The Stellar Data Recovery Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Stellar Data Recovery 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.
Stellar Data Recovery
The Insider’s Guide
Data recovery for deleted files and drives on Windows and Mac
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among desktop utilities, read from Stellar Data Recovery’s own pages.
Made by Stellar Information Technology · checked Nov 13, 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 Stellar Data Recovery’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Stellar Data Recovery’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 13 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade
Stellar Data Recovery scans internal and external drives, memory cards and USB drives for deleted or lost files and previews them before recovery. Windows editions are Standard, Professional and Technician; Mac editions and separate iPhone, Android and tape recovery products are also sold.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Stellar Data Recovery, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No store rating is on record, but you install it, pick a drive and scan.
- 1
Best for bringing back deleted files from drives and cards
Stellar Data Recovery scans drives, memory cards and USB sticks for lost files and shows a preview before recovery.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $39.99 per PC.
- 3
There is a free plan
The free download recovers up to 1 GB with no registration.
- 4
It runs on 2 platforms
Windows and macOS.
- 5
Drive and card recovery
Recovers from HDD, SSD, SD cards and USB drives, including lost partitions.
- 6
Preview before recovery
Preview the files found, then save them to a different drive.
- 7
Disk imaging
Professional and above can image a disk before recovering from it.
- 8
A 2.2 GPA, above 13 of 186
That is against the other desktop utilities we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
Nothing Stellar Data Recovery does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 3 things listed below take a company.
Stellar Data Recovery at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $39.99 per PC
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows
- Made by
- Stellar Information Technology, since 1993
- Category
- Desktop Utilities
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for bringing back deleted files from drives and cards
Stellar Data Recovery scans drives, memory cards and USB sticks for lost files and shows a preview before recovery. The free download recovers only 1 GB, and the page does not say whether a paid license is perpetual or time-limited.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Standard 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 | C | The free download recovers up to 1 GB with no registration. That cap is easy to pass on a photo drive. |
| Features | C | Drive 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 | B | No store rating is on record, but you install it, pick a drive and scan. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Windows and Mac computer programs, with separate phone products sold apart. A license covers one PC. |
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 Stellar Data Recovery is for
- 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
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Home users recovering deleted files or formatted cards
- Repair shops and IT staff using the Technician edition for RAID
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$39.99
To start. There is a free plan too
Stellar Data Recovery has a free plan. Paid plans start at $39.99 per PC.
The page does not state the license term, so value is graded as ordinary.
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).
The free plan
The free download recovers up to 1 GB with no registration.
Read from stellarinfo.com on Nov 13, 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 for deleted files and drives on Windows and Mac. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: system monitor, file management.
Drive and card scans, preview, disk imaging, non-bootable systems, repair and RAID.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Stellar Data Recovery is made by Stellar Information Technology, and has been around since 1993.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
13/186
Other desktop utilities it is graded above
Stellar Data Recovery's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 13 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 21.
It stands best on ease of use (B, above 78 of 186) and worst on features (C, above 2).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 187 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. Stellar Data Recovery’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 5 of 186
- CFree plan and trialAbove 8 of 186
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 186
- BEase of useAbove 78 of 186
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 111 of 186
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 Stellar Data Recovery does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 3 things listed below take a company.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 152 of the 186 other desktop utilities grade higher.
What you could not
- A file manager working directly on your disk.
- Readings from inside the operating system.
- A real app for macOS and Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. Stellar Data Recovery’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
R-Studio, Disk Drill, Recoverit, TestDisk and PhotoRec and DiskGenius
The 5 tools Stellar Data Recovery is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.0GPA
R-Studio
Free trial · from $49.99 one-time
Data recovery software for Windows, Mac and Linux with RAID support.
- Stellar Data Recovery has a free plan. R-Studio does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only R-Studio lists a Linux app.
- R-Studio can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.6GPA
Disk Drill
Free plan · from $49/yr
Data recovery app for Mac and Windows with free disk tools.
- Disk Drill can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Stellar Data Recovery also covers system monitor.
- Disk Drill also covers disk cleanup.
- 2.4GPA
Recoverit
Free plan · from $45.99/mo
File recovery software for Windows and Mac from Wondershare.
- Stellar Data Recovery also covers system monitor.
- 2.6GPA
TestDisk and PhotoRec
Free
Free open-source tools for lost partitions and deleted files.
- Only TestDisk and PhotoRec lists a Linux app.
- TestDisk and PhotoRec is open source, according to its own site.
- Stellar Data Recovery also covers system monitor.
- 2.0GPA
DiskGenius
Free plan · from $69.90/mo
Windows partition manager, data recovery and disk cloning tool.
- Only Stellar Data Recovery lists a macOS app.
- DiskGenius can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Stellar Data Recovery also covers system monitor.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
10
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 Stellar Data Recovery free?
Stellar Data Recovery has a free plan. The free download recovers up to 1 GB with no registration.
How much does Stellar Data Recovery cost?
Stellar Data Recovery lists 4 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Stellar Data Recovery work on?
Stellar Data Recovery is available on Windows and macOS.
Does Stellar Data Recovery have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Stellar Data Recovery is listed for Windows and macOS.
Does Stellar Data Recovery have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Stellar Data Recovery is listed for Windows and macOS.
Is Stellar Data Recovery open source?
Stellar Data Recovery is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Who makes Stellar Data Recovery?
Stellar Data Recovery is made by Stellar Information Technology. It dates from 1993.
What are the alternatives to Stellar Data Recovery?
The closest alternatives to Stellar Data Recovery in our directory are R-Studio, Disk Drill, Recoverit, TestDisk and PhotoRec and DiskGenius.
How does Stellar Data Recovery compare with other desktop utilities?
Stellar Data Recovery's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 13 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 21.
Could I make my own version of Stellar Data Recovery?
Nothing Stellar Data Recovery does is plain enough to make in a weekend.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Stellar Data Recovery’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Stellar Information Technology's own pages on 13 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 Stellar Information Technology. Prices change, so check stellarinfo.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
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.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Stellar Data Recovery, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/stellar-data-recovery
- 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, "Stellar Data Recovery: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/stellar-data-recovery
Know someone choosing between desktop utilities?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/stellar-data-recovery/guide
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Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Stellar Data Recovery’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. Stellar Data Recovery is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Stellar Information Technology. Prices and plans change: check stellarinfo.com before you buy.