Rescuezilla
- Android app
- Not listed
- Free plan
- Yes
- Runs on
- Linux, Mac, Windows
Summary
Rescuezilla is a free, open-source disk imaging app for backing up, restoring, and recovering computer data. It boots from a USB stick or CD-ROM in a Linux live environment, so it can be used when the computer’s regular operating system will not start. It supports Windows, macOS, and Linux computers, and can restore images made with Clonezilla; Clonezilla can also restore Rescuezilla images. Supported image types include raw images and virtual machine formats from VirtualBox, VMware, Hyper-V, and QEMU. The app includes graphical partition editing, management, and resizing tools, and a feature for recovering deleted files to another drive. A beta feature lets users access files inside supported backup images, though browsing large gzip- or zstandard-compressed images may be slow. Rescuezilla can connect to SMB/CIFS network shares, some of which may require SMB 1.0. Its USB environment runs in read-only mode, so session changes disappear after reboot. Restoring to a smaller disk requires resizing the source disk with GParted first.
Who it is for
Rescuezilla suits computer owners who need to back up, restore, or recover data from Windows, macOS, or Linux systems, including computers that cannot boot their usual operating system. It requires a compatible PC, RAM, a USB stick, and an external USB hard drive.
What is good
- Boots independently from USB or CD-ROM.
- Can restore Clonezilla images.
- Supports raw and virtual machine images.
- Includes partition tools and deleted-file recovery.
What to know first
- Session changes disappear after reboot.
- Restoring to a smaller disk requires resizing the source first.
- Browsing large compressed images may be slow in beta.
Verdict
Rescuezilla provides bootable disk imaging and recovery tools, including support for Clonezilla images. Note that its live session is nonpersistent, and restoring to a smaller disk takes an additional resizing step.
Rescuezilla plans and pricing
All plansCompared on backup software
- Free plan
- Yesrescuezilla.com
- Computer backup
- Yesrescuezilla.com
- Mobile backup
- Norescuezilla.com
- Backup scope
- mixedrescuezilla.com
- Restore modes
- mixedrescuezilla.com
- Supported platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux (computers); Rescuezilla boots from USB using a Linux live environmentrescuezilla.com
Facts
- Purpose
- Rescuezilla is an open-source disk imaging app for backup, restore, and recovery.rescuezilla.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Bootable live system
- It runs from a USB stick or CD-ROM and can be used when the computer’s regular operating system cannot boot.rescuezilla.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Clonezilla compatibility
- Rescuezilla can restore backup images made with Clonezilla, and Clonezilla can restore images made with Rescuezilla.rescuezilla.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Supported image formats
- It supports virtual machine images from VirtualBox (VDI), VMware (VMDK), Hyper-V (VHDx), and QEMU (QCOW2), as well as raw images and open-source imaging frontends.rescuezilla.com · 30 Sept 2026
- File access
- A beta feature lets users access files inside supported backup images, though large gzip or zstandard-compressed images may be slow to browse.rescuezilla.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Data recovery
- The feature page says Rescuezilla can recover deleted files and save them to another drive.rescuezilla.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Partition tools
- Rescuezilla includes graphical tools to edit, manage, and resize partitions.rescuezilla.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Network sharing
- The help page describes connecting to SMB/CIFS network shares and notes that some shares may require selecting SMB 1.0.rescuezilla.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Requirements
- The download page lists an Intel/AMD-compatible PC, 1 GB of RAM (2 GB recommended), a USB stick, and an external USB hard drive as system requirements.rescuezilla.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Support
- The help page directs users to GitHub issues and the SourceForge forum, where it says the developer provides direct assistance with restoring data.rescuezilla.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Restore limitation
- Restoring to a smaller disk requires a workaround that resizes the source disk with GParted first.rescuezilla.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Nonpersistent session
- The USB environment runs in read-only mode and changes made during a session disappear after reboot.rescuezilla.com · 30 Sept 2026
Best Rescuezilla alternatives
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Where it ranks on Everything Xiaomi
- Best Backup Software in 2026#96 of 151
- Best Disk Imaging Software in 2026#9 of 34
- Best Disk Cloning Software in 2026#6 of 26
Is Rescuezilla yours?
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Sources
- rescuezilla.com· checked 30 Sept 2026
- rescuezilla.com/features· checked 30 Sept 2026
- rescuezilla.com/help· checked 30 Sept 2026
- rescuezilla.com/download.html· checked 30 Sept 2026