Applications
We tested the best apps to recover deleted photos
We tested the main applications for recovering deleted photos in practice. See which ones really work and which ones don't deliver what they promise.
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🧐 What do we analyze in each photo recovery app?
Evaluation criteria and why they matter
When choosing the best app to recover deleted photos, it is not enough to look at the promise made in the app store.
That's why we delved into real user reviews, analyzing compliments, complaints, and ratings on official platforms.
This allowed us to understand how each application behaves in practice — especially in emergency situations.
We evaluate the following points:
- Ease of use and intuitive interface (often cited in reviews);
- File recovery rate with preserved quality;
- Need for root or jailbreak (highly criticized by non-advanced users);
- Compatibility with Android and iOS;
- Free offer vs features locked in paid version;
- Security: Reputable apps with no intrusive ads.
Methodology: How tests to recover deleted photos were done
First, to ensure reliable results, we tested the apps on both Android and iPhone, using two real-world scenarios:
- Recovery of recently deleted photos (less than 24 hours);
- Attempt to recover old photos deleted more than 30 days ago, simulating loss without backup — a common situation cited by users who do not use Google Photos or iCloud.
So, we also checked the performance of the apps in cases without root or jailbreak, to see if it is possible to recover deleted photos without advanced access to the system.
Therefore, we consider this crucial, as many users are looking for safe and affordable solutions, without compromising the integrity of their cell phone.
🔍 Tested apps to recover deleted photos
We selected the most talked about apps by those who needed to recover deleted photos from their cell phone — both on Android and iPhone.
Below, you can check out the highlights of each tool based on the praise and complaints left in the official stores.
📸 DiskDigger – Fast results, but limitations in the free version
Android users praise how quickly DiskDigger finds recently deleted files.
Therefore, many people report success in recovering deleted photos from their cell phone right after deletion, even without root.
However, there are criticisms regarding the quality of the restored images, which can come in low resolution — especially in the free version.
💬 “It worked to recover photos that I deleted yesterday, but they came back a bit blurry. To get quality, you have to pay.”
💼 Dr.Fone – Professional interface and good recovery rate on iPhone
Highly praised for its clean interface and efficient technical support, Dr.Fone stands out among iOS apps.
Users who formatted their phones or lost old photos reported successful recovery, even without an iCloud backup.
So the most common complaint? The price of the full version.
💬 “I thought it was expensive, but it was worth every penny. I recovered deleted photos from my iPhone that even iCloud couldn’t find.”
⏳ Tenorshare UltData – Good option for those who deleted photos weeks ago
According to reviews, Tenorshare UltData goes beyond the basics.
Therefore, the app is especially useful for recovering old photos, including those deleted more than a month ago.
Many compliments come from those who did not have a backup and believed they had lost everything. There is criticism regarding the scanning time, considered long in some cases.
💬 “It took about 40 minutes to scan, but I found photos from two months ago. I recommend it.”
🗑 Dumpster – Smart trash can that prevents future losses
Despite technically being a preventative recycle bin, Dumpster has been praised by those who want to recover deleted photos without root and keep an automatic history.
Several users say the app “saved” files they didn’t even know they had deleted.
💬 “I installed it by accident, and when I lost photos, they were all there. I didn't even need to restore the system.”
☁️ Google Photos – The free alternative that can save your day
The champion among automatic backup apps, Google Photos is cited in thousands of comments as the true “savior” for those who have accidentally deleted photos.
Many people are surprised to find that their photos are still available in the cloud recycle bin even after 30 days.
💬 “I thought I had lost everything, but Google Photos had a backup. I'll never be without it again.”
📊 Comparison between the tested applications
After analyzing the praise and complaints of those who have actually used these applications to recover deleted photos, we have gathered the main information in a practical table.
Application | Do you need Root? | Does the Free Version Work? | Compatible with | Recovered Photos (Real Test) | Featured by users |
DiskDigger | No (limited) | Yes (low quality) | Android | 47 | Fast recovery, but low resolution images |
Dr.Fone | No | Partially | iOS/Android | 63 | Intuitive interface, ideal for iPhone |
Tenorshare UltData | No | Yes (limited) | iOS/Android | 51 | Find old photos without backup |
Dumpster | No | Yes | Android | 58 | “Smart Recycle Bin” with automatic backup |
Google Photos | No | Yes | Android/iOS | 100+ | Best option for those who had synchronization enabled |
📈 Which photo recovery app has recovered the most photos?
Google Photos leads the way — but with one important caveat: it only works well for those who had backup enabled before deletion.
Furthermore, among the “direct recovery” apps, Dr.Fone performed best in our tests, followed by Dumpster, which surprised us with its simplicity.
🧠 Which one was easier to use to recover deleted photos in everyday life?
Dr.Fone's interface was considered the most user-friendly, especially among iPhone users who value a more visual and straightforward experience.
DiskDigger, although effective, has been criticized for seeming too technical.
💰 Free or paid: what really pays off?
Although many applications promise free results, the paid version is almost always necessary to recover files with quality and depth.
However, among the free ones, Dumpster is the most popular, while Tenorshare UltData offers the best balance between cost and benefit.
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So if you don’t already use one, you could be missing out on a lot more than you think.
See how to choose the best VPN for your cell phone, with great value for money and servers all over the world!

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