TestDisk

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Score9.1

Rank#3 of 130

PriceFree

Free planYes

Runs onLinux, macOS, Windows

Summary

TestDisk is a free, open-source utility for recovering lost partitions and restoring boot capability to disks affected by faulty software or human error. It can repair partition tables, recover deleted partitions, and rebuild or restore FAT and NTFS boot sectors. Other repair options include fixing FAT tables and repairing an MFT using its mirror. TestDisk can undelete files from FAT, exFAT, NTFS, and ext2, and copy files from deleted FAT, exFAT, NTFS, and ext2/ext3/ext4 partitions. Listed partition-recovery formats include APFS, FAT, exFAT, HFS+, ext2/ext3/ext4, NTFS, XFS, and ZFS. It works with hard drives, USB drives, memory cards, disk images, DAS, SAN, and Linux RAID devices. The software is portable: users extract the files and run it without an installer. It is listed for Windows, macOS, Linux, DOS, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, and SunOS, and is licensed under GNU GPL v2 or later. The download page lists version 7.2 dated February 22, 2024, and a 7.3-WIP beta.

Who it is for

TestDisk may suit people trying to recover partitions, files, or bootability after software faults or human error. Its listed audience includes novices and experts, including users who collect drive information for a technician or perform onsite recovery work.

What is good

Repairs partition tables and recovers deleted partitions.
Can restore FAT and NTFS boot sectors.
Undeletes files from FAT, exFAT, NTFS, and ext2.
Portable use requires no installer.
Free software with optional donations.

What to know first

The listed 7.3-WIP release is beta.
The listed version 7.2 dates to February 22, 2024.
Support requests require a problem description and log file.

Verdict

TestDisk covers partition, boot-sector, and file recovery across a broad set of listed formats and systems. Its portable, free distribution may appeal to users comfortable extracting files and following the support forum process.

TestDisk plans and pricing

All plans

TestDisk Free Free software; donations are optional Partition recovery · boot sector repair · file undelete cgsecurity.org · 2 Oct 2026

Compared on data recovery software

Free plan: Yescgsecurity.org
Recovery sources: hard drives; USB drives; memory cards; disk images; DAS; SAN; Linux RAID devicescgsecurity.org
Operating systems: Windows; macOS; Linux; DOS; FreeBSD; NetBSD; OpenBSD; SunOScgsecurity.org
Memory card recovery: Yescgsecurity.org
RAID recovery: Yescgsecurity.org
Bootable recovery: Yescgsecurity.org
File preview: Yescgsecurity.org

Facts

Purpose: TestDisk helps recover lost partitions and make non-booting disks bootable again when the cause is faulty software or human error.cgsecurity.org · 2 Oct 2026
Partition recovery: It can fix partition tables and recover deleted partitions.cgsecurity.org · 2 Oct 2026
Boot repair: It can rebuild or restore FAT and NTFS boot sectors, fix FAT tables, and repair an MFT using its mirror.cgsecurity.org · 2 Oct 2026
File recovery: It can undelete files from FAT, exFAT, NTFS, and ext2, and copy files from deleted FAT, exFAT, NTFS, and ext2/ext3/ext4 partitions.cgsecurity.org · 2 Oct 2026
Filesystem support: The maker lists partition recovery support for filesystems and formats including APFS, FAT, exFAT, HFS+, ext2/ext3/ext4, NTFS, XFS, and ZFS.cgsecurity.org · 2 Oct 2026
Platforms: The maker lists Windows, Windows Server, Linux, Mac OS X, DOS, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, and SunOS among supported systems.cgsecurity.org · 2 Oct 2026
Portable download: TestDisk is distributed as a portable application: extract the files to use it, with no installer required.cgsecurity.org · 2 Oct 2026
License: TestDisk is open source software licensed under GNU GPL v2 or later.cgsecurity.org · 2 Oct 2026
Usage audience: The maker describes features for novices and experts, including collecting drive information for a technician and onsite recovery work.cgsecurity.org · 2 Oct 2026
Privacy: The maker says TestDisk does not connect to the internet or send information about the user, computer, or data.cgsecurity.org · 2 Oct 2026
Support: Users can request support through the forum by posting a problem description, the testdisk.log file, and information about previous partitions.cgsecurity.org · 2 Oct 2026
Developer contact: The support page directs bug reports and feature requests to the developer by email.cgsecurity.org · 2 Oct 2026
Release: The download page lists TestDisk & PhotoRec 7.3-WIP as beta and version 7.2 dated February 22, 2024.cgsecurity.org · 2 Oct 2026