FonePaw Data Recovery Review 2025: Features, Pros & Cons

FonePaw Data Recovery helps restore lost photos, videos, documents, and emails quickly with two scan modes—Quick for recent deletions and Deep for formatted or RAW drives. Everything runs locally, so sensitive data stays on the device, and the preview-before-restore flow keeps recoveries precise and efficient. For creators, students, and small teams, the combination of broad file support and straightforward operation makes it a reliable everyday choice.

DroidCrunch found the workflow simple: pick a drive and file types, scan, then filter and preview to recover only what’s needed. In testing, even a reformatted microSD card yielded recoverable footage with Deep Scan, underscoring the tool’s usefulness for real-world mishaps. The local-only process also avoids the hassle of mailing storage to third parties, which saves time and keeps projects private.

Practical pricing further lowers the barrier to entry, with a money‑back window that adds peace of mind. For ongoing safeguards, a lifetime license keeps costs predictable, while short-term plans suit one-off emergencies. Taken together—speed, coverage, privacy, and value—FonePaw stands out as a pragmatic pick for dependable data recovery in 2025.

The above graphical representation shows that Accidental Deletion is the leading cause at 40%, it immediately establishes a relatable context for the reader. This underscores the widespread need for a reliable data recovery tool like FonePaw, which is specifically designed to solve the most frequent problem users face.

FonePaw Data Recovery Highlights

FonePaw Technology Limited, founded in 2014, is the company behind FonePaw Data Recovery. Headquartered in Hong Kong, the company focuses on developing user-friendly software solutions for Windows, Mac, and mobile devices.

Their primary agenda is to make complex technical processes, like data recovery and system repair, accessible to the average user. FonePaw Data Recovery is one of its flagship products, designed to be a straightforward yet powerful tool for retrieving lost data from a multitude of scenarios.

Product Name	FonePaw Data Recovery
Official Website	https://fonepaw.com/data-recovery/
Developers	FonePaw Technology Limited
USPs	High success rate, user-friendly interface, support for over 1000 file types, two scanning modes.
Category	Data Recovery Software
Integrations	N/A (Standalone Software)
Best for	Individuals, students, and small businesses needing to recover accidentally deleted or lost files.
Support Options	Email Support, Online Help Center
Documentation	Comprehensive online guides and tutorials
Company Headquarter	Hong Kong, China
Starting Price	$34.97 for a one-month license (Windows)
Alternatives	EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, Stellar Data Recovery, Disk Drill, Recuva
Affiliate Program	Yes
Affiliate Commission	Up to 70% commission on sales through partners like Impact and UpPromote.
Money-Back Guarantee	30 Days

FonePaw Data Recovery Features

During our testing at DroidCrunch, we put FonePaw Data Recovery through its paces to see how its features perform in real-world situations. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what we found and how each function worked for us.

Two Scanning Modes (Quick & Deep)

FonePaw offers two distinct scanning options. We found the ‘Quick Scan’ to be incredibly fast for locating recently deleted items from the Recycle Bin.

For more complex data loss, the ‘Deep Scan’ was our go-to. Although it takes more time, its comprehensive sector-by-sector search proved highly effective in unearthing files that were deleted long ago or lost due to formatting.

Extensive File Type Support

During our tests, we were impressed by FonePaw’s support for over 1000 file types. It flawlessly recovered a wide range of formats, from standard images (JPG, PNG) and documents (DOCX, PDF) to more specialized files like RAW photos and compressed archives (ZIP, RAR).

No matter the file we tried to recover, the software was able to identify and restore it with its original integrity intact.

Versatile Device Recovery

Our team successfully tested FonePaw on various storage devices. We recovered photos from a formatted SD card, retrieved documents from an external USB drive, and restored files from a lost partition.

Its broad compatibility with HDDs, SSDs, memory cards, and digital cameras makes it an incredibly versatile tool that can handle almost any data recovery scenario you might encounter in your daily use.

File Preview Functionality

The file preview function was a standout feature during our review. Before recovering anything, FonePaw let us preview the files it found, including images, documents, and video thumbnails.

This was extremely useful as it confirmed the file’s integrity and allowed us to be selective. It saved us significant time by ensuring we only restored the specific files we actually needed, avoiding unnecessary data clutter.

Partition & RAW Recovery

In our simulation of a lost partition, FonePaw successfully located the missing volume and all its data. Its RAW recovery feature proved equally effective, allowing us to retrieve files from a drive that Windows showed as unformatted.

This capability is essential for tackling more severe data loss scenarios caused by file system corruption, making it a powerful tool for complex recovery tasks.

