Get Data Back Free Version: What It Recovers

Get Data Back is a data recovery utility for Windows and macOS, and its free version lets you scan a drive and see which files are recoverable before you pay. You can download the trial, run a full scan, and preview the list of found files at no cost, but the free version does not actually save or restore any data. To recover files, you must purchase a license for the full version, which starts around $79 for a single-drive license.

Formula

The calculator above is a pace calculator, not a data recovery tool. It computes your average pace and speed from a finish time and distance. The formulas are:

• Pace (min/km) = Finish time (min) ÷ Distance (km)
• Speed (km/h) = Distance (km) ÷ (Finish time (min) ÷ 60)

Where Finish time is in minutes, Distance is in kilometers, Pace is the time per kilometer, and Speed is the average kilometers per hour.

Worked Example

Using the default values: finish time = 50 minutes, distance = 10 km.

1. Pace = 50 min ÷ 10 km = 5.00 min/km
2. Speed = 10 km ÷ (50 min ÷ 60) = 10 ÷ 0.8333 = 12.00 km/h

The calculator shows an average pace of 5.00 min/km and an average speed of 12.00 km/h.

What the Free Version Actually Does

Get Data Back’s free trial is a fully functional scan engine. You can install the software, select a physical drive or logical volume, and run a thorough scan that reads the file system structures and locates deleted or lost files. The trial will display a complete list of recoverable files, including their names, sizes, and paths, so you can confirm that your data is there. However, when you try to copy a file to another drive, the software prompts you to enter a license key. Without a key, the copy operation is blocked. This is a common pattern among data recovery tools: the free version is a preview, not a recovery tool.

How to Use the Free Trial

To get the most out of the free version, follow these steps:

1. Download the installer from the official Runtime Software website (the maker of Get Data Back).
2. Install the software on a healthy computer. Do not install it on the same drive you are trying to recover, as that could overwrite data.
3. Connect the damaged drive as a secondary drive (via USB, SATA, or an external enclosure). Avoid booting from it.
4. Launch Get Data Back and choose the appropriate module: “FAT� for older USB drives or cameras, “NTFS� for Windows system drives, or “HFS+� for Mac drives.
5. Select the physical drive (not the partition) and click “Next� to start the scan. The scan can take hours on large drives.
6. When the scan finishes, browse the recovered file list. You can preview text files and images in the built-in viewer.
7. Select files and click “Copy� to see the license prompt. That confirms the files are recoverable, but you need a key to save them.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

A frequent misconception is that the free version will recover small files or a limited number of files. In reality, it recovers nothing—it only shows what is possible. Another issue is that users sometimes scan the wrong drive. If you accidentally scan the healthy system drive, you will see thousands of system files, not your deleted documents. Also, the free version does not support saving a scan session, so if you close the program, you must rescan. Finally, some users expect the trial to repair a corrupted file system. Get Data Back does not repair; it only extracts data.

Costs and Licensing

Get Data Back is commercial software. As of 2025, the pricing is:

• Get Data Back for FAT: $79 per license.
• Get Data Back for NTFS: $79 per license.
• Get Data Back for HFS+: $79 per license.
• Simple License (covers all three): $300.

Each license covers one computer, and you can use it on an unlimited number of drives connected to that computer. There is no subscription; you pay once and own the version you bought. The trial has no time limit, so you can scan as many drives as you like, but you cannot recover anything.

Alternatives to Get Data Back

If you need a completely free recovery tool, consider these options:

• Recuva (Windows) – Free for basic use, with a paid “Professionalâ€� version. The free version can recover up to a certain amount of data (the limit is not clearly documented, but it is sufficient for many users).
• TestDisk & PhotoRec (Windows, Mac, Linux) – Open-source and completely free. PhotoRec recovers files by signature, not by file system, so it works even when the file system is damaged.
• Disk Drill (Windows, Mac) – Free trial recovers up to 500 MB of data. The full version costs around $89.
• EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard – Free version recovers up to 2 GB of data.

These free tools are good for small recoveries, but for large or critical data loss, a paid tool like Get Data Back often has better success rates because it uses deeper file system analysis.

Safety and Best Practices

Data recovery is a delicate process. Follow these safety rules to avoid making things worse:

• Stop using the drive immediately after data loss. Every write operation can overwrite the deleted files.
• Never install recovery software on the drive you are trying to recover.
• Always recover files to a different physical drive. Copying to the same drive risks overwriting.
• If the drive makes clicking noises or is not recognized by the computer, do not run software recovery. Turn it off and consult a professional data recovery service.
• For SSDs, note that TRIM may permanently erase deleted data quickly, so act fast.

If you are dealing with a physically failing drive, software recovery can cause further damage. In that case, professional services are safer, though they can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recover files with the free version of Get Data Back?
No. The free version only scans and previews recoverable files. To actually save them, you need a paid license.

Is there a file size limit in the free version?
No, there is no file size limit. The limitation is that you cannot copy any file, regardless of size, without a license.

Does the free version expire?
No, the trial does not expire. You can use it indefinitely for scanning and previewing, but recovery is locked.

Which Get Data Back version do I need?
It depends on your file system. For Windows system drives (NTFS), choose “Get Data Back for NTFS.� For USB drives, cameras, or older FAT32 drives, choose “Get Data Back for FAT.� For Mac drives, choose “Get Data Back for HFS+.� If you are unsure, the software can detect the file system during installation.

Can I recover data from a formatted drive?
Yes, Get Data Back can scan formatted drives and often recover files, provided the format did not overwrite the data. The free version will show you what is recoverable.

Is Get Data Back safe to use?
Yes, it is a legitimate, well-known tool. It does not modify the source drive during scanning, so it is safe as long as you do not write to the drive you are recovering.

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in t | Finish time | min | 50 | 0
in d | Distance | km | 10 | 0
out pace | Average pace | min/km | t / d | 2
out speed | Average speed | km/h | d / (t / 60) | 2