iBoysoft Data Recovery is a Mac- and Windows-compatible data recovery tool developed by Chengdu Aibo Tech, a company based in China. Questions about safety are common due to the company's country of origin. This review answers those questions directly, then covers features, pricing, and limitations.
Part 1. Is iBoysoft Safe to Download and Use?
Security analysis results are consistent across multiple independent reviews:
| Safety Check | Result |
|---|---|
| VirusTotal malware scan | Clean — no threats detected |
| Scan mode | Read-only — your drive is not modified |
| Data uploaded to external servers | No — scanning happens locally |
| Apple notarization (Mac) | Yes |
| Company legitimacy | Established since 2017, active product updates |
⚠️ Important: iBoysoft is a Chinese company — this means that under Chinese law, the company could be required to provide user data to Chinese government authorities on request. iBoysoft does collect some user data (account registration, support requests). For most personal file recovery use cases, this is low risk — but it is a consideration worth knowing.
💡 Tip: Download iBoysoft only from the official iboysoft.com website. Third-party download sites may bundle the installer with unrelated software or outdated versions.
Part 2. Where iBoysoft Stands Out: T2 Mac Chip Support
iBoysoft's strongest differentiator is its performance on Apple T2 and M-series Macs, which include hardware encryption that blocks most recovery tools from accessing the internal drive.
iBoysoft specifically supports:
- T2 chip Macs (2018–2020 Intel models)
- M1/M2/M3/M4 Apple Silicon Macs
- FileVault-encrypted APFS volumes (with user password)
- BitLocker-encrypted Windows drives
For T2 Mac users who need to recover files from an encrypted internal drive, iBoysoft is one of the few consumer tools that handles this correctly.
🗣️ r/mac user: "Had a 2019 MacBook Pro with a T2 chip and deleted a folder I needed. Most tools couldn't even see the drive. iBoysoft accessed it properly and recovered the files. Worth every penny for T2 support alone."
Part 3. iBoysoft Pricing
| Plan | Mac Price | Windows Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Month | $89.00 | $69.95 | 1 month |
| 1 Year | $99.95 | $79.95 | 1 year |
| Lifetime | $169.95 | $199.00 | Lifetime |
iBoysoft is priced significantly higher than most competitors. The monthly Mac plan at $89 is difficult to justify for single-use recovery — that approaches the lifetime license price of Disk Drill ($89). The free tier allows 1 GB of recovery, which is more generous than many tools.
🗣️ r/datarecovery on iBoysoft pricing: "It works well, especially on T2 Macs, but the pricing is hard to swallow. Disk Drill lifetime is $89 and covers both Windows and Mac. iBoysoft lifetime is $170 for Mac alone."
Part 4. Limitations to Know Before Buying
| Limitation | Details |
|---|---|
| Slow scan speed | Notably slower than Disk Drill and Stellar on large drives |
| No disk imaging | Cannot create a sector copy before recovery — risky on failing drives |
| No file preview during scan | Must wait for scan completion before previewing |
| High pricing | Mac lifetime at $169.95 vs. Disk Drill at $89 for both platforms |
| Mixed exFAT results | Some users report incomplete recovery from exFAT volumes |
💡 Tip: If your Mac drive is failing (clicking sounds, slow access), iBoysoft's lack of disk imaging is a significant concern. Always create a disk image first using a tool like ddrescue before scanning with any recovery software on a deteriorating drive.
Part 5. Try Ritridata for Mac and Windows Drive Recovery
For Mac HDD/SSD, external drives, and SD cards, Ritridata covers the core recovery scenarios with native APFS and HFS+ support on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs.
Step 1 — Select the Mac drive or external storage from the list
Step 2 — Run a safe, read-only scan
Step 3 — Preview and recover files to an external drive
FAQ
Is iBoysoft a scam? No — iBoysoft is a legitimate software company with verified reviews on G2 (4.3/5) and Trustpilot. It has been developing disk tools since 2017. The "is it a scam" question typically arises from the premium pricing rather than any deceptive practice.
Is iBoysoft safe to use on a Mac with sensitive files? The tool scans in read-only mode and does not upload files to external servers. The primary privacy consideration is the company's data collection practices under Chinese law, not the scanning process itself.
How much free recovery does iBoysoft offer? The free version allows up to 1 GB of file recovery — more generous than many competitors. Anything beyond 1 GB requires a paid license.
Is iBoysoft good for T2 chip Macs? Yes — T2 Mac support is iBoysoft's strongest competitive advantage. If you have a 2018–2020 Intel MacBook or Mac mini with a T2 chip, iBoysoft is one of the most reliable consumer tools for internal drive recovery.
Is iBoysoft better than Disk Drill for Mac recovery? For T2 Macs specifically, iBoysoft may outperform Disk Drill. For non-T2 Macs, Disk Drill is generally faster and available at a lower lifetime price. Both tools support APFS and HFS+.
Does iBoysoft work on Windows? Yes — iBoysoft supports Windows as well, with separate pricing for Windows and Mac editions. The Windows pricing is lower than Mac.