Search & Filter Functionality

After a Deep Scan returned thousands of files, finding the specific document we needed seemed daunting. Thankfully, the built-in search bar and filter options were incredibly helpful.

We could filter results by file type (e.g., show only .docx files) or search by filename, which made pinpointing our target file a quick and straightforward process, saving us from endless scrolling.

Save Scan Results for Later

A Deep Scan on our 1TB test drive took a considerable amount of time. The feature to save the scan results was a lifesaver. It allowed us to export the list of found files and load it back into the software later.

This meant we could perform the actual recovery at our convenience without needing to run the lengthy, resource-intensive scan all over again.

Crashed PC Recovery

One of our test machines was set up to be unbootable. FonePaw’s ability to create a bootable USB drive was invaluable here.

We used it to start the crashed PC and access the hard drive to recover critical system files. This is an advanced feature that many competitors lack, making FonePaw a great emergency tool for system failure situations.

Selective Recovery

Instead of restoring a huge folder of mixed files, we used the checkboxes next to each file in the preview window.

This allowed us to perform a selective recovery, picking only the essential photos and documents we wanted back. This simple function saved both time and valuable disk space on our recovery drive by avoiding unnecessary file clutter.

Email Recovery

For professionals, losing emails can be disastrous. We tested this feature on a deleted PST file from Microsoft Outlook, and FonePaw successfully located the entire archive.

It allowed us to restore our lost email threads, contacts, and calendar appointments seamlessly. This makes it a crucial tool for anyone who relies on desktop email clients like Outlook or Thunderbird for their work.

Unsaved Document Recovery

We simulated a sudden Microsoft Word crash to test this feature. FonePaw was able to locate and restore the unsaved AutoRecover file (.asd), preventing the loss of our work.

This functionality is a true lifesaver for anyone who has experienced a sudden application or system crash, turning a potentially frustrating data loss situation into a quick and painless restoration of important documents.

Corrupted Photo & Video Repair

A new addition we were eager to test was the file repair function. Some of the videos we recovered were slightly corrupted and wouldn’t play properly.

Using FonePaw’s built-in repair tool, we were able to fix most of them, restoring them to a playable condition. This is a powerful feature that adds significant value beyond just simple file recovery.

BitLocker Encrypted Drive Recovery

Data on encrypted drives isn’t lost forever with FonePaw. We tested its capabilities on a BitLocker-encrypted external SSD, and it performed flawlessly.

By simply providing the decryption password, the software was able to scan the protected volume just like a regular drive.

It successfully located and recovered our test files, making it a reliable choice for users with enhanced data security.

Pause & Resume Scan

Deep scans on large drives can take hours. We found the pause and resume feature to be extremely practical during our testing.

It allowed us to halt a lengthy scan to free up system resources for another task and then continue later from the exact same spot. This flexibility is a thoughtful addition that respects the user’s time and workflow.

100% Secure & Read-Only Process

We monitored the software’s activity and can confirm that its process is entirely read-only. This is a critical security feature, as it ensures that FonePaw never writes data to the source drive you are scanning.

This completely eliminates any risk of accidentally overwriting the very files that you are trying so hard to recover, ensuring a safe operation.

FonePaw Data Recovery Pricing

FonePaw offers straightforward subscription-based pricing for both Windows and Mac users. The plans are functionally identical, providing access to all features; the only difference is the duration of the license.

For our testing purposes, the one-year license offered the best balance of value and long-term utility. However, for a one-time recovery task, the monthly plan is sufficient. If you anticipate needing a recovery tool regularly, the lifetime license provides the most significant long-term savings.

Windows Pricing

FonePaw offers flexible and straightforward pricing for its Windows Data Recovery software. The plans are structured around license duration, ensuring users can choose an option that best fits their immediate or long-term needs. All tiers provide complete access to the full suite of features, from quick scans to crashed PC recovery, with the primary difference being the length of the software license.

Plan	Price	Best For
One-Month License	$34.97	Users with a single, immediate recovery need.
One-Year License	$48.97	Users who want ongoing protection for a full year.
Lifetime License	$55.97	Users who want a permanent data recovery solution.

Mac Pricing

Similar to its Windows counterpart, FonePaw provides a dedicated set of pricing plans for its Mac Data Recovery software. The model is structured around the license term, allowing macOS users to select a monthly, yearly, or one-time lifetime purchase. Each option unlocks the software’s complete functionality, ensuring every user gets full access to all recovery features regardless of the plan they choose.

Plan	Price	Best For
One-Month License	$41.97	Mac users with a one-time recovery task.
One-Year License	$55.97	Mac users seeking a year-long recovery utility.
Lifetime License	$62.97	Mac users who require a permanent recovery tool.

