The Disk Drill Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Disk Drill in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Disk Drill
The Insider’s Guide
Data recovery app for Mac and Windows with free disk tools
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from Disk Drill’s own pages.
Made by CleverFiles Inc. · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Disk Drill’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Disk Drill’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 35 of the 96 other desktop utilities we grade
Disk Drill scans internal and external drives, memory cards and other storage for deleted or lost files and lists what can be restored. The free Basic edition scans and previews; the PRO edition lifts the recovery limit. It also bundles disk health monitoring, a duplicate finder, space analysis and backup tools.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Disk Drill, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Free only scans and previews what it finds, so the actual recovery needs PRO, and PRO purchases are non-refundable.
- 1
Best for getting back deleted files on a Mac or PC
Disk Drill recovers deleted files and lost partitions on Mac and Windows, and it also checks disk health and finds duplicates.
- 2
Paid plans start at $4.08 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $49 per year, or $69 one-time.
- 3
There is a free plan
Disk Drill Basic scans storage and previews every recoverable file; the Windows page says it recovers up to 100 MB for free. Disk health, cleanup, duplicate finder and backup tools are included in the free edition.
- 4
It runs on 2 platforms
macOS and Windows.
- 5
File and partition recovery
Scans drives, SSDs, memory cards, USB sticks, cameras and RAID arrays for deleted files and lost partitions, and previews results before recovery.
- 6
Time Machine and snapshots
On Mac it reads Time Machine backup disks and local snapshots as extra places to find overwritten files.
- 7
Disk health monitoring
Free S.M.A.R.T. monitoring watches connected disks for signs of trouble.
- 8
A 2.6 GPA, above 35 of 96
That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
Nothing Disk Drill does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 4 things listed below take a company.
Disk Drill at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $49 per year, or $69 one-time
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows
- Made by
- CleverFiles Inc.
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for getting back deleted files on a Mac or PC
Disk Drill recovers deleted files and lost partitions on Mac and Windows, and it also checks disk health and finds duplicates. Free only scans and previews what it finds, so the actual recovery needs PRO, and PRO purchases are non-refundable.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | PRO Lifetime is $69 once, under two years of what the category's middle subscription costs. The yearly option is $49, which is mid-range for the category. |
| Free plan and trial | C | The free edition scans and previews but, on Mac, does not recover; the Windows page says up to 100 MB. The disk health, cleanup and duplicate tools are free. |
| Features | B | Recovers from drives, cards, cameras and RAID, reads Time Machine, and adds disk health, cleanup, duplicates and backups. Nothing in the listing is missing from the job. |
| Ease of use | B | No rating on record. You install it and run a scan, though deep scans on Macs need a kernel extension it installs. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Mac and Windows desktop only. No phone app, web version or published integrations. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Disk Drill is for
- Fits if you need one recovery after a deleted folder or a formatted card
- Works for people who want to see what is recoverable before paying
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want to recover files without paying, as free is scan and preview on Mac and capped at 100 MB on Windows
- Watch out: every PRO purchase is non-refundable except where consumer law says otherwise
- Tight if you need more than 3 devices, as a PRO licence covers one user on up to 3
- Watch out: deep scans of Mac system disks rely on a kernel extension the app installs
- Pricey if you only need it once, since a year is $49
Good to know
Good for
- A one-off recovery after an accidental delete or format
- Checking whether files are recoverable before paying
- Users who want recovery and disk health tools in one app
Worth knowing
- Unlimited recovery needs PRO; the Mac page describes the free edition as scan and preview only.
- All PRO purchases are non-refundable except where consumer law requires a refund, according to the vendor's FAQ.
- A PRO license covers 1 user on up to 3 devices; business use is allowed, and larger teams get a custom Enterprise quote.
- On Macs, deep scans of system disks rely on a kernel extension the app installs.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$4.08
A month to start, paid by the year. There is a free plan too
Disk Drill has a free plan. Paid plans start at $49 per year, or $69 one-time.
The disk health, cleanup and duplicate tools are free.
Basic
$0
Scan and preview recoverable files, plus the free disk health, cleanup, duplicate finder and backup tools.
PRO One-Year Subscription
$49
per year, renews yearly
Unlimited recovery on Mac and Windows, all updates while subscribed, 1 user on up to 3 devices.
PRO Lifetime License
$69
one-time
Same as the subscription, with updates included permanently. Shown as $69 against a crossed-out $119 with no end date given.
The free plan
Disk Drill Basic scans storage and previews every recoverable file; the Windows page says it recovers up to 100 MB for free. Disk health, cleanup, duplicate finder and backup tools are included in the free edition.
Read from cleverfiles.com on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: macOS and Windows
Data recovery app for Mac and Windows with free disk tools. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: works offline, one-time purchase, disk cleanup, file management.
