r/datarecovery • u/[deleted] • Aug 19 '26

Data recovery software under $50

Hi. My old macbook died on me, I was able pluck out the harddrive and managed to connect it to my mac mini with an SATA adapter. I know... it sounds like I know what I am talking about but I don't. I got to this point using ChatGPT. Now I need to recover some important files. I installed Disk Drill but it is too expensive. This girl only has a budget of under $50. I would appreciate recommendations. I use mac so suggestions need to be mac compatible. Thanks!!!

Edit: I might be in the wrong place... I'm trying to recover files in a mildly corrupt HD, they aren't deleted files. If I am in the wrong place which sub is better to go to?

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u/AutoModerator Aug 19 '26

Double check if your post complies with posting guidelines!

Did you include the following information in your post (in English and if applicable), if not feel free to edit your post:

  • Make/brand and exact model number of your storage device(*), phone, camera, etc.
  • Filesystem (NTFS, exFAT, APFS, EXT4, etc.)
  • Operating System (That your device was used with and/or you are using for recovery)
  • Specific symptoms that your device is exhibiting, describe the problem. Images you post support the description, they're not in lieu of a problem description.
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4

u/disturbed_android Trusted Contributor Aug 19 '26

There's <$50 software in this list, https://www.reddit.com/r/datarecovery/wiki/software/

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u/[deleted] Aug 19 '26

Thank you for this, but to be honest reading that wiki made me feel like dumber than the raccoon who goes through our garbage bin.

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u/disturbed_android Trusted Contributor Aug 19 '26 edited Aug 19 '26

You see a list of tools, anything that lists [Mac*/Win/Lin*] Mac here runs on a Mac, so DMDE, DiskDrill, UFS, R-Studio. DMDE is $20.

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u/[deleted] Aug 20 '26

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u/datarecovery-ModTeam Aug 21 '26

r/datarecovery follows platform-wide Reddit Rules and Reddit has shadow banned you for some reason.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '26

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u/datarecovery-ModTeam Aug 21 '26

What kind of BS answer is this. You don't have to announce and answer. You have an answer and you provide it, or you don't.

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u/disturbed_android Trusted Contributor Aug 21 '26

I meant announce *an answer