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FoneLab is easy to use on macOS, offering a simple way to recover a whole host of data. Scanning is free across iOS, iTunes backups (if you’re still using those), and iCloud data, but recovery is limited to three instances on the free plan.
FoneLab’s premium version ($70 for a lifetime license for 1 Mac and 6 mobile devices) will allow a user to recover data from any of the above. It also covers messaging services like Messenger and WhatsApp, as well as Viber, Kik, Line, and WeChat.
It’s perhaps not quite as full-featured as options like Disk Drill, but it is an affordable option that can cover a family’s devices for a relatively affordable fee.
Once you boot up the Mac version of FoneLab for the first time, it is transparent about what you can gain from the premium version. You simply plug in your phone, enter your passcode, and hit ‘Scan’. Scanning is faster than some rivals, but analyzing that data takes a little longer.
It’s nice to look at, with a clear sidebar of filters and a main window that displays previews so you can pick what to recover.
Within around 45 minutes I could see a whole host of images I thought were lost to time, including deleted product shots from old reviews and duplicate pet photos. It can restore from iCloud backups, too, which is handy if your device is lost or stolen.
Rather than offer a multitude of features, FoneLab is focused on doing the recovery part well.
The iOS System Recovery tool could be helpful if you’ve inadvertently bricked your phone, while the option to back up and restore your phone locally is handy, but also something offered by Apple’s own toolkit.
WhatsApp transfer is useful for anyone fed up of the lengthy process of switching between phones and having to wait for your data from the messaging app to come with you.
This is a solid recovery option, while it lacks the bells and whistles you’ll find elsewhere, FoneLab is a relatively affordable option that feels ideal for families with multiple devices.