purchase the software to recover the data from your iPhone.
User Experience
FonePaw is number seven on this list as it does a good job at recovering data, but isn’t as optimized as some of the other options above.
When using this app, the scan time was very long for me, it took about 2 hours to complete the scan on my iPhone when Disk Drill was able to complete this in about 30 minutes.
Features:
- Recover data from your iPhone directly.
- Recover both from an iTunes and iCloud backup.
- Comes with support for more than 30 file types.
- Supports recovery from many 3rd party services.
- Three distinct recovery modes to cater to different recovery needs.
- Offers a preview feature to view details of deleted files before recovery.
- Selective recovery option lets you choose specific data to recover.
Price:
- macOS version:
- 1 Year License: $94.95/Year
- Single-User License: $109.95 (One-time payment)
- 1 Month License: $77.95/Month
- Windows version:
- 1 Year License: $79.95/Year
- Single-User License: $94.95 (One-time payment)
- 1 Month License: $63.95/Month
Note: as of this article's latest update, the app is available at a promotional rate. However, the price mentioned here reflects its standard cost, as discounts can change over time.
6. Tenorshare UltData
Tenorshare UltData recovers data from your iPhone or other iOS device and supports more than 35 file types. It also provides backward compatibility with older devices, including the iPhone 4 and later, all iPad versions, and all iPod Touch versions.
Pros:
- Awesome file preview feature.
- Scans your iPhone fast.
- Supports a large number of file types
- The software is easy-to-use.
- Comes with additional iOS features in addition to being able to back up your data.
Cons:
- The cost is high unless you can get it on sale.
- The software wasn't able to find as much data to recover as some other alternatives.
User Experience
UltData is number six on this list because it has an intuitive design and it scanned my iPhone quickly. The only issue is that it was only able to find 15,000 pictures of mine which is still pretty impressive but other alternatives above were able to find more. I would download the app and do the scan first before making a purchase decision. You want to make sure it can find what you're trying to recover.
Features:
- Recover data directly from iOS devices and iTunes backups.
- Support for more than 35 file formats.
- Compatibility with a large variety of iPhone models.
- Comes with an iOS System Fix feature.
- Support for backup & restore of apps like WhatsApp, LINE, Viber, WeChat, and Kik (Mac only).
- Allows selective recovery, enabling users to choose specific data to restore.
- Option to restore certain files directly to the iOS device.
Price:
- macOS version:
- 1 Year License: $199.83/Year
- Lifetime License: $233.17 (One-time payment)
- 1 Month License: $186.50/Month
- Windows version:
- 1 Year License: $166.50/Year
- Lifetime License: $199.83 (One-time payment)
- 1 Month License: $153.17/Month
Note: as of the most recent update to this article, the app is currently being promoted with a discount. The price indicated represents the regular price, as it may vary over time.
7. iMyfone D-Back
iMyfone D-Back quickly recovers data from an iOS device and it does so in a couple of simple steps. It can recover lost, deleted, and unrecoverable data.
Pros:
- Comes with a beautifully clear interface design that is easy to use.
- Includes a preview screen to show you the data the software is able to recover.
Cons:
- It can't recover as many files as some of the other alternatives on this list.
- The price is high when selecting the 1-month option, the year plan is better in my opinion.
User Experience
iMyfone D-Back is overall a good experience. There isn’t anything about it that stands out, but they're also isn’t anything that I really have when it comes to negatives either, it gets the job done. It would be nice if it could find as many recoverable files as other options above, but it was able to find a large enough amount to make the list. I would recommend staying away from the 1-month purchase option and go for something such as the 1-year plan as you get more for your money.
Features:
- Quickly recover data directly from any iOS device.
- Includes the ability to recover data from both an iTunes and iCloud backup.
- You can fix iOS system issues or iOS update errors before trying to attempt iPhone data recovery.
- Ability to selectively recover deleted photos, WhatsApp, messages, and 18+ other data types.
- Supports data extraction from iCloud backup with just iCloud account access.
- Provides a preview feature, allowing users to view deleted data before recovery.
