Freedom251 › Data recovery software
DiskWarrior
by DiskWarrior
What DiskWarrior is
DiskWarrior is paid macOS software that rebuilds damaged Mac disk directories using recovered directory data to restore access to files and folders. It optimizes and verifies the replacement directory and uses a fail-safe replacement method intended to protect against interruptions. A preview lets you inspect the expected repaired disk before writing changes, while S.M.A.R.T. monitoring can warn of possible hardware malfunction. DiskWarrior 5 supports Mac OS Extended disks, including journaled, case-sensitive, and encrypted variants. Recovery sources include internal and external volumes, Fusion Drives, Flash or SSD drives, Time Machine volumes, RAID volumes, disk images, and FileVault volumes. It supports Intel and Apple Silicon Macs and bootable recovery. APFS and Windows-formatted drives are unsupported, and deleted, reformatted, or overwritten data cannot be recovered. Pricing starts at $59.95.
Who it suits
It suits Mac users repairing supported Mac OS Extended disks, including RAID, Fusion, Time Machine, and FileVault volumes. It does not suit APFS or Windows-formatted drives.
What it does well
- Preview repairs before writing changes
- Supports RAID, Fusion, and Time Machine volumes
- Works on Intel and Apple Silicon Macs
- Bootable recovery and file preview
- Free technical support is listed
What to know first
- APFS disks are unsupported
- Deleted or overwritten data cannot be recovered
- No free trial; sales are final
- One computer at a time
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| New copy | Immediate download · DiskWarrior USB flash drive | On request |
| Upgrade | Upgrade from DiskWarrior 4.x | $59.95 a month |
| DiskWarrior 5 — upgrade | $59.95 USD plus s&h · For owners of earlier DiskWarrior versions | $59.95, paid once |
| DiskWarrior 5 — new copy | One-time purchase; price not stated on the opened page · Single computer at a time · Mac OS Extended (HFS Plus) disks · APFS not supported | On request |
As alsoft.com lists them, read 22 Sept 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
DiskWarrior offers directory rebuilding and safety checks for supported Mac OS Extended storage. Confirm the disk format and recovery need first, especially because APFS and deleted-data recovery are excluded.
Facts from DiskWarrior's own pages
- Bootable recovery
- Yes · alsoft.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Directory optimization
- It optimizes the replacement directory for directory performance. · alsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Drive monitoring
- DiskWarrior can use a drive’s S.M.A.R.T. technology to warn of possible hardware malfunction. · alsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 1984 · alsoft.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Hardware support
- The product supports Intel and Apple Silicon Macs and directly connected configurations including Fusion Drives, RAID volumes, FileVaults, and Time Machine volumes. · alsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Included items
- A new purchase includes immediate download, a DiskWarrior USB flash drive, and printed startup instructions. · alsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- License limit
- The software may be installed or run on only one computer at a time; another simultaneous computer requires another purchased copy. · alsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- macOS limits
- The macOS startup disk cannot be rebuilt when it is an APFS-formatted SSD; supported external disks can be rebuilt on macOS Tahoe 26 when formatted with a supported file system. · alsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Maker history
- Alsoft says it was founded in 1984 by two former Apple employees and currently produces DiskWarrior. · alsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Not supported
- APFS and Windows-formatted drives are not supported, and DiskWarrior cannot recover deleted, reformatted, or overwritten data. · alsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Operating systems
- macOS / OS X,including OS X Mountain Lion through macOS Tahoe for supported external Mac OS Extended disks · alsoft.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Preview
- Its patented preview feature lets users inspect the expected repaired disk before changes are written. · alsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- File preview
- Yes · alsoft.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Purpose
- DiskWarrior rebuilds damaged Mac disk directories using data recovered from the original directory to restore access to files and folders. · alsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- RAID recovery
- Yes · alsoft.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Repair safety
- DiskWarrior verifies rebuilt directories and uses a fail-safe replacement method intended to protect against interruptions such as power loss. · alsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Recovery sources
- Mac OS Extended volumes; internal and external volumes; Fusion Drives; Flash/SSD drives; Time Machine volumes; RAID volumes; disk images; FileVault volumes · alsoft.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Paid from
- 59.95 · alsoft.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Support
- Alsoft says technical support is free and its technicians may remotely recover data from a Mac-formatted disk when automatic recovery fails. · alsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Supported file system
- DiskWarrior 5 supports Mac OS Extended (HFS Plus) disks, including journaled, case-sensitive, and encrypted variants. · alsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Trial
- Alsoft states that DiskWarrior has no free trial and that all sales are final. · alsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
Where DiskWarrior stands on Freedom251
- Data recovery software#125 of 128