On this page14 sections
- Ratings and complaints
- Stellar (Data Recovery) vs. competitors
- Pricing
- Step by step
- Stellar Data Recovery legitimacy and licensing
- How much Stellar Data Recovery costs
- What it can and can't recover
- Refund policy and renewals
- Stellar's lab recovery service
- Complaints and what customers report
- Who should skip Stellar Data Recovery
- What customers say
- Alternatives
- FAQ
Stellar Data Recovery suits people who deleted files, formatted a drive or lost a partition and want to try a fix themselves before paying a lab. It is legitimate software from a company that has sold recovery tools since 1993, and it scores 4.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot from more than 5,500 reviews. The free version scans fully and recovers up to 1 GB, so you can see whether your files are recoverable before you pay. Paid Windows editions are yearly subscriptions, refunds are limited to 30 days on a first purchase and exclude renewals and 'special offer' purchases, and no software can fix a physically failing drive.
- Windows prices
- Standard $59.99, Professional $79.99, Technician $99.99 (shown as reduced from $69.99, $99.99 and $299.99), as listed October 20261
- Billing
- Yearly subscription for the Standard Edition, per Stellar's FAQ; iPhone recovery $39.99 and Android $29.99 a year2
- Free version
- Scan and preview, then recover up to 1 GB on Windows and Mac, or 10 files on iPhone and Android2
- Refund window
- 30 days for annual or lifetime licenses, 7 days for monthly; first purchase only, not renewals or special offers3
- Refund conditions
- You must have tried the free version first and cooperate with support troubleshooting3
- Company
- Stellar Information Technology Pvt. Ltd., Gurugram, India; US office in Katy, Texas; in business since 19934
- Lab service
- Free evaluation for physically damaged devices through a lab partner; prices quoted per case5
- Windows support
- Windows 11, 10, 8.1 and 8, Windows Server 2016 to 2022; HDD, SSD, USB, memory cards and RAID1
Pros
- In business since 1993 with a large Trustpilot base (4.8 from 5,500+ reviews)
- Free version recovers up to 1 GB, so you can test before paying
- Windows editions from $59.99 a year
- Professional edition recovers from PCs that won't boot
- Technician edition handles RAID arrays
Cons
- Paid editions are yearly subscriptions
- Refunds exclude renewals and 'special offer' purchases
- Refund requires trying the free version first
- Can't fix physically damaged drives
- BBB profile under the Stellar Data Recovery Inc. name is rated F
Best for: People who deleted files, formatted a drive or lost a partition on a drive that still works, and want to check recoverability for free before paying.
Skip it if: Your drive makes clicking or grinding noises, isn't detected, or holds data you can't afford to lose, in which case a professional lab is safer.
Stellar (Data Recovery) vs. competitors
| Company | Free recovery limit | Paid price | Mac version | Open source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stellar Data Recovery | 1 GB | $59.99 to $99.99 a year (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Wondershare Recoverit | 500 MB (Windows) | $64.99 a month, $74.99 a year or $134.99 once (Windows sale prices) | Yes | No |
| Disk Drill | 100 MB (Windows) | $89 a year, per CleverFiles | Yes | No |
| PhotoRec and TestDisk | No limit | Free | Yes | Yes, GPL |
Stellar (Data Recovery) pricing at a glance
Stellar Data Recovery for Windows, as listed October 20261
| Edition | Price | Shown as reduced from | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Not applicable | Full scan and preview; recover up to 1 GB |
| Standard | $59.99 a year | $69.99 | Documents, photos and videos; lost partitions; internal and external drives; encrypted drives |
| Professional | $79.99 a year | $99.99 | Everything in Standard plus recovery from PCs that won't boot, disk imaging, drive health monitoring, photo and video repair |
| Technician | $99.99 a year | $299.99 | Everything in Professional plus RAID 0, 5 and 6 and other RAID recovery |
Mac editions (Standard, Professional, Premium and Technician) are sold separately; their prices loaded only in the store and we could not confirm them. Stellar's refund policy excludes subscription renewals and purchases made on a 'special offer'.
