Choosing the right data recovery software has become increasingly important as data loss scenarios grow more varied and complex. Accidental file deletion, formatted drives, corrupted storage devices, and system crashes are common issues for both individual users and businesses. Independent evaluations help users understand how recovery tools perform beyond feature lists, and a recent PCMag review – where Stellar Data Recovery received an “excellent” 4.0 rating – offers useful insights into this space.
PCMag is widely recognized for its independent, hands-on testing methodology. In its review, the publication evaluates Stellar Data Recovery across key parameters, such as ease of use, recovery capabilities, scan depth, and data safety, placing the software within the broader landscape of Windows data recovery tools.
User Experience and Recovery Workflow
As per the review by PCMag, Stellar Data Recovery has a systematic and guided recovery procedure. Users are assisted through the selection of devices, scanning options, and previewing of files before the actual recovery starts. This systematic procedure makes it easier for users, even those who are not tech-savvy and lack experience in data recovery.
For users looking for data recovery software that is easy to use, this guided procedure can prove to be very helpful in minimizing mistakes during the recovery process.
PCMag’s verdict summarizes this experience clearly:
“Data recovery can be a pain, but Stellar Data Recovery takes most of that pain away. Keep this app for a rainy day of data recovery.”

Supported Storage Devices and File Types
The next aspect of the review is the support of storage devices and file types. According to PCMag, Stellar Data Recovery supports the recovery of data from internal hard drives, external hard drives, SSDs, USB flash drives, and memory cards. This is very useful for users who are dealing with data from multiple storage devices.
PCMag’s evaluation discusses the availability of both quick scan and deep scan options. Quick scans are meant for files that have been deleted recently, while deep scans are meant for more complex scenarios of data loss, such as formatted drives.
This multi-layer scanning mechanism enables users to strike a balance between the speed of scanning and the comprehensiveness of scanning, which is often expected while testing professional data recovery software.
Data Safety and Non-Destructive Recovery
The review also covers data safety, pointing out that Stellar Data Recovery carries out scans in a read-only mode. This is a great way to ensure that there is no overwriting of data, a best practice in data recovery.
For users who are concerned about protecting the remaining data while trying to recover it, non-destructive scanning is an important factor while choosing the right data recovery software.
Independent Review of Data Recovery Software
Instead of reviewing the software in a vacuum, PCMag chooses to position the Stellar Data Recovery software in the larger context of contemporary data recovery software. The review represents the expectations that users have from a reliable data recovery software.
The complete review by PCMag can be found here:
https://me.pcmag.com/en/disaster-recovery/34837/stellar-data-recovery-review
Independent reviews such as this one are very useful to users who are trying to make informed decisions about which data recovery software to trust. PCMag’s assessment, backed by its “Excellent” rating, provides third-party validation of how Stellar Data Recovery performs in real-world recovery scenarios.