Data loss can happen to anyone without warning. It can be due to a system crash, deletion, formatting or even a virus attack. The bottom line is that it’s stressful to lose important files.
In situations like this, the first thought that comes to mind is to look for data recovery software. There are many such software programs in the market, and one of them is FonePaw Data Recovery.
But can you really trust it when it comes to recovering your files? In this FonePaw Data Recovery review, we will look at its features, performance, and safety to help you determine if it is the right choice or not!
Part 1: Overview of FonePaw Data Recovery
FonePaw Data Recovery was launched in April 2018. While it has been around for several years, it is still relatively new compared to some established tools. It has received regular updates over the years and has improved a lot. The software can be used to recover deleted data from HDD, SSD, memory card, and other storage devices.
It supports all the common file types and can handle different data loss situations. For example, you can use it for accidental deletion, disk formatting, or emptying the Recycle Bin.
Pros
- Supports 1000+ file types.
- Easy-to-use interface with a simple workflow.
- Offers quick and deep scan modes.
- Pause and stop buttons can save you time when scanning the files.
Cons
- Deep scans are a little slow.
- The recovery rate is inconsistent.
- Struggles to recover large files.
Main Features of FonePaw Data Recovery
Comprehensive File Support
FonePaw supports 1000+ file formats, including photos, audio, documents, videos and more. What’s really special is that it also supports less common file types such as db, .lib, .log, and even browsing data. This built-in support means the software can detect all types of files during scanning.
Two Scanning Modes
The quick scan searches the trash directory and other folders for recently deleted files. The process is quick and ideal in situations where the files were deleted recently.
The deep scan takes more time but searches the drive thoroughly. It is more time-consuming than the quick scan, but it does offer a higher chance of finding and restoring the lost files.
Advanced Filtering
There’s also an option to use filters on the scan results. This means you can filter files based on size, type, or name. This can be helpful if you are dealing with large amounts of data.
However, it is worth mentioning that it is a basic feature. So, you are likely to find it in every other data recovery tool. But it can still be helpful to filter specific files if you already know the file name and type.
Support for Multiple Storage Devices
You can use FonePaw Data Recovery with any storage device that’s detected by the system. This includes HDD, SSD, SD card, and so on.
But the performance is not consistent across all the devices. You may experience a lower recovery rate with damaged drives or advanced SSD configurations.
Is FonePaw Data Recovery safe?
VirusTotal scan of the FonePaw’s setup file shows 0/72 score. This means no antivirus program has detected anything malicious in the FonePaw program.
The software also uses read-only mode during scanning and recovery. This means it doesn’t modify any existing data on the storage device. So, you don’t have to worry about any further disk damage when using the FonePaw.
The only thing to remember is to install it on a different drive. This may sound insignificant, but this simple step can improve recovery chances.
So, the answer to the question “Is FonePaw safe?” is Yes! It doesn’t have anything malicious and also doesn’t damage the existing data.
Is FonePaw Data Recovery free?
The software offers a trial version, which can be used to test its features. You can use the FonePaw Data Recovery free trial to scan lost files. However, an upgrade to a paid plan is required to use the recovery feature.
You can think of the free version as a way to evaluate if the software can find the lost/deleted files. But, this limitation can be off-putting for some users who also want to test the recovery version before buying a paid plan.
FonePaw Data Recovery full is available via these plans:
- Yearly Plan ($48.97)
- Monthly Plan ($39.87)
- Lifetime Plan ($55.97)
Part 2: How to Use FonePaw Data Recovery?
Using FonePaw is very simple, as the user interface is very intuitive. You can follow these simple steps to use it for scanning and recovery:
- Download the FonePaw Data Recovery from the official website and then launch it by clicking on its Desktop icon.
- You can select the file types you want to scan and recover. To search for everything, you can select “check all file types”. Another option is to choose a specific file type. Now select the drive where the deleted files were present. You can select from the local drive, the external drive, the recycle bin, or a specific folder. In the end, click on “Scan”.
- The software will begin scanning. The scan speed depends on the size of your data and your hard drive.
- Once the scan is complete, you can select the folder or files and click on “Recover”.
Select a location to store the recovered files, and that’s it! Just make sure to select a different drive for storing. Why? Because storing it on the same drive where lost files are present can lower the recovery chances.
Part 3: Does FonePaw Really Work?
