Have you ever unintentionally formatted your external hard drive or erased a whole folder of crucial business files? It is terrible. Data recovery solutions may help with that, and one of the most well-known brands in this space is Stellar Data Recovery. It has been a popular option for more than ten years and is renowned for being dependable, high-quality, and feature-rich.
What’s new in 2025, then? When your data is at stake, how does it really function? Let’s dissect everything with a thorough and approachable analysis of Stellar Data Recovery software.
WHAT IS STELLAR DATA RECOVERY?
A software program called Stellar Data Recovery was created to recover erased or lost data from memory cards, SSDs, USBs, hard drives, and other storage devices. IT experts that need to recover data from damaged or formatted disks use it, as do casual users who lose personal files.
It has several editions with varying levels of capability according on your needs, and it runs on both Windows and macOS. Stellar seeks to provide you with a means of recovering your data, regardless of whether you unintentionally erased a picture or lost a whole disk.
CORE FEATURES: WHAT IT OFFERS
One of the strongest aspects of Stellar is the wide range of features it packs into one platform. Depending on which version you use, here’s what you can expect:
Supported File Types
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Over 300 file types supported
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Recovers documents, photos, videos, emails, audio files, and archives
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Custom file type support (you can add your own formats manually)
File System Compatibility
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Windows: NTFS, FAT, FAT16, FAT32, exFAT
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macOS: APFS, HFS, HFS+, exFAT, and even NTFS volumes on Mac
Devices Supported
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Internal hard drives (HDD, SSD)
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External USB drives
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Memory cards, SD cards, CF cards
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Optical media (CD, DVD)
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RAID arrays (in higher versions)
Bonus Tools
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Photo Repair: Fixes corrupt or broken JPEG and RAW image files
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Video Repair: Restores broken video formats like MOV, MP4, AVI
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Disk Imaging: Creates a clone of your drive to prevent data loss
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S.M.A.R.T. Monitoring: Monitors drive health for early failure warnings
These features make it more than just a recovery tool—it’s a mini repair shop built into your system.
PERFORMANCE AND RELIABILITY
Here’s where it matters most. When you hit that “Scan” button, how well does Stellar really work?
For basic deleted files—like if you emptied your recycle bin or deleted something by mistake—it works quickly and accurately. The Quick Scan usually finds everything you need in a few minutes.
But in more serious cases, like formatted drives, corrupted partitions, or broken file systems, you’ll need to use Deep Scan. This digs through the entire drive sector-by-sector and often brings back files you thought were gone forever.
However, Deep Scan can be very slow. On a 1TB drive, the process can easily take 10 to 12 hours, and it consumes a lot of system memory. You might need to run it overnight. Also, some files may return without their original names, which means extra time spent sorting and checking.
That said, the software is very stable and rarely crashes—even on older systems. And unlike many free tools, it actually gives you a high recovery success rate.
USER INTERFACE AND EXPERIENCE
Stellar’s interface is simple, clean, and easy to navigate. Even if you’ve never used data recovery software before, you won’t feel lost here.
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You choose the type of data you want to recover (documents, videos, etc.)
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Then you select the drive or partition
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After that, you pick Quick Scan or Deep Scan and let it run
There’s also a handy preview feature that lets you see which files are recoverable before restoring them. This saves time and avoids cluttering your system with junk.
On the downside, a few users on high-resolution monitors have reported interface scaling issues, especially on Windows. The UI doesn’t always adjust well to 4K or custom DPI settings.
PRICING AND VERSIONS
Stellar offers several versions depending on what features you need. Here’s a quick breakdown of the current pricing for 2025:
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Free Edition: Recovers up to 1GB of data
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Standard ($59.99/year): Unlimited recovery of common file types
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Professional ($89.99/year): Adds disk imaging, lost partition recovery
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Premium ($99.99/year): Includes photo and video repair tools
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Technician ($149/year): Designed for businesses and IT specialists
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Toolkit ($299/year): Supports RAID, encrypted drives, and more
The free version is useful for small recovery jobs, but for serious work, most users will need at least the Professional or Premium tier.
HOW IT COMPARES TO COMPETITORS
Stellar isn’t the only game in town. Other major players like Disk Drill and EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard are also competing hard.
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Disk Drill has a more modern interface, faster scan times, and extra tools like drive backup. However, it lacks the same repair functions that Stellar offers.
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EaseUS is known for speed and simplicity but offers fewer advanced options in the base versions.
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Recuva (by CCleaner) is free and great for light recovery jobs but doesn’t even come close in terms of deep recovery or device compatibility.
What sets Stellar apart is its deep scan accuracy, multi-file repair options, and support for professionals who need RAID and encrypted recovery.
PROS AND CONS
Here’s a balanced view to wrap your head around it:
Pros
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Extremely easy to use, even for beginners
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Recovers hundreds of file types across many devices
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Includes tools for repairing broken photos and videos
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Powerful deep scan that handles formatted and damaged drives
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Works on both Mac and Windows
Cons
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Deep Scan is slow and resource-heavy
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Pricing jumps quickly for higher editions
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File names sometimes lost in recovery results
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Interface issues on high-DPI Windows systems
FINAL THOUGHTS: IS IT WORTH IT?
If you’re looking for a trustworthy, powerful, and all-in-one data recovery tool, Stellar Data Recovery deserves your attention. It’s not the fastest, and it’s not the cheapest—but it brings professional-level features to everyday users.
Its ability to handle damaged drives, restore files after formatting, and even repair corrupted media makes it a top pick in 2025. Whether you’re a student who lost your thesis, a photographer recovering damaged RAW files, or a tech pro dealing with RAID systems, Stellar has you covered.
Just be prepared for long scan times and possibly upgrading to a paid version. Once you do, you’ll find that Stellar is one of the most complete recovery solutions out there.
