Tool profile
Recuva: cost, fit and limits
Recuva is a free file recovery program for Windows, made by Piriform under Gen Digital Inc. and distributed through CCleaner, that restores files from drives, memory cards, USB sticks and the Recycle Bin, with a deep scan mode.
What to know first
Recuva is a Windows undelete utility with a free version and a Pro upgrade named on the vendor page. The retrieved page does not show the Pro price or what Pro adds, and free-version limits are not stated. A deep scan mode covers files that are harder to find, and the program lists newly formatted drives, memory cards, USB sticks and MP3 players as sources.
Recuva at a glance
| Maker | Gen Digital Inc., Not stated on the vendor pages |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Entry price | Quote only |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Data Recovery Software in 2026, rank 11 of 13 |
| Website | ccleaner.com/recuva |
Who Recuva is best for
Casual users with a deleted photo
A free Windows version that restores files from the Recycle Bin or a camera card suits a user who accidentally cleared a folder and wants no purchase.
Owners of USB sticks and cards
Memory cards, external hard drives, USB sticks and MP3 players are listed, which covers the removable media where deletions happen most.
Users with a stubborn file
Deep scan mode digs further when a quick scan fails, trading time for a better chance of finding fragments, which suits a file that the first pass simply does not list.
Recuva plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Download of the free version for Windows. Limits on the free version are not stated on the opened page. |
| Recuva Pro | Not published in the retrieved page | Pro upgrade named on the page. Its contents and price were not visible in the content we retrieved. |
| Lost licence key lookup | Free | A support centre lookup for a lost licence key, for buyers who already hold a Pro license. |
Checked November 2026.
What Recuva does
- Recovery from damaged or formatted drives
- Recuva lists files from damaged or newly formatted drives as a supported case, so a quick format does not automatically end the search for a lost folder or photo set.
- Deep scan mode
- A deep scan looks for files that the standard scan does not find, which takes longer but is the step users reach for when results are empty.
- Removable media sources
- The page lists memory cards, external hard drives, USB sticks, MP3 players and digital camera cards as recoverable sources, which are the places where accidental deletions often happen.
- Recycle Bin recovery
- Files emptied from the Recycle Bin are listed as recoverable, the most common everyday case for a Windows user who cleared the bin a moment too soon.
- Licence key lookup
- A support centre page lets customers retrieve a lost licence key, which matters for the Pro upgrade after a reinstall or a move to a new Windows computer.
How Recuva handles your data
The CCleaner general privacy policy names Avast Software s.r.o. in Prague as controller for users in the European Economic Area. The pages we opened do not state whether Recuva usage data trains AI models, how long data is retained, where it is hosted or which certifications apply. The program runs locally on Windows, and recovered files are written to a disk you choose. No AI capability is named on the product page.
Where Recuva falls short in practice
- Pro price and contents unknown. The retrieved page does not show what the Pro upgrade costs or adds, so a buyer cannot judge the upgrade from the vendor pages and has to compare it elsewhere.
- Windows only. The page offers a Windows download and mentions nothing on Mac, Linux or RAID recovery, so it is narrower than most others in the category.
- Free limits unstated. The opened page does not state limits on the free version, so a user must run it to learn whether recovery of a large set is allowed.
Works with
Alternatives to Recuva
Recuva: common questions
Is Recuva free?
The vendor offers a free version for Windows, and a Pro upgrade is named on the page. The retrieved content does not state limits on the free version or show the Pro price, so check the download page for current terms before relying on it.
Which media can Recuva scan?
The page lists memory cards, external hard drives, USB sticks, the Recycle Bin, digital camera cards and MP3 players, as well as damaged or newly formatted drives. It does not list RAID arrays or Mac volumes, so those need other tools.
What is Recuva deep scan?
Deep scan is a mode for files that are harder to find than a standard scan allows. The page does not give technical details or timing. Expect it to take longer, and keep the recovery destination on a different drive from the one being scanned.
Who is the controller of my data for Recuva in Europe?
The CCleaner general privacy policy names Avast Software s.r.o. in Prague as controller for users in the EEA. The product page names Gen Digital Inc. in its copyright line, so the legal chain has two names, and a data protection request should say which entity it addresses.
How do I find a lost Recuva licence key?
The vendor page links to a support centre lookup for a lost licence key, listed as free. It applies to Pro buyers who already hold a license. The retrieved page does not say what identification the lookup needs, so keep your order email ready before using it.