@spiderweb0 If I'm not mistaken, both have a free/trial version, so I'd just give them both a shot. See what they find, recover a few files, and compare the results. If you hit the free limit, then you can decide which Pro version is worth paying for.

Hi, @spiderweb0! How important are your files? and what RAW format are we talking about exactly? Are you working with CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF, DNG, or another RAW format?

The reason I'm asking is that recovery results can vary depending on the file type. Most recovery tools do a decent job with common formats like JPEGs, but RAW files are a bit trickier. Some programs are better at recovering camera-specific RAW files, while others might find them but bring them back corrupted or without previews.

I’ve tried both tools, and dare I say there is a clear winner for me.

I had better results with Disk Drill. The interface is simpler, file previews are easier to work with, and in a few SD card and external drive recoveries I did, it found more usable files. That's not to say it's perfect, but it was the one I ended up sticking with.

EaseUS has a somewhat mixed reputation. It’s a legitimate tool, not malware, of course. I gave it a try a few times, but the experience wasn't great. The software felt very pushy with upgrade prompts, and I wasn't impressed with the recovery results compared to other tools I've used. If you browse forums and review sites, you'll also find quite a few complaints about subscriptions, refunds, and customer support. On the other hand, some people swear by it, so experiences clearly vary. Here is an example, ppl on Reddit can be absolutely brutal - https://www.reddit.com/r/software/comments/1jqey4j/why_i_think_easeus_is_absolute_garbage/

Just to add some actual numbers since opinions only go so far. I tested both tools with a Deep Scan on a corrupted 32GB SD card (pretty similar to OP's situation). Disk Drill finished in about 25 minutes, while EaseUS took almost an hour on the exact same card. Both found the CR2 files, but Disk Drill recovered more of them without broken previews or corrupted images. If you're looking for a file recovery tool and don't want to spend forever waiting for a scan, that's definitely something to keep in mind, especially with large RAW files.

Welcome, @spiderweb0! I think @phillyjohn is asking the right question. Before choosing any recovery software, it helps to know exactly what file types you're trying to recover. RAW formats like CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF, and DNG can produce very different recovery results depending on the tool. For example, Disk Drill tends to perform a bit better on FAT32 and exFAT cards (common on SD cards), while EaseUS has stronger NTFS support. Since you're dealing with an SD card, that slightly favors Disk Drill for your specific situation, though both should be able to scan it.

I wouldn't call either tool a bad choice. Personally, I agree with @user1's suggestion to test both tools first. Since both offer trial/free versions, you can scan the card, check what they find, and, most importantly, verify whether your RAW files preview correctly before spending any money.

If you're still unsure what to choose, I'd recommend reading a few detailed reviews and comparisons before making a decision. We have reviewed both Disk Drill and EaseUS in depth, including their recovery performance, RAW file support, previews, pricing, and extra features. 

Thanks for the replies!

@bryan That's probably what I'll do. I didn't realize I could learn that much just from the scan results and previews. It makes more sense to compare what each tool actually finds on my card before committing to a purchase.

@phillyjohn The files are CR2 photos from a Canon camera. I hadn't considered that the RAW format itself could affect recovery results, so thanks for pointing that out.

@datarecoverexpert Thanks for the detailed explanation. My card became unreadable and started asking to be formatted, so it sounds like my situation is closer to corruption than simple deletion. I'll definitely check a few reviews and comparisons before I decide.

@ryan404 People on Reddit can be overly negative and so-so dramatic, lmao. I used EaseUs a couple of times and didn’t have any issues whatsoever. That said, I only tried a free version, idk how good their paid plans are. Also @OP these tools aren’t your only options. While I was searching for a tool myself, I found a pretty informative vid on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09J-bPQEa8c

Well, for a complete newbie to recovery, Disk Drill was surprisingly easy to use. I was honestly kinda nervous I'd click the wrong thing and worsen it, lol. Turned out I was worrying for nothing. Disk Drill has a really user-friendly interface, and the guided recovery process pretty much tells you what to do at every step. I'd say no technical skills are required, so it's definitely good recovery software for beginners. From what I could see, EaseUS seems to have a pretty similar recovery process too.

Quote from SpiderWEB0 on July 13, 2026, 2:18 pm

Thanks for the replies!

@bryan That's probably what I'll do. I didn't realize I could learn that much just from the scan results and previews. It makes more sense to compare what each tool actually finds on my card before committing to a purchase.

@phillyjohn The files are CR2 photos from a Canon camera. I hadn't considered that the RAW format itself could affect recovery results, so thanks for pointing that out.

