6 Best SD Card Recovery Software For Free In 2025

Has important data been erased from your SD card, but you don’t want to invest in expensive recovery applications? The positive fact is that there are many SD card recovery software for free use, but some are too basic, while others don’t offer high success.

If you want to find the best free option, in this review, we’ve sampled many free SD card recovery software for Mac. We’ve gone over their benefits and limitations of several to pick the top 6 contenders of 2025. So, you can pick the one that will suit your needs in the best way!

Top 6 Free SD Card Recovery Software for Mac & Windows

The following are the 6 best free SD card recovery solutions with their primary features, pros, and cons stated in detail:

Top 1: 4DDiG Free Data Recovery

4DDiG Free Data Recovery is a powerful SD card recovery software for free, with a 98.61% success rate and a fast retrieval process. It can retrieve up to 2GB of files, including photos, videos, audio, RAW, and documents, free of any expense.

Furthermore, it works well in different data loss scenarios, including virus attacks, system crashes or corruption . The tool is compatible with different SD card types like SDHC, SDXC, and microSD, and offers two scan modes for quick and deep recovery. You can also input keywords, adjust filter tags to find the exact files you require. In addition, this tool allows you to preview recovered files by their type and path.

Pros

Cons

It boasts a simple and user-friendly interface. Allows you to choose your file types to reclaim. Offers filters to find your desired files and a preview for recovered files. Supports a wide range of internal/external devices. Can retrieve data from numerous data loss scenarios. Provides free lifetime upgrades and 24/7 technical support even with the free version. Compatible with Windows and Mac systems.

Only 2GB of free file recovery. The free SD card data recovery is only available for Windows.

Top 2: Recuva

Recuva is another excellent free SD card recovery tool​ that helps restore lost files with features like quick and deep scans. It allows recovery even from formatted or damaged cards. Moreover, it supports a wide range of file types, including documents, photos, videos, music, emails, and archives. A simple wizard and preview option make it easy to use, while filters help sort results. This free SD card data recovery app also includes secure file deletion, portable use from a USB, and even support for virtual drives.

Pros

Cons

Recover unlimited data without hidden caps. Simple wizard guides beginners step by step. Supports many file types. The portable version can run from a USB without installation. Secure deletion tool permanently erases files with overwrite methods. Quick scan mode offers fast recovery for recently erased files. Small installer, uses minimal system resources. Supports Windows (XP to 11) with FAT32, exFAT, and NTFS systems.

Struggles with formatted or damaged drives, with mixed success rates. Old interface and missing advanced features like disk imaging, RAID, or cloud recovery. Deep scans are slow, lose filenames, can’t pause/resume, and don’t support partition-only scans. Preview often fails to show the correct file content before recovery. Virtual drive support and updates are not in the free version. Doesn’t support Mac and Linux.

Top 3: DMDE Free Edition

DMDE Free Edition is also a good free recovery software for SD card​ that lets you restore up to 4,000 files at once. It offers unlimited recovery operations, supports many file systems, and can even recover data from severely damaged SD cards using advanced algorithms. Beyond file recovery, it offers disk editing, partition management, cloning, and RAID reconstruction tools. This free SD card recovery tool​ is portable, operates multiple platforms, and runs in safe read-only mode to protect data.

Pros	Cons
Free recovery is useful for large recoveries. Manages tough cases like formatted drives, lost partitions, and RAID with strong algorithms. Supports many file systems (NTFS, FAT, exFAT, Ext, APFS, HFS+). Free SD card recovery software for Mac, Windows, Linux, and DOS. Portable, runs safely in read-only mode. Includes tools for disk editing, partition recovery, and cloning.	The interface is complex. Recovery is folder-by-folder. There’s no full directory restore, and previews are limited. Free users get minimal support. No extras like file repair or S.M.A.R.T. monitoring in the free version.

Top 4: TestDisk & PhotoRec

TestDisk offers SD card file recovery for free​ for lost or erased files. It can also repair boot sectors and fix MBR issues, making damaged drives bootable again. Besides, it’s used in digital forensics, managing disk images, and RAID setups. While PhotoRec, bundled with TestDisk, focuses on recovering files by signatures, it supports 480+ formats, including photos, videos, and documents. It ignores file system damage for corrupted, formatted, and RAW SD card file recovery for free​, runs in safe read-only mode, and saves recovered files to another drive.

Pros

Cons

TestDisk can recover lost partitions, fix boot sectors/MBR, and manage RAW drives. PhotoRec restores 480+ file types by signatures, supports damaged or formatted drives, and even has a simple GUI version (QPhotoRec). Both are open-source, trusted, and reliable for structural disk repairs. Both support many file systems like FAT, NTFS, exFAT, ext, and HFS+. Both support Windows, macOS, Linux, and more without installation.