To check if FonePaw actually delivers on its claims, we tested it in different scenarios. The results show that FonePaw does well in the recovery of recently deleted files and other simple cases. But the recovery drops as the complexity of the data loss scenario increases.
Scanning Speed
In our test, a quick scan of a 150 GB SSD took 6 minutes, and an 8 GB SD card only took 3 minutes. This is relatively fast compared to similar tools.
However, the deep scan was significantly slower and took 54 minutes for the 150 GB SSD. As for the SD card, it took almost 15 minutes for a complete deep scan.
We also tested the scanning speed by using a 500 GB drive. In this case, a deep scan took around 2 hours, which is slower than other tools in the market.
Recovery Rate
FonePaw delivered mixed recovery results. In a simple scenario (recently deleted files), the software was able to scan and detect most of the files. But it only managed to recover 80% of the files.
But in complex cases (formatted drives), the average recovery rate was near 60%. The software only managed to recover 600 out of 1000 files. Out of these, only 516 files were good, and the rest were partially corrupted.
The bottom line is that the recovery rate is not consistent and drops when you are dealing with a complex situation.
Part 4: Is There Any Better Alternative to FonePaw Data Recovery?
There’s no doubt that FonePaw is good for basic recovery tasks. But the scan times can be too long, and the recovery rate is inconsistent. These drawbacks force users to start looking for a reliable alternative.
One trustworthy option is iToolab RecoverGo Windows Data Recovery. The software can easily handle both simple and complex data loss scenarios with a high recovery rate!
Why is iToolab RecoverGo Windows Data Recovery Better?
RecoverGo is especially designed for Windows-based systems. Unlike other tools, RecoverGo features support for 1000+ file formats and 2000+ devices. This means a user doesn’t have to worry about questions like “will it work on my device” or “can it recover a specific file type”!
Let’s look at some reasons why RecoverGo is a better option than FonePaw:
- Fast Scanning Speed: It can scan files from exFAT drives in just minutes. In fact, our tests show that the deep scanning mode of RecoverGo takes 50% less time than FonePaw.
- Three Scanning Modes: It helps you find more lost files. Meanwhile, it also produces consistent results during the scanning!
- Higher Success Rate: RecoverGo Windows Data Recovery has a 99% recovery rate. Meanwhile, FonePaw achieved around an 80% recovery rate in most cases. This difference highlights why some users may prefer to choose a modern alternative like RecoverGo over FonePaw.
- Better File Integrity: One of the issues we noticed in FonePaw is that some recovered files were partially corrupted. That’s a part where RecoverGo shines as it offers better file integrity. Our tests with FonePaw show that only 80% of the recovered files could be accessed, and 20% were corrupted. On the other hand, almost all of the data recovered by RecoverGo remained intact and functional.
How to Use iToolab RecoverGo Windows Data Recovery?
Using the RecoverGo is straightforward! You can follow these simple steps to restore your precious files:
Step 1 Select a location where you lost files. Then click on “Search for lost data”.
Step 2 The software starts scanning. If you remember the file name, you can search for it using the search bar and filters.
Step 3 Once the scan is complete, you can select files to “Preview” and choose the “Recover” option.
FAQs About FonePaw Data Recovery
Can FonePaw recover permanently deleted files?
You can use FonePaw to recover permanently deleted files. However, the recovery rate drops if files are deleted a long time ago. And if the storage device is consistently used after the files were deleted, then the recovery rate drops even further.
Why are recovered files corrupted or cannot be opened?
Can’t open recovered files? It means the file data is overwritten or damaged. In such cases, FonePaw may detect the file but fail to restore it to a usable condition. This normally happens in complex recovery situations.
Does FonePaw work on SSD drives?
Yes, the software supports SSD recovery, but the recovery rate can vary depending on the situation. The SSDs use TRIM technology, which means deleted data may be permanently erased. The use of this technology can reduce the overall recovery rate.
Can FonePaw recover videos and large files?
The software can recover large files (including videos), but the results are not that reliable. Normally, large files are more susceptible to getting corrupted than the smaller ones.
Final Thought
FonePaw Data Recovery is a good enough option for small files or basic recovery tasks. For example, it works really well in the recovery of recently deleted files. However, the recovery results drop when you are dealing with a complex or large-scale data loss.
iToolab RecoverGo Windows Data Recovery is a more stable and reliable solution than FonePaw. It offers fast scanning and a more stable recovery rate (99%). Also, the recovered data by RecoverGo has better file integrity, which makes it a dependable option in critical situations.