17.4
nvm lets you install and select Node.js releases for each shell session.
Free planOpen sourceLinuxmacOSSelf-hosted
Best Disk Diagnostic Software in 2026
nvm leads this chart of 26 (7.4/10, free plan). Active@ Hard Disk Monitor is next (7.3/10, free plan), and Avidemux is the next highest-placed with a free plan (7.3/10). Disk diagnostic software checks drives for faults and health signals; compare its testing features and the platform you need before choosing. The platform facts cover Windows, Linux, macOS, self-hosted and API tools, with no Android platform shown. If you want to work from a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO phone or tablet, check for Android support before installing or buying.
27.3
Active@ Hard Disk Monitor tracks S.M.A.R.T. health and scans for bad sectors on Windows.
Free planWindows
37.3
Free planOpen sourceWebLinuxmacOS
- 4
Hard Disk Sentinel
Hard Disk Sentinel monitors and tests drive health, temperature, performance, and S.M.A.R.T. values.
Free planLinuxWindows6.9$22 one-time - 5
smartmontools
smartmontools is a free package containing smartctl and smartd for controlling and monitoring storage devices through SMART.
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows6.8Free plan - 6
DRevitalize
DRevitalize diagnoses and repairs physically damaged magnetic drives and some floppy disks.
Free planWindows6.7Free plan - 7
GSmartControl
GSmartControl provides a visual front end for inspecting drives and running diagnostics.
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows6.7Free plan - 8
HD Tune Pro
Windows tool for measuring drive speed, finding errors, reviewing S.M.A.R.T. data, and erasing data.
Windows6.4 - 9
Macrorit Disk Scanner
Macrorit Disk Scanner checks whole disks, partitions, or selected areas for bad sectors on Windows.
Free planWindows6.4$18.95 one-time - 10
DiskMaster
DiskMaster tracks S.M.A.R.T. data, health scores, history, and alerts on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows6.2Free plan - 11
DriveDx
DriveDx diagnoses and monitors SSD and HDD health on macOS, helping users spot drive problems before data loss or downtime.
macOS6.2$19.99 one-time - 12
SMARTHDD
Windows software that monitors drive health and temperature, checks performance, and tunes HDDs and SSDs.
Windows6.2$14.95 one-time - 13
StableBit Scanner
Windows tool that tracks disk condition, spots damaged files, and can try to recover them.
Windows6.2$29.95 one-time - 14
HDD Regenerator
HDD Regenerator scans drives at the physical level and offers bad-sector repair and data recovery.
LinuxmacOSWindows6.1$49.99 one-time - 15
HDAT2
HDAT2 diagnoses devices and can repair bad sectors and check supported file systems.
Free planWindows6.0Free plan - 16
HDDScan
HDDScan tests HDDs, RAID, USB flash drives, and SSDs and monitors supported drives' S.M.A.R.T. data.
Free planWindows6.0Free plan - 17
Victoria HDD/SSD
Victoria scans storage for bad areas and interface errors and offers minor repairs on Windows.
Free planWindows5.9Free plan - 18
Ariolic Disk Scanner
Ariolic Disk Scanner finds read errors and lists files on unreadable sectors in Windows.
Free planWindows5.8Free plan - 19
ValiDrive
ValiDrive spot-checks USB drives for missing capacity by testing data storage and retrieval.
Free planWindows5.8Free plan - 20
Stellar Drive Monitor
Stellar Drive Monitor reports drive temperature, health, S.M.A.R.T. data, partitions, and bad sectors.
macOSWindows5.7$19.99 one-time - 21
MHDD
MHDD scans drives, checks S.M.A.R.T. attributes, and runs diagnostic and management commands.
Free planLinux5.6Free plan - 22
STB Suite
STB Suite tests and diagnoses storage peripherals, with modules for disk and tape screening.
APILinuxWindows5.5 - 23
SpinRite
SpinRite scans storage to improve data readability and attempts to recover and rewrite unreadable data.
Windows5.2 - 24
Atola Disk Recycler
Windows software for testing, wiping, and repairing SAS and SATA drives across up to 800 ports.
Self-hostedWindows5.1 - 25
CrystalDiskInfo
Windows4.7
Choosing well
Which platforms does it need to run on?
Choose software that supports the system where you inspect the drive. Platform entries include Windows, Linux, macOS, self-hosted and API options.
No Android platform is shown in the facts, so phone and tablet users should verify Android availability before choosing.
Which diagnostic tests should it include?
Match the software to the checks you need: bad-sector scanning, read/write testing, surface scanning and SMART tests are compared.
If you need to start a computer outside its normal system, check the bootable-media field as well.
Should you choose a free plan or a paid tool?
Check the free-plan, paid-from and free-trial fields together. A free plan can cover basic evaluation, while a trial lets you assess a paid tool before purchase.
For example, Hard Disk Sentinel lists a paid price from $22, while DRevitalize lists a free plan and a free trial.
How large a drive can it handle?
Compare the maximum drive size with the drives you plan to scan. This matters when a tool will be used on larger internal or external storage.
Review that figure alongside the scan and test options so capacity does not come at the expense of the checks you need.
Questions people ask
What tests should disk diagnostic software have?
Compare bad-sector scans, read/write testing, surface scans and SMART tests. Bootable media can matter when the computer cannot start normally.
Can I use free disk diagnostic software?
Yes. The list compares free plans, paid starting prices and free trials, so you can match the cost model to your needs.
Which operating systems support these disk tools?
Platform entries cover Windows, Linux, macOS, self-hosted and API software. Check the platform field for the system you use.
How do I check support for a large drive?
Use the maximum drive size field and compare it with your drive's capacity before selecting a diagnostic tool.