DMDE offers a powerful free data recovery solution with limited features and affordable subscriptions that unlock more functionality. If you’re looking to recover lost photos, videos, or documents, DMDE provides an effective and cost-efficient approach to file restoration. While premium data recovery software can be expensive and doesn’t guarantee success, trying a free option like DMDE is a sensible first step. This review explores DMDE’s performance with HDDs, SSDs, and removable media, as well as its pricing, customer support, privacy, and security.
Specifications
| Feature | DMDE |
|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Devices | 1 (Express, Standard), plus 5 monthly (Professional) |
| Support | |
| Free Version | Yes |
Pricing and Subscription Tiers
DMDE has a powerful free app and affordable pricing for more advanced features.
DMDE’s free version is surprisingly generous. You can recover up to 4,000 files per recovery operation and run unlimited scans. However, the original folder structure isn’t preserved, which can be a significant drawback for organizing recovered files, especially application files.
For a mere $20 annually, the DMDE Express subscription restores both files and folders on a single Windows, DOS, macOS, or Linux computer. This is even more affordable than Recuva, a well-known budget data recovery option.
While the Express subscription is attractive, the Standard lifetime license, priced at $48, offers even greater value with ongoing updates. This essentially equates to 2.4 years of Express, making it a compelling bargain.
For tech-savvy users or those who frequently assist others with data recovery, the $95 Professional license is a worthwhile investment. This lifetime license includes a portable key usable five times per month for recovering files on different machines, allowing for both personal and commercial use.
The Professional Multi-OS license, priced at $133, extends the Professional license capabilities to recover files across Windows, DOS, macOS, and Linux computers. Other licenses are restricted to a single operating system.
Design and User Interface
DMDE has a modern design with resizable windows and a clean layout.
DMDE’s installation is quick and straightforward. The application boasts a modern design with resizable windows and fonts, complemented by a clean, minimalist layout.
Upon launch, DMDE presents a drive selection window, streamlining the recovery process. Options include logical disks, physical disks, and disk images. This window also offers the ability to copy sectors from a damaged drive to a healthy one, preventing further data loss, and even allows for RAID construction.
DMDE incorporates a disk editor, a powerful but potentially risky feature for inexperienced users. Incorrect data modification can render files or folders unreadable. Fortunately, the editor defaults to preview mode, allowing safe exploration. In edit mode, users can modify any byte on the selected drive.
DMDE includes a disk editor, a powerful but dangerous feature.
While DMDE’s comprehensive features are impressive, they might overwhelm users unfamiliar with disk utilities and technical storage terminology. Simpler alternatives like Disk Drill exist, but they come at a higher price.
Features and Performance
DMDE Free quickly found deleted HDD files and showed accurate previews.
HDD recovery tests involved deleting files and folders from an external USB drive partitioned to a 2GB logical drive. DMDE’s full scan successfully located all deleted files, with accurate previews displayed in the preview window. Although the free version prompted an upgrade option, testing continued with the free application.
DMDE
DMDE Free recovered all 55 top-level files with their original filenames but omitted subfolders. In raw file mode, DMDE assigned random filenames while recovering 162 out of 165 files, missing three MP3 files but successfully restoring all images. Due to the free version’s limitations, all recovered images were placed in a single folder, losing the original directory structure.
DMDE recovered my MP3 audio files, image files, and folders.
Upgrading to DMDE Professional resulted in the complete recovery of all files and folders, except for the first letter of each folder name. While this minor issue was easily manageable with a small number of test folders, it could become problematic with numerous nested directories. Recovered image and MP3 files functioned flawlessly, and the original folder structure was preserved. DMDE’s HDD recovery performance rivals leading data recovery software at a fraction of the cost.
DMDE
SSD recovery proved more challenging. While DMDE located all media files and displayed their names, recovery attempts were unsuccessful. A subsequent test involving a deep formatted SSD partition followed by a quick format and file reload yielded no results, with DMDE unable to locate any files. This is unsurprising, as most modern SSDs immediately sanitize deleted data for optimal speed and reliability, making recovery difficult for any data recovery application.
During the DMDE thumb drive scan, I paused to check the preview.
A final test involved a thumb drive requiring repair according to Windows. The lengthy full scan was conveniently paused using DMDE’s pause feature, allowing for a preview of the files recovered up to that point. Users can choose to restore the partially recovered files or continue the scan.
Customer Support
DMDE customer support is via email, which is fine for such a low-cost app.
DMDE offers customer support exclusively via email through a simple web form. A test inquiry regarding the difficulty of SSD recovery received a helpful response within a day. For quicker assistance, users can consult the limited support center or the online manual. Considering the free and low-cost nature of the software, it’s reasonable not to expect 24/7 live chat support offered by pricier alternatives like EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Pro.
Privacy and Security
DMDE processes files locally without uploading them, eliminating the risk of personal data exposure. The free version can be installed and used anonymously. Paid subscriptions and licenses require name and payment details, prompting a review of DMDE’s security. The privacy policy appears sound, and no data breaches were found. Sharing the limited information required for purchase feels safe.
Conclusion: Is DMDE Right for You?
DMDE is a compelling data recovery solution, particularly for technically inclined users who appreciate advanced features and customization options, even if it adds complexity. The ability to edit individual disk bytes exemplifies this power. While this review focused on the Windows version, DMDE also offers macOS and Linux versions, with the Professional Multi-OS license supporting all three platforms. The free version’s ability to recover unlimited data in 4,000-file batches makes it ideal for tight budgets. The $20 annual Express subscription adds folder recovery, preserving directory structures. DMDE is recommended for tech-comfortable users. The free version allows for thorough testing, while the lifetime Standard or Professional licenses offer the best value for paid options.