Recovers from drives, cards, cameras and RAID, reads Time Machine, and adds disk health, cleanup, duplicates and backups.
- File and partition recovery
- Scans drives, SSDs, memory cards, USB sticks, cameras and RAID arrays for deleted files and lost partitions, and previews results before recovery.
- Time Machine and snapshots
- On Mac it reads Time Machine backup disks and local snapshots as extra places to find overwritten files.
- Disk health monitoring
- Free S.M.A.R.T. monitoring watches connected disks for signs of trouble.
- Cleanup and duplicate finder
- Shows what is using disk space and finds duplicate files in several locations.
- Byte-to-byte backups and recovery drive
- Creates disk and partition images and a bootable USB drive for recovery.
- Data protection
- With protection enabled, recovery of protected files is free, according to the vendor.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Disk Drill is made by CleverFiles Inc.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
35/96
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
Disk Drill's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 35 of the 96 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 25.
It stands best on features (B, above 69 of 96) and worst on free plan and trial (C, above 4).
Its paid plans start at $4.08 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $2.97 for the category: 13 of the 16 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 1 tool scores higher and costs less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 97 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. Disk Drill’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 10 of 96
- CFree plan and trialAbove 4 of 96
- BFeaturesAbove 69 of 96
- BEase of useAbove 34 of 96
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 62 of 96
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 52 desktop utilities. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Disk Drill is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Nothing Disk Drill does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 4 things listed below take a company.
It costs $49 a year.
What you could not
- Deleting system files without breaking anything.
- A file manager working directly on your disk.
- A real app for macOS and Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Disk Drill’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
DaisyDisk, CleanMyMac, WizTree, WinDirStat and BleachBit
The 5 tools Disk Drill is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
DaisyDisk
Free trial · from $9.99 one-time
Visual disk space analyzer and cleanup tool for Mac.
- Disk Drill has a free plan. DaisyDisk does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Disk Drill lists a Windows app.
- Disk Drill also covers file management.
- 1.8GPA
CleanMyMac
Free trial · from $39.99/yr
Mac cleanup, malware removal and maintenance in one app.
- Disk Drill has a free plan. CleanMyMac does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Disk Drill lists a Windows app.
- Disk Drill also covers file management.
- 3.0GPA
WizTree
Free plan · from $25 one-time
Fast disk space analyzer for Windows and macOS.
- Disk Drill also covers file management.
- 2.8GPA
WinDirStat
Free
Free, open-source disk usage analyzer for Windows.
- Only Disk Drill lists a macOS app.
- Disk Drill can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- WinDirStat is open source, according to its own site.
- 3.0GPA
BleachBit
Free
Free, open-source disk cleaner for Windows and Linux.
- Only Disk Drill lists a macOS app.
- Only BleachBit lists a Linux app.
- Disk Drill can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Disk Drill free?
Disk Drill has a free plan. Disk Drill Basic scans storage and previews every recoverable file; the Windows page says it recovers up to 100 MB for free.
How much does Disk Drill cost?
Disk Drill lists 3 plans. Basic: $0.
What platforms does Disk Drill work on?
Disk Drill is available on macOS and Windows.
Does Disk Drill have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Disk Drill is listed for macOS and Windows.
Does Disk Drill have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Disk Drill is listed for macOS and Windows.
Is Disk Drill open source?
Disk Drill is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
Does Disk Drill work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
Who makes Disk Drill?
Disk Drill is made by CleverFiles Inc.
What are the alternatives to Disk Drill?
The closest alternatives to Disk Drill in our directory are DaisyDisk, CleanMyMac, WizTree, WinDirStat and BleachBit.
How does Disk Drill compare with other desktop utilities?
Disk Drill's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 35 of the 96 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 25.
Is Disk Drill good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Disk Drill B for value for money. Its paid plans start at $4.08 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $2.97 for the category: 13 of the 16 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Disk Drill?
Nothing Disk Drill does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 4 things listed below take a company.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Disk Drill’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from CleverFiles's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by CleverFiles Inc. Prices change, so check cleverfiles.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Disk Drill, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/disk-drill
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Disk Drill: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/disk-drill
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/disk-drill/guide
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See our other guides
The best-graded desktop utilities after Disk Drill, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Desktop Utilities Insider's GuideEvery one of the 97 desktop utilities we grade, compared
- LocalSend Insider's GuideOpen-source file sharing between nearby devices, no cloud3.2 GPA
- Ninite Insider's GuideInstalls and updates many Windows apps at once3.2 GPA
- PeaZip Insider's GuideFree file archiver for Linux, macOS and Windows3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Disk Drill’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Disk Drill is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by CleverFiles Inc. Prices and plans change: check cleverfiles.com before you buy.