6 Best SD Card Data Recovery Services

Need an SD card recovery service but not sure which one to choose? When your SD card is damaged, corrupted, or formatted, a good service can make all the difference. While data recovery software can handle simple cases, professional services are often the best option for more serious issues or when your data is especially valuable.

We put together this guide to help you find a reliable and safe SD card recovery company so you can get your data back without all the guesswork.

How Should I Choose an SD Card Data Recovery Service?

You might only get one chance to recover your valuable information, so you want to be sure the damaged storage device is in good hands. To help you make the best choice, we’ve outlined the key factors to consider—and we made sure to evaluate all of these when selecting the companies for this list, so you can trust they provide dependable SD card recovery service.

• 🧽 Cleanroom certifications – A reputable data recovery lab uses cleanrooms to protect your SD card during recovery. These facilities should meet industry standards like ISO-14644-1 Class 5 or Class 10, verified through annual certifications. Look for certifications listed on the company’s website or ask them directly.
• 🏆 Range of services – In addition to recovering the data from your damaged SD card, the recovery center should provide services such as secure destruction of the original media. You should get your data back on new media that is compatible with your computer or mobile device.
• 🏅 Recovery success rate – Established data recovery centers should be able to provide statistics on their success rate. Look for a company with a success rate of 90% or better, although it can be hard to confirm these numbers. Reputable providers are usually transparent about their recovery rates and methodologies, but it’s always a good idea to check reviews or ask for references to verify their claims.
• 💾 Familiarity with your device type – Make sure the service has experience with your specific type of SD card, whether it’s a microSD, SDHC, or SDXC. Some labs specialize in other storage devices like hard drives and may not be as skilled with SD cards. Don’t hesitate to ask if they’ve worked on similar cases before.
• 🧭 Location – Most SD card recovery companies will provide clear instructions on how to ship them your card. You also may be able to find a quality memory card recovery service nearby. This can save you a lot of time and money, as you can drop it off and pick it up yourself.
• 💲 Pricing – Avoid companies that advertise flat per-gigabyte recovery fees. SD card recovery varies based on the complexity of the damage and the data being recovered. Reliable services provide clear quotes after assessment. Most also offer a no-recovery, no-fee guarantee, so you only pay if they successfully recover your data.
• 💬 Customer reviews – Check online reviews, but approach them with caution. This does not mean that they should be completely ignored. An SD card recovery service that consistently gets poor user reviews or complaints should probably be avoided. Look for services with a strong history of satisfied customers and high ratings.

DIY Data Recovery Software vs SD Card Data Recovery Services

As we mentioned earlier, DIY recovery is an option you can try at home. To make this work, you’ll need to download specialized data recovery software, but your SD card also must be in good enough shape for your computer to detect it. If your computer can’t recognize the card (and we mean recognize in Disk Management, not File Explorer), the software won’t help, there is really no other option than to find a reputable data recovery company and let them recover your SD card data.

If your memory card is still accessible through a card reader or directly from your device, recovery software offers a less expensive alternative. These tools are straightforward and allow anyone with basic computer skills to recover lost or deleted files.

The first step is to connect your SD card to your computer using a card reader. Once connected, open Disk Management on your computer (you can search for it in the Start menu on Windows or use Disk Utility on macOS). Look at the bottom of the list for your SD card. If it shows up, it means your computer recognizes the card, and you have a chance to recover your files at home.

You may be able to find a free SD data recovery solution or a trial of a commercial product that can recover small amounts of data. Generally, for a more extensive recovery, you will need to obtain a paid license from the software vendor. But even paid recovery software will almost always be the cheaper option compared to professional services.

Best 6 Memory Card Recovery Services

Let’s look at six of the best memory card recovery services you can find on the Internet.

1. ACE Data Recovery

Ace Data Recovery, also known as the CleverFiles Data Recovery Center, offers a full range of data recovery services. They have been in business for over 30 years and have demonstrated technical expertise and established a solid reputation for reliability and successful SD card data recovery.

