R-Studio vs Stellar Data Recovery (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Stellar Data Recovery grades higher than R-Studio: 2.2 against 2.0 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
R-Studio grades higher on features. Stellar Data Recovery grades higher on the free plan and ease of use. They get the same grade on value for money and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
R-Studio
Data recovery software for Windows, Mac and Linux with RAID support
Stellar Data Recovery
Data recovery for deleted files and drives on Windows and Mac
Which one is for you
Pick R-Studio if
- Fits if a drive's file system is damaged and simple undelete tools found nothing
- Works for people who need RAID or disk image recovery
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you want a free try that saves real files, as the demo stops at 1024KB
- Tight if you only want the cheapest edition: the FAT and NTFS ones are tied to their file systems
- Pricey if you are a service: Technician is $899.99
- Watch out: Mac and Linux prices have their own tabs that were not read
- Watch out: a T80+ edition and volume licensing exist and are not listed
Pick Stellar Data Recovery if
- Fits if you deleted something by mistake and want to see what is recoverable first
- Works for people with a card or USB drive that stopped being read
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you are recovering a large drive, as free stops at 1 GB
- Pricey if you need imaging or non-bootable recovery: Professional is $69.99 per PC
- Skip it if you want a known license term, because the page does not say whether it is perpetual
- Watch out: Mac editions have their own pricing that was not read
- Watch out: RAID recovery is Technician only at $199
How we grade them
| 2.0GPAR-StudioFair | 2.2GPAStellar Data RecoveryFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CWindows prices are $49.99 for FAT and $59.99 for NTFS, $79.99 for the standard edition, one-time and permanent. That is about two years of this category's middle subscription, so it sits in the ordinary band. | CStandard is $39.99 per PC, Professional $69.99 and Technician $199, each listed as discounted. The page does not state the license term, so value is graded as ordinary. |
| Free plan and trial | DDemo mode recovers only files up to 1024KB. Larger files can be previewed but not saved. | CThe free download recovers up to 1 GB with no registration. That cap is easy to pass on a photo drive. |
| Features | BFile system coverage, RAID reconstruction, disk images, recovery over the network, a hex viewer and boot media. The listing names no gap in the core job. | CDrive and card scans, preview, disk imaging, non-bootable systems, repair and RAID. The gap: Standard leaves out system recovery and imaging, which sit on Professional, and RAID is Technician. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating is on record. It exposes many technical options, and the editions are named for file systems. | BNo store rating is on record, but you install it, pick a drive and scan. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWindows, Mac and Linux, but computer programs only. | CWindows and Mac computer programs, with separate phone products sold apart. A license covers one PC. |
| Best for | recovering files from damaged drives and RAID arrays | bringing back deleted files from drives and cards |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: R-Studio and Stellar Data Recovery. How we grade
Where they differ
- R-Studio can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Stellar Data Recovery also covers system monitor.
At a glance
| R-Studio | Stellar Data Recovery | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free plan |
| Starts at | $49.99 one-time (R-Studio FAT, Windows) | $39.99 per PC |
| Free plan | None | The free download recovers up to 1 GB with no registration. |
| Free trial | Demo mode recovers files up to 1024KB; larger files can be previewed. | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | R-Tools Technology Inc. | Stellar Information Technology |
| Price read from | r-studio.com | stellarinfo.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
R-Studio
- Prices are those on the Windows tab; Mac and Linux editions have their own tabs that were not read.
- Demo mode will not recover files larger than 1024KB.
- A T80+ edition and volume licensing are also sold and are not listed here.
Stellar Data Recovery
- The Windows page does not say whether a license is perpetual or time-limited, so confirm before buying.
- Windows prices are the ones listed here; the Mac editions are Standard-to-Technician with their own pricing that was not read.
- Windows edition supports Windows 11, 10, 8.1 and 8, and Windows Server 2022, 2019 and 2016; a license covers one PC.
- The free version is capped at 1 GB of recovered data.
Key features
R-Studio
- File system coverage
- Handles NTFS, ReFS, FAT, exFAT, Ext, HFS+, APFS and XFS among others.
- RAID reconstruction
- Works with RAID levels including 0, 1, 5, 6 and 10, and detects RAID parameters automatically.
- Disk images
- Creates images in its own rdr format and reads VMDK, VHD, VHDX and VDI files.
- Recovery over network
- A network package recovers data from remote computers.
- Hex viewer
- Built-in hex viewer and, in some editions, a hex editor.
- Emergency boot media
- A startup media creator and ISO let you recover from a computer that will not boot.
Stellar Data Recovery
- Drive and card recovery
- Recovers from HDD, SSD, SD cards and USB drives, including lost partitions.
- Preview before recovery
- Preview the files found, then save them to a different drive.
- Disk imaging
- Professional and above can image a disk before recovering from it.
- Non-bootable systems
- Professional and above can recover data from a PC that will not start.
- File repair
- Professional can repair corrupt videos and photos.
- RAID recovery
- Technician recovers from software and hardware RAID arrays.
Plans
R-Studio
R-Studio FAT$49.99
one-time, permanent license, Windows prices
Edition named for the FAT file system.
R-Studio NTFS$59.99
one-time, permanent license, Windows prices
Edition named for the NTFS file system.
R-Studio$79.99
one-time, permanent license, Windows prices
The standard edition for personal and business use.
R-Studio Corporate$179.99
one-time, permanent license, Windows prices
Network package with recovery over the network.
R-Studio Technician$899.99
one-time, permanent license, Windows prices
For data recovery services that serve third-party devices and commercial use.
Stellar Data Recovery
Free$0
Free download that recovers up to 1 GB, per the vendor's Windows and Mac pages.
Standard$39.99
per PC; license term not stated on the page
Listed at $49.99 crossed out, with no end date. Recovers documents, photos and videos, including from lost partitions and encrypted drives.
Professional$69.99
per PC; license term not stated on the page
Listed at $79.99 crossed out, with no end date. Adds non-bootable system recovery, disk imaging, SMART monitoring and photo and video repair.
Technician$199
per PC; license term not stated on the page
Listed at $299 crossed out, with no end date. Adds RAID recovery and reconstruction (RAID 0, 5, 6, SHR and nested).
Common questions
Which is cheaper, R-Studio or Stellar Data Recovery?
As of Nov 13, 2026, R-Studio starts at $49.99 one-time (R-Studio FAT, Windows), and Stellar Data Recovery starts at $39.99 per PC.
Which has a free plan, R-Studio or Stellar Data Recovery?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Stellar Data Recovery has a free plan. R-Studio does not, though it has a free trial.
Which platforms do R-Studio and Stellar Data Recovery run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only R-Studio lists a Linux app. Both list macOS and Windows apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.