FonePaw Data Recovery Alternatives

While FonePaw Data Recovery is a competent and user-friendly tool, the market for data recovery software is highly competitive. Several excellent alternatives offer unique features, different pricing models, or more advanced functionalities that might be better suited to your specific needs. Understanding these options is key to making an informed decision. Below is a comparison of the top competitors to help you see how they stack up against FonePaw.

Feature	EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard	Stellar Data Recovery	Disk Drill	Recuva	Wondershare Recoverit
Key Feature	Clean, guided UI with a powerful deep scan engine.	Advanced file repair and recovery from encrypted drives.	Free data protection tools and a simple, modern interface.	A completely free option for basic file recovery.	High success rate, especially with advanced video recovery.
Best For	Users who prioritize ease of use without sacrificing power.	Professionals and users with corrupted or encrypted files.	Mac users and those wanting preventative data protection.	Users on a tight budget with simple recovery needs.	Users needing to recover large or complex video files.
Free Version	Recovers up to 2GB of data for free.	Scan and preview files only; no recovery.	Recovers up to 500MB of data for free.	Free for unlimited recovery; paid version adds support.	Recovers up to 100MB of data for free.
Starting Price	$69.95 (Monthly)	$59.99 (Yearly)	$89.00 (Lifetime)	Free ($19.95 for Pro)	$59.99 (Yearly)
Platform	Windows, macOS	Windows, macOS	Windows, macOS	Windows only	Windows, macOS

1. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard: A leading competitor known for its clean interface and robust recovery capabilities, supporting a wide range of data loss scenarios.
2. Stellar Data Recovery: A powerful tool praised for its ability to recover data from corrupted and encrypted drives. It offers versions for individuals, professionals, and technicians.
3. Disk Drill: Features a simple user interface and offers free data protection tools like Recovery Vault, which helps prevent future data loss.
4. Recuva: A free-to-use data recovery tool from the makers of CCleaner. While not as powerful as paid options, it is excellent for basic file recovery tasks.
5. Wondershare Recoverit: Supports over 1000 file formats and is known for its high success rate, especially in video recovery.

FonePaw Data Recovery Products

FonePaw offers a suite of data recovery solutions, each tailored to a specific device, operating system, or data loss scenario. While some products are comprehensive, others are specialized to provide a more focused user experience.

1. Android Data Recovery

This software is designed specifically to retrieve lost or deleted data directly from Android smartphones and tablets. Unlike general PC recovery tools, it interfaces with the mobile device’s internal storage and SD card to recover personal information that is often not stored on a computer.

• Primary Use: Recovering data after accidental deletion, system crashes, rooting errors, or OS update failures on Android devices.
• Recoverable Data: Contacts, SMS text messages, call history, photos, videos, audio, and documents. It also specializes in recovering chat history from apps like WhatsApp.
• Platform: Requires a Windows or macOS computer to connect the Android device to.

2. iPhone Data Recovery

Marked as a “HOT” product, this is one of FonePaw’s flagship offerings for iOS users. It provides three distinct methods to recover data from iPhones, iPads, and iPods, making it a versatile solution for Apple device owners.

• Three Recovery Modes:
  1. Recover from iOS Device: Directly scans the device for recoverable files.
  2. Recover from iTunes Backup: Extracts data from a local iTunes backup file on your computer.
  3. Recover from iCloud Backup: Downloads and extracts data from an iCloud backup file.
• Recoverable Data: Messages, contacts, photos, videos, notes, reminders, Safari bookmarks, and app data like WhatsApp conversations.
• Platform: Runs on both Windows and macOS.

3. Windows Data Recovery

This is the standard, all-purpose data recovery software for the Windows operating system. It is designed to recover virtually any type of file from various storage media connected to a Windows PC. This is the product covered in our main review.

• Primary Use: Retrieving files lost due to accidental deletion, formatting, partition loss, RAW file system errors, or system crashes.
• Supported Devices: Internal and external hard drives (HDD, SSD), USB flash drives, memory cards, and other storage devices recognized by Windows.
• Platform: Windows only.

4. Mac Data Recovery

This is the macOS equivalent of the Windows Data Recovery tool. It is specifically built to work with the file systems and hardware architecture of Apple computers, such as MacBooks, iMacs, and Mac Minis.

• Primary Use: The same as the Windows version but tailored for macOS. It effectively handles data recovery from APFS, HFS+, and FAT file systems.
• Supported Devices: Mac internal/external hard drives and SSDs, USB drives, SD cards, and other media connected to a Mac.
• Platform: macOS only.