🧰 Features:

• Ace Data Recovery operates using Class 100 (ISO-14644-1 Class 5) clean rooms that are very close to being Class 10 equivalent during production. They are a Microsoft Registered Partner, with extensive experience performing Microsoft Exchange® and Microsoft SQL® database recoveries.
• Ace recovers data from all types of storage devices including all varieties of SD cards. They also recover data from RAID arrays, SSD drives, hard drives, and tape media. Recovery operations are performed in-house on image copies made with proprietary Direct-Drive Access Reader (DDA Reader™) technology to prevent further damage to the media.
• Ace is headquartered in Dallas, Texas with recovery labs in Dallas, Houston, and Chicago. They have over 30 service centers spread out over the U.S. and Canada.
• Free 24/7 phone consultation is available for price estimates and a discussion of recovery probability.
• Devices can be shipped to Ace or dropped off at one of their service centers.
• Your data will be returned to you on a flash drive or external hard drive.
• Onsite emergency recovery services are available.
• A no data, no charge commitment is in place if recovery is unsuccessful.
• Ace has an over 98% rate of successful recoveries, one of the highest success rates in the industry.

2. Secure Data Recovery

Secure Data Recovery has been helping customers recover lost data from damaged storage devices since 2007 during which time the company has built a reputation as a trusted data recovery service. They have multiple industry-specific certifications that demonstrate the skill and capabilities of their employees and recovery facilities.

🧰 Features:

• Secure has over 50 recovery centers located through the U.S, Canada, Mexico, the U.K., and Australia.
• Secure advertises a 96% success rate in recovering data from all types of devices and operating systems.
• Recovery solutions for all major SD card brands, including SanDisk, Samsung, and Kingston.
• The data recovery company holds multiple certifications including Certified Class 10 ISO 4 Cleanrooms, SSAE 18 Type II SOC 1, 2, and 3 Certification.
• Data is protected with standards that enforce PCI-DSS and HIPAA Compliance.
• The company promises a fast turnaround time on all data recovery activities.
• Secure has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
• As a corporate member of the Professional Photographers of America (PPA), they also offer discounts to PPA members in over 50 countries.
• No data, no recovery fee guarantee.

3. Platinum Data Recovery

Platinum Data Recovery has experience with all types of SD cards and has the expertise to recover data from your damaged media. The company was established in 1996 by two brothers dealing with a damaged hard drive. From that humble beginning, Platinum has become a reputable data recovery company with a history of performing successful recoveries in the Los Angeles area.

🧰 Features:

• Platinum offers 24/7 emergency assistance for priority data recovery scenarios.
• Recoveries are performed in a certified ISO 5 Class 100 cleanroom.
• State-of-the-art techniques and equipment are used when recovering clients’ data.
• Platinum Data Recovery boasts a 94% success rate in complex data loss situations across a wide range of SD card brands.
• Handles discrete and monolithic types of SD cards. For discrete cards, they use chip-off recovery, while for monolithic designs, they perform delicate processes like resin abrasion and direct probe-point access.
• Free price estimates and diagnostics are offered with no charge for an unsuccessful recovery.

4. Ontrack Data Recovery

Ontrack Data Recovery was formed in 1987 and has grown to become a company performing an average of 50,000 data recoveries annually. They have expertise in all types of storage devices including SD cards. The company operates three recovery centers in the U.S. and has centers in close to 20 countries around the world.

🧰 Features:

• The company offers the Ontrack Verifiable report which lists the recoverable files before you pay for the recovery.
• With nearly four decades in the industry, Ontrack has recovered over 120 petabytes of data and served over a million customers.
• Ontrack has performed over 600,00 recoveries with an average success rate of 90%.
• Multiple service levels are offered at varying prices to accommodate customers’ recovery timeframes.
• Highly secure data centers and recovery procedures are implemented to fully protect customer data.

5. DRIVESAVERS Data Recovery

DRIVESAVERS has been in business since 1985 and is recognized as a top memory card recovery service. They were the first company to recover lost images from digital cameras successfully and work with top brands like Canon, Kodak, Nikon, Olympus, and Sony. They provide services in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia.

🧰 Features:

• DRIVESAVERS uses ISO 5 Class 100 cleanrooms to safely handle damaged or delicate memory cards.
• Their expertise extends to logical failures, physical damage, and advanced NAND flash issues.
• Free evaluation and “No Data, No Fee”, so you only pay if your data is successfully recovered.
• DRIVESAVERS offers three service tiers: Priority for immediate recovery 24/7, Standard for completion within 1-2 business days, and Economy for budget-friendly options with a 5-7 business day turnaround (10-14 for smart devices).