Interface is command-line only, hard for beginners, and risky if misused. TestDisk is not ideal for single-file recovery, lacks previews, and filtering. Neither keeps the filenames/folder structures. PhotoRec will sometimes recover duplicates or irrelevant files. PhotoRec CLI can be difficult for new users, and file sorting must be done manually after recovery.

Top 5: RescuePro

RescuePRO offers free SD card data recovery for photos, raw images, videos, audio, documents, and emails. It supports numerous flash media like SD, microSD, USB, and CFexpress cards. The free version comes bundled with SanDisk and usually gives a 1-2 year license without charges. Furthermore, the free recovery software for SD card​ lets you scan storage devices and preview recoverable files, but saving them requires a paid license.  The trial also includes a secure wipe tool to permanently erase data without needing the full version.

Pros	Cons
Recovers many file types. Simple “3-click” recovery process with file preview. Extra tools include secure data wiping and drive imaging for failing devices. Often bundled as a free trial with SanDisk cards, and has responsive support. Free SD card recovery software for Mac and Windows.​	The free trial doesn’t allow saving. Limited to flash media, not internal drives, RAIDs, or fully formatted disks. May fail on some devices or files, especially if overwritten. Some users find it complicated to use. Recovered videos can sometimes be corrupted.

Top 6: Windows File Recovery

Windows File Recovery is a free SD card recovery tool by Microsoft. It can retrieve erased or lost files on Windows 10 (2004+) and Windows 11. The tool functions best with NTFS SD cards but also supports FAT32, exFAT, and ReFS.

It has two modes: Regular (for recent NTFS deletions, keeping filenames/folders) and Extensive (for formatted or corrupted drives, sorting files by type). This free recovery software for SD card​  runs only through Command Prompt, requiring typed commands instead of a GUI.

Pros	Cons
Free to use, lightweight, and easy to install from the Microsoft Store. Safe and reliable since it’s an official Microsoft tool. Supports HDDs, SSDs, USBs, and memory cards. Offers different recovery modes with filters for specific needs.	No graphical interface, only a command-line, which is hard for beginners. Except NTFS, other file systems may lose names/folders or crash. No file preview and recovery results can be inconsistent. Missing advanced features like disk imaging, RAID, or bootable media. Limited file type support beyond common formats.

Free SD Card Recovery Software Comparison Chart

Name	Platform	Difficulty	Duration	Completely Free	Success Rate
4DDiG	Win & Mac	Easy	10-15 min	Only up to 2GB is free	98.6%
Recuva	Win	Easy	7-9 min	Yes	96.4%
DMDE Free Edition	Win, Linux, and Mac	Moderate	15-30 min	Free for only 4000 files pre-run	97.9%
TestDisk & PhotoRec	Win, Linux, and Mac	Hard	30 min to 1 hour	Yes	95.1%
RescuePro	Windows	Easy	10-15 min	1-2 year license for free when bundled with SanDisk products	96.1%
Windows File Recovery	Windows 10/11	Hard	30 min to 1 hour	Yes	92.3%

FAQ about Free SD Card Data Recovery Software

Q1: Can I recover a corrupted SD card with using software?

Yes, you can recover data from a corrupted SD card using software, as long as the card has logical errors and is still detectable on your computer. But if the card is physically damaged or not recognized at all, only professional recovery services may help. But acting quickly is important to avoid overwriting and improve recovery chances.

Q2: What is the best recovery software for SD card?

Based on testing, the 4DDiG Free Data Recovery tool is the best SD card recovery tool. It boasts a high success rate and functions well for numerous data loss scenarios. The tool also boasts an easy-to-use design, selective file recovery, preview, and filters for finding exact matches.

Q3: How to choose the right SD card recovery tool?

When choosing an SD card recovery tool, check its success rate, recovery speed, and platform and file system compatibility. Also, look at how well it manages your data loss situation, whether it’s deleted files, formatting, or severe corruption. Make sure to pick a tool that’s easy to use, especially if you’re a beginner, and consider the cost since free versions often limit how much data you can recover. It’s best to test with a free trial first.

Conclusion

There are several SD card recovery software for free for Windows and Mac users. But many are either too basic, too complex, or limited in features. For the best mix of ease of use, strong recovery rate, and wide file support, 4DDiG Free Data Recovery is the top choice. It also provides a preview for reclaimed files, selective file recovery, filters to find exact files, and file repair.