- Supports recovery from a range of social apps including WhatsApp, Line, Kik, Viber, Wechat, and Skype.
Price:
- 1-Month Plan: $69.99
- 1-Year Plan: $89.99/Year
- Lifetime Plan: $139.99 (One-time purchase)
Note: as of the latest update to this article, the app is currently on promotion. The price listed is the regular price, as discounts may vary over time.
iPhone Data Recovery Software to Avoid
This section isn’t necessarily for iPhone data recovery that isn’t worth looking into, but it shows ones that aren’t worth the money in my opinion due to them not meeting the criteria that they were being judged on for the top data recovery software list above.
This article has been updated to be compatible with the latest macOS. All featured apps have been re-evaluated by our technical team with the macOS Sonoma environment.
- EaseUS MobiSaver successfully scanned our iPhone and restored our data, but its recovery results fell short compared to the other tools we featured above.
- Stellar Data Recovery will install and launch, and it even is able to see my iPhone. The issue is that when I try to scan my device, it fails and is unable to start a scan. Due to this, I can not recommend this option.
- Leawo Data Recovery is a 32-bit app and won’t run on macOS Big Sur or any other recent versions of macOS. If the app is updated for a 64-bit operating system, then this one could be a contender. Keep in mind that if you’re running an older version of macOS that still supports 32-bit apps, this one should work for you.
- Syncios worked with our iPhone but its recovery performance was below average; we also disliked that the developers claimed that the app could restore data from broken and water-damaged iPhones (among others). Not only is this recommendation inaccurate, but it can cause permanent data loss and worsen the issues.
- Gihsoft iPhone Data Recovery wouldn’t complete as it said that I have an iTunes backup and needed to enter a password for it and this isn’t true as I don’t use iTunes to backup, I use iCloud so I was unable to test this one as I couldn’t get past this screen.
FAQ
After exploring multiple options, the only completely free software I found worth mentioning is PhotoRec. However, unfortunately, it does not support iOS devices, and thus it hasn't been included in the top best iPhone data recovery software options. Many options offer a free trial, allowing you to verify if your data is recoverable before making any investments.
If you have used some of the options above and are unable to recover your data, then it would be time to reach out to a professional data recovery company. CleverFiles offers one called Data Recovery Center and there is also DriveSavers as another option. Keep in mind though, that if the data has been written over by something new they may not be able to recover it. Contacting the company first explaining your situation is the best option.
It is best to keep a backup for your device on iCloud as that is the best way to ensure your data is being backup up. Using recovery apps is a good backup in addition to having a backup already created but isn’t a good idea to only rely on recovery software as it can’t always recover your data.
The best iPhone backup software is actually already present on your iPhone, and its name is iCloud backup. With it, you can back up your photos and videos, settings, app data, text messages, and a lot more to Apple’s secure servers. Best of all, you don’t even need to connect your iPhone with a cable. You just need to be connected to a Wi-Fi network.
iMobie PhoneRescue stands out as one of the best options when it comes to iPhone data recovery for Windows. Its modern user interface keeps beginners from feeling lost, and its powerful data recovery algorithms deliver results that even a professional data recovery center could be proud of.
At the time of writing this article, Disk Drill is the leading iPhone data recovery software for Mac. This versatile data recovery solution has been around for a long time, and it has rightfully earned the trust of millions of users around the world.
Generally, iOS recovery software applications are compatible with all recently released iPhone models. This includes the iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone SE (2nd generation), iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, as well as all models of the iPhone 13, iPhone 14, and iPhone 15.
Overall Thoughts
You can’t go wrong with any on this list and most of them are nearly the same as they’re all trying to accomplish the same task. However, some are better than others and they all offer you the option to download them for free and test them out before you make a purchasing decision.
The good news is that if you lose data on your iPhone, there are multiple ways you can attempt to recover it. Find one that you like the looks of and that has features that appeal to you and you can’t go wrong.
This article was written by Joel Lockard, a Contributing Writer at Handy Recovery. It was recently updated by Alejandro Santos. It was also verified for technical accuracy by David Morelo, our editorial advisor.
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