6. Gillware Data Recovery

Gillware was founded in 2004 under the premise that data recovery should not be prohibitively expensive. From a small two-man operation, they have grown to perform over 15,000 recoveries a year. The company is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and accepts shipment of damaged storage media from around the world.

🧰 Features:

• As partners with Western Digital and Dell, Gillware has extensive expertise with their hardware.
• Gillware uses specialized and proprietary data recovery software and methods to recover as much lost information as possible.
• Has expertise in recovering data even from monolithic SD cards and damaged NAND chips.
• Recovery costs are controlled through the use of flexible ISO-5 certified horizontal flow Class-100 workstations rather than a single dedicated cleanroom.
• Emergency data recovery services are available.
• Free data recovery evaluation and a firm price let you know how much the process will cost before you commit to Gillware.
• Certified data security has been demonstrated with a successful SOC 2 Type II security audit.

Other Memory Card Recovery Services to Consider

Before we wrap up, we wanted to mention several other options for memory card recovery. These options are often brought up on Reddit, where many users share their experiences and give positive reviews. These SD card recovery companies may not have as many years under their belt as some of our top picks or as many locations worldwide, but they still provide excellent services for SD card recovery and have proven their reliability.

SERT Data Recovery

SERT Data Recovery, in West Palm Beach, Florida, has quickly built a reputation as a reliable provider of SD card recovery services. While their main lab is based in Florida, 75–80% of their cases come from customers across the country who mail in their devices. SERT has become one of the top data recovery firms in the U.S.

🧰 Features:

• Uses ISO 5 Class 100 certified cleanroom for sensitive storage media and safe recovery process.
• SERT specializes in recovering data from SD cards, RAID arrays, SSDs, hard drives, flash drives, and more. Their team handles cases of logical errors, physical damage, and advanced issues like NAND chip failures or monolithic SD cards.
• Their lab uses equipment from leading engineers like DeepSpar and Ace Laboratory.
• Provides a no-obligation evaluation to assess your device and determine the chances of recovery.
• Customers receive a clear price quote upfront, with no hidden fees.
• Clients are kept informed at every stage of the recovery process through live chat, email, and phone support.
• SERT offers service tiers, including expedited options for urgent cases, and provides free return shipping for standard recovery services.

DATATECH Labs

DATATECH Labs is a good choice for professional data recovery, offering services for SD cards, hard drives, RAID arrays, and more. Based in Denver, Colorado, they provide affordable recovery solutions tailored to individuals, businesses, and government agencies across the United States. With a claimed 96% success rate, DATATECH Labs has become a trusted name in the industry.

🧰 Features:

• Recoveries are performed in a certified ISO 5 Class 100 cleanroom.
• DATATECH Labs uses non-invasive technology to recover data. Their proprietary methods can retrieve data from devices often deemed unrecoverable.
• Services available across the U.S. with convenient mail-in options.
• Free evaluations and upfront quotes. Pricing is based on the technical milestones required for recovery, not the value of the data or the number of files.
• Customers only pay if their data is successfully recovered.
• DATATECH Labs provides customers with regular updates and knowledgeable representatives ready to answer any questions.

$300 Data Recovery

An unusual name on our list, $300 Data Recovery is a small, budget-friendly data recovery company based in Los Angeles, California. They work primarily with logical failures and don’t compete with the bigger names on our list when it comes to complex cases or large-scale operations. However, their excellent customer feedback and personalized approach earned them a spot here. With over 4,000 5-star reviews on Yelp, customers frequently praise their affordability, clear communication, and effective recovery work.

🧰 Features:

• With their “Chances Form,” customers receive a custom estimate of their recovery odds based on a database of over 30,000 previous cases.
• Their pricing with rates capped at $300, $400, or $500 based on factors like device size, encryption, and complexity. Additional costs, such as for donor drives or shipping, are clearly disclosed upfront.
• You only pay if your data is successfully recovered.
• Most recoveries are completed within a few days, with expedited services available.
• Customers across the U.S. can use their mail-in service, while those in Los Angeles can take advantage of convenient drop-off options.

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