Stellar (Data Recovery), step by step
Stop using the drive
Every new file you save can overwrite what you're trying to recover. Install the software on a different drive if you can.
Run the free version
Choose the file types and the drive or folder, then run a quick or deep scan. Stellar's refund policy requires you to try the free version before buying.
Preview the results
Open the previews. If files look corrupted in the preview, buying a license is unlikely to change that.
Buy the edition you need
Standard covers deleted files and lost partitions; Professional adds unbootable PCs; Technician adds RAID. Up to 1 GB is free.
Save to a different drive
Recover files to another drive, not the one you scanned. Cancel auto-renewal afterward if you only needed it once.
Stellar Data Recovery legitimacy and licensing
Yes. Stellar Data Recovery is made by Stellar Information Technology Pvt. Ltd., based in Gurugram, India, with offices in Katy, Texas, and Utrecht, Netherlands. The company says it has been in business since 1993 and was formerly sold under the Stellar Phoenix name. On Trustpilot, it scores 4.8 out of 5 from 5,562 reviews, and it replies to most negative ones.
One record to know about: the BBB has an F rating for a business called Stellar Data Recovery Inc. in Houston, Texas, not accredited, with 5 complaints in three years. We could not confirm whether that profile belongs to the software maker, which lists its US office in Katy. If you bought from stellarinfo.com and have a dispute, contact Stellar support first and keep your order number.
How much Stellar Data Recovery costs
On Windows, Standard costs $59.99, Professional $79.99 and Technician $99.99, each shown as discounted from a higher list price. Stellar’s own FAQ describes the Standard Edition as a yearly subscription, so plan on paying again next year unless you turn off renewal. iPhone and Android recovery tools cost $39.99 and $29.99 a year. Mac editions are sold separately; we couldn’t confirm their current prices.
The free version is the best way to start. It runs the same scan and lets you preview found files, then recover up to 1 GB on Windows or Mac. If the files you need are small, you may not need to pay at all.
What it can and can't recover
Stellar recovers deleted documents, photos, videos and emails from hard drives, SSDs, USB drives and memory cards, including formatted drives, lost or RAW partitions and encrypted drives. Professional adds a bootable recovery drive for Windows PCs that won’t start, disk imaging, drive health alerts and photo and video repair. Technician adds RAID 0, 5 and 6 recovery.
What software can’t do: recover data from a drive with physical damage, and reliably recover files on SSDs where TRIM has already erased deleted data. Stellar advertises a 99.6% recovery rate; we found no independent test behind that number, so rely on the free preview instead. If the drive clicks, isn’t detected or was dropped or wet, stop and use a lab.
What customers say about Stellar (Data Recovery)
Recurring themes across the review sites and complaint records listed above, not individual quotes.
Common praise
- Patient, responsive support staff
- Easy setup and activation
- Recovered files after accidental deletion or formatting
- The free scan shows what's recoverable before you pay
Common complaints
- Some corrupted files could not be recovered or repaired
- The 1 GB free limit feels restrictive
- Results vary by product, especially video and file repair tools
- Long deep scans on large drives
Refund policy and renewals
Stellar offers refunds within 30 days for annual subscriptions and lifetime licenses, and 7 days for monthly subscriptions, on a first purchase only. The policy excludes renewals, purchases on a ‘special offer’, part of a bundle, purchases from other stores, and buyers who didn’t try the free version before paying. You also need to work with technical support on the problem before a refund is approved.
Refunds that qualify include buying the wrong product, buying the same product twice, or the paid version giving different results than the free scan. Stellar says it processes approved refunds within 2 business days, with up to 10 business days for the money to appear. Email [email protected] to request one.
Stellar's lab recovery service
For drives with physical damage, Stellar’s site offers a free evaluation and a fixed-price quote, and says it works with a lab partner to provide the service. It lists ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certification. Prices are not published; you get a quote after diagnosis and choose a turnaround time. Before shipping a drive, get the quote, turnaround and what happens if nothing is recovered in writing, and compare it with at least one other lab.