@datarecoverexpert Thanks for the detailed explanation. My card became unreadable and started asking to be formatted, so it sounds like my situation is closer to corruption than simple deletion. I'll definitely check a few reviews and comparisons before I decide.

Oh, I see… I think, Disk Drill handles CR2/CR3 files better than EaseUs, at least from what I heard online. I think there is even a guide on their site https://www.cleverfiles.com/howto/cr2-file-recovery.html 

I agree with @justmike. I've used both. EaseUS isn't nearly as bad as some Reddit posts make it sound, but I do think Disk Drill is generally stronger when memory cards are involved. If both scans find your photos, I'd compare the previews before deciding. If one tool can display the CR3 files correctly and the previews look normal (no missing areas, corruption, strange colors, or other issues), that's usually a very good sign. In most cases, if the preview is intact, the file itself is recoverable and should open normally after recovery.

On the other hand, if previews are broken or don't work at all, I'd be a lot less confident about the final recovery result, regardless of how many files the scan claims to have found.

A quick note, @spiderweb0. Since the SD card is asking to be formatted, don't rush into fixing it. Recover the files first.

Here is the safest order:

1. Stop using the SD card immediately.
2. Do not format it, even if Windows or the camera asks you to.
3. Do not run CHKDSK, First Aid, repair tools, or partition tools on it yet.
4. Connect the SD card to your computer through a reliable card reader.
5. Check whether the card appears with the correct capacity in Disk Management on Windows or Disk Utility on Mac.
6. If it shows the correct size, scan it with recovery software.
7. Check whether your photos preview correctly.
8. Recover the files to another drive, not back to the same SD card.
9. Open several recovered photos and make sure they are usable.
10. Only after that, format the SD card and test it, or replace it if it keeps showing errors.

If the card does not show up at all, shows the wrong size, disconnects during scanning, or makes the computer freeze, stop trying software recovery. At that point it may be a hardware problem, and a recovery lab is the safer option.

Check this - https://www.handyrecovery.com/sd-card-needs-to-be-formatted/

@spiderweb0

I’m a photographer and I actually had to recover CR2 files before. I had a good experience with Disk Drill.

In my case, the SD card developed file system corruption after a transfer. A couple of the CR3 files became inaccessible, and Windows started reporting errors when I tried to access the card. It's not exactly the same situation as yours, but file system corruption can definitely lead to format prompts and inaccessible RAW photos.

Disk Drill was able to find the CR2 files and preview them correctly. The recovered photos opened normally in Lightroom afterward, so I got almost everything back.

One thing I'd pay attention to is the preview. If a tool can display your CR2 files correctly before recovery, that's usually a very good sign.

That said, I didn't try EaseUS in that situation, so I can't really compare the two or say how well EaseUS would have performed.

@nikaredko Thanks for the step-by-step guide. I checked Disk Management, and the card is still showing the correct capacity. I also haven't formatted it or run any repair tools, so hopefully everything is Ok.

@zensoul Thanks for the article. I gave it a read, and it seems pretty consistent with the advice I'm getting here.

@its_alive That's reassuring to hear. My situation sounds pretty similar, except the card started asking to be formatted before I could notice any file issues. It's good to know that someone managed to recover Canon RAW files after file system corruption.

I'm going to run a couple of scans tonight and compare the results. I'll post an update once I know whether the photos are actually recoverable.

@spiderweb0

Good luck! Hopefully everything will turn out well.

Just wanted to post an update in case someone finds this thread in the future.

I followed the advice here and didn't format the card or run any repair tools. The card was still showing up with the correct capacity, so I tried a couple of recovery programs and compared the results.

In the end, I went with Disk Drill. It found all of my CR2 files, the previews looked normal, and the recovered photos opened correctly afterward. I recovered everything I needed to a different drive and only then reformatted the SD card.

A big thank you to everyone who replied, especially for pointing out the importance of previews and for explaining that RAW format support can vary between recovery tools. I probably would have rushed into formatting the card otherwise.

For anyone wondering which is better Disk Drill or EaseUS, I can only share my experience. Since I recovered everything I needed with Disk Drill, I never actually purchased or tested the paid version of EaseUS, so I can't compare them directly. In my case, Disk Drill had an excellent recovery success rate and recovered almost all of my RAW photos without any issues. I can definitely see why many people recommend it as one of the best data recovery software options and as a solid EaseUS alternative.

Hopefully this helps someone else dealing with a memory card that suddenly asks to be formatted.