Tool profile
TestDisk: cost, fit and limits
TestDisk is a free, open source data recovery utility that repairs partition tables and boot sectors, recovers deleted partitions and undeletes files on FAT, exFAT, NTFS and ext2/3/4, and runs on DOS, Windows, Linux, BSD, SunOS and macOS X.
What to know first
TestDisk is distributed under the GNU General Public License version 2 or later, so there is no price and no paid edition on the opened wiki page. It works at the partition and file system structure level, which makes it the tool for a disk that suddenly shows the wrong size or no partition. The wiki does not name the developer or a country.
TestDisk at a glance
| Maker | Not stated on the vendor pages, 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 8 of 13 |
| Website | cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk |
Who TestDisk is best for
Users with a vanished partition
TestDisk finds and restores lost partitions and fixes the partition table, which is the first step when a disk shows as unallocated.
Linux and BSD administrators
Support for ext2, ext3 and ext4 backup superblocks and for many Unix-like systems suits administrators who live in a terminal.
Zero-budget users
The software and the source code are free under the GPL, so a student or a charity can use it for any number of drives without a license key.
TestDisk plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free download | Free | Licensed under the GNU GPL v2 or later, running on DOS, Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, SunOS and macOS X. |
| Source code | Free | Available under the GNU General Public License, so users can inspect, build and modify it. |
| Paid editions | Not published | The opened wiki page lists no paid edition, commercial support contract or hosted service of any kind. |
Checked November 2026.
What TestDisk does
- Partition table repair
- TestDisk fixes the partition table and recovers deleted partitions, which brings back a whole volume with its files in one step when it succeeds, instead of recovering files one by one.
- Boot sector rebuild
- The tool rebuilds FAT and NTFS boot sectors and repairs FAT tables, and it can repair the NTFS Master File Table from its mirror copy, a common fix for an NTFS volume that no longer mounts.
- ext backup superblocks
- For Linux file systems, TestDisk locates ext2, ext3 and ext4 backup superblocks, which allows a damaged volume to mount again when the primary superblock has been overwritten or corrupted.
- File undelete and copy
- Files can be undeleted and copied from FAT, exFAT, NTFS and ext2/3/4 partitions to another disk without rebuilding the partition first, which is the quick route when the file system still lists the files.
- Broad platform reach
- The program runs on DOS, Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, SunOS and macOS X, which is a wider range of operating systems than any commercial tool in this category lists on its pages.
How TestDisk handles your data
TestDisk is local software released under the GPL, and the opened wiki page does not describe a hosted service. Data handling in the sense of retention, hosting region or AI training therefore does not apply to the program itself, and no certification is stated. Files you recover are written by the program to a disk you choose. The page names no AI capability. Website analytics and the project's own data practices were not checked for this entry.
Where TestDisk falls short in practice
- No paid support. The opened page lists no support plan or commercial edition, so help comes from the project's documentation and community resources, with no service agreement to rely on.
- Limited file systems. Supported file systems on the page are FAT, exFAT, NTFS and ext2/3/4, so APFS, HFS+ and RAID recovery are not covered by the page, and a user with those layouts needs a different tool.
- Project owner unnamed. The page does not name the developer or a country, which matters for a buyer who needs to know who stands behind a tool before relying on it for important data.
Works with
Alternatives to TestDisk
TestDisk: common questions
Is TestDisk really free?
Yes. The wiki page states it is open source under the GNU GPL v2 or later and lists no price, no paid edition and no support plan. The source code is free as well, so there is no license key or trial period to manage.
What can TestDisk repair?
It fixes partition tables, recovers deleted partitions, rebuilds FAT and NTFS boot sectors, repairs FAT tables and the NTFS Master File Table from its mirror, and locates ext2, ext3 and ext4 backup superblocks. It can also undelete files from the listed file systems.
Which systems does TestDisk run on?
The wiki lists DOS, Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, SunOS and macOS X. That covers most desktops and servers, but a Mac drive formatted with APFS, or an array needing RAID rebuilding, is not described on the opened page and may need another tool.
Does TestDisk use AI?
No AI capability is named on the opened page. The tool works by reading partition and file system structures, as the feature list describes. Treat any AI claim about it as unverified unless a vendor page you open says so.
Who makes TestDisk?
The opened wiki page names the TestDisk Team but does not name a developer, company or country, so those facts are not stated on the vendor pages. The software is licensed under the GPL, which lets anyone inspect and rebuild the source.