Complaints and what customers report
Most Trustpilot reviews praise support staff by name and describe quick activation and successful recoveries. The negative reviews, about 4%, focus on corrupted files that couldn’t be recovered or repaired, the 1 GB free limit, and repair tools that didn’t fix a file. To avoid paying for software that can’t help, check the free preview first, because Stellar’s refund policy treats a successful free scan as the test of what the paid version will do.
Who should skip Stellar Data Recovery
If your files are irreplaceable and the drive shows signs of hardware failure, don’t run any recovery software; each scan can cause more damage. If you only need a one-time recovery and don’t want a subscription, consider free tools like PhotoRec or turn off renewal right after buying. And if your lost files total under 1 GB, the free version may be all you need.
Alternatives to Stellar (Data Recovery)
- PhotoRec and TestDisk Free, open-source tools with no recovery limit, if you're comfortable with a plain text interface.
- Disk Drill A comparable paid tool with a polished interface on Mac and Windows. Read review
- EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Its free version allows up to 2 GB, double Stellar's limit. Read review
- A professional recovery lab The right choice when the drive clicks, isn't detected, or was dropped or wet, since software can make physical damage worse. Read review
Stellar (Data Recovery) reviews
Written by readers, read by our moderators, never edited by the company.
No reader reviews yet. If you have used Stellar (Data Recovery), yours will be the first.
Write a reviewHow do I know I can trust these reviews about Stellar (Data Recovery)?
- Every reviewer confirms an email address before a review can publish.
- Our moderators read every review before it publishes.
- Companies can respond publicly but can never edit, hide or remove a review.
- Paying BestGuide never changes the reader rating or which reviews publish.
Frequently asked questions
Is Stellar Data Recovery safe and legit?
Yes. It's made by Stellar Information Technology, in business since 1993, and has a 4.8 out of 5 Trustpilot score from more than 5,500 reviews. Download it only from stellarinfo.com.
Is Stellar Data Recovery free?
The free version scans and previews files and recovers up to 1 GB on Windows or Mac, or 10 files on iPhone and Android. Beyond that you need a paid edition.
How much does Stellar Data Recovery cost?
Windows editions were listed at $59.99 (Standard), $79.99 (Professional) and $99.99 (Technician) in October 2026. Stellar describes them as yearly subscriptions.
Is Stellar Data Recovery a one-time purchase?
The Windows editions are sold as yearly subscriptions. Stellar's refund policy also mentions lifetime licenses, so check the license type at checkout.
Does Stellar Data Recovery have a money-back guarantee?
Yes, 30 days for annual or lifetime licenses and 7 days for monthly, on a first purchase. It excludes renewals and special-offer purchases, and you must have tried the free version first.
How do I cancel Stellar auto-renewal?
Contact Stellar support at [email protected] or through its ticket system and ask to turn off renewal. Renewals aren't refundable, so do it well before the renewal date.
Can Stellar recover data from a dead or clicking hard drive?
No software can reliably recover data from a physically failing drive, and scanning can make it worse. Use a professional lab instead; Stellar offers a lab service with a free evaluation.
Does Stellar Data Recovery work on Mac?
Yes. Stellar sells separate Mac editions that support recent macOS versions and Time Machine backups. The free Mac version also recovers up to 1 GB.
Can Stellar recover files from an SSD?
It supports SSDs, but if TRIM is enabled, deleted data may already be erased by the drive. Run the free scan quickly and check the preview.
Is Stellar Data Recovery the same as Stellar Phoenix?
Yes. Stellar Phoenix was the earlier name for Stellar's data recovery software.
Sources (8)
Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards
- Stellar: Windows Data Recovery editions and pricing (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Stellar: Free data recovery and FAQ (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Stellar: Refund policy (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Stellar: Contact and office addresses (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Stellar: Data recovery services (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Trustpilot: Stellar reviews (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BBB: Stellar Data Recovery Inc. profile (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Stellar: Mac Data Recovery (accessed October 12, 2026)
BestGuide is free to use. Some companies we review pay us when you visit their site or contact them through us. Compensation may influence which companies we feature and their order. It doesn't change what our reviews say. Advertising disclosure