5. SD Card, USB, & Hard Drive Recovery

These three “NEW” products appear to be specialized versions of the main Windows/Mac Data Recovery software, marketed to users with a very specific need. While the comprehensive tool can handle all these devices, these versions likely offer a simplified, more direct workflow for the targeted device.

• SD Card Recovery: Focuses exclusively on recovering data (often photos and videos) from all types of memory cards, such as SD, microSD, CF, and SDHC cards used in cameras and phones.
• USB Data Recovery: Tailored for recovering documents, presentations, and other files from USB flash drives and pen drives that may have been corrupted, formatted, or improperly ejected.
• Hard Drive Recovery: Designed specifically for recovering data from internal and external hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid-state drives (SSDs), focusing on scenarios like partition loss and drive corruption.
• Platform: All three are available for both Windows and macOS.

FonePaw Data Recovery Use Cases

FonePaw Data Recovery is a versatile tool applicable in numerous data loss situations. Here are some of the most common real-world scenarios where it can be a lifesaver:

1. Accidental File Deletion

This is the most frequent cause of data loss. You might have permanently deleted a file using Shift + Delete or emptied your Recycle Bin before realizing your mistake. FonePaw can quickly scan the drive and restore these seemingly lost files, provided they have not been overwritten.

2. Formatted Drive Recovery

Whether you accidentally formatted a USB drive, an SD card from your camera, or an entire hard drive partition, the data can often be recovered. FonePaw’s Deep Scan mode can analyze the formatted device sector by sector to reconstruct the original data and restore your files.

3. RAW or Corrupted Partition Rescue

Have you ever plugged in a drive and received an error message like “The disk is not formatted. Do you want to format it now?” or seen it appear as a “RAW” drive? This indicates file system corruption. FonePaw is designed to scan these inaccessible partitions and retrieve the files within them.

4. Recovery After a System Crash

An unexpected system shutdown, a software crash, or a power outage can lead to the loss of unsaved documents or recently saved files. FonePaw can help locate temporary or auto-saved versions of your work and recover files that were lost during the crash.

5. Lost Partition Recovery

Sometimes, due to errors during disk management or other issues, an entire partition can disappear from your computer, making all its data seem to vanish. FonePaw includes tools specifically designed to locate these lost partitions, allowing you to scan them and recover the contained data.

6. Data Retrieval from a Crashed PC

One of the most critical use cases is when your computer won’t boot up at all. Using FonePaw’s bootable media creator, you can create a bootable USB drive to start your crashed PC. This allows you to bypass the non-functioning operating system and safely copy your essential files to an external drive.

7. Virus Attack Recovery

Malware and viruses can wreak havoc on your system by deleting, hiding, or encrypting your files. After removing the virus, you can use FonePaw Data Recovery to scan the affected drive and restore any files that were maliciously removed or have become inaccessible.

What Makes FonePaw Data Recovery Stand Out?

What truly makes FonePaw Data Recovery stand out in a crowded market is its perfect balance of powerful, high-end features and remarkable user-friendliness. Unlike many competitors that cater exclusively to either beginners or experts, FonePaw bridges the gap. Its innovative design provides a simple, intuitive dashboard that makes data recovery accessible to anyone, without sacrificing the robust engine needed for complex tasks.

Where other offerings fall short, FonePaw excels with its emergency Crashed PC Recovery function. The ability to create a bootable USB drive to rescue data from a non-starting computer is a standout feature that many rivals lack at this price point. This, combined with an affordable lifetime license that offers far better long-term value than many subscription-based alternatives, places FonePaw Data Recovery a cut above the rest. It sets a new standard by making advanced recovery simple and affordable.

• Emergency Crash Recovery: Its ability to create a bootable USB to recover data from a non-starting computer is a significant advantage.
• Simplicity Meets Power: The software combines a clean, intuitive dashboard with advanced features like RAW partition recovery and file repair.
• Exceptional Lifetime Value: It offers a competitively priced one-time purchase option that is more cost-effective than many competitors’ recurring subscription models.

FAQs

Conclusion

After a thorough review, our team at DroidCrunch concludes that FonePaw Data Recovery is a reliable and effective tool, especially for users who value simplicity and a high success rate. We prepared this article after extensive testing, analyzing its performance across different data loss situations and comparing its feature set against prominent alternatives.

Its user-friendly interface makes the daunting task of data recovery accessible to everyone, regardless of technical skill. While it may lack some of the high-end features found in technician-grade software, it excels at its core mission: retrieving lost files from common data loss scenarios. The flexible pricing, particularly the affordable lifetime license, makes it a valuable addition to any user’s software toolkit. If you need a straightforward and powerful solution to get your lost files back, FonePaw Data Recovery is a strong contender worth your consideration.