What does data recovery cost?
Software data recovery from AGOD runs $150–$300 for most consumer cases; physically failed drives are quoted by our clean-room partner.
Recovery pricing splits cleanly into two cases: drives the computer can still see (software recovery) and drives that are physically failing (clean-room work). Here's what each runs, and how we tell them apart before you commit a dollar.
Most consumer data recovery is a software job — the drive is still detected but files are missing, deleted, or unreadable — and A Geek On Demand handles that on-site for $150–$300, often in the same visit. Drives that click, won't spin up, or have water or drop damage need clean-room work, which our partner quotes (commonly $400–$1,200) and runs about 5–10 business days. We attempt a read-only diagnosis first and tell you the realistic odds and the price before any paid recovery begins.
What it costs
| Service | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Software recovery (drive still readable) | $150–$300 | Deleted, formatted, or unreadable files; often same-visit. |
| Clean-room recovery (physical failure) | $400–$1,200 | Clicking/dead drives, water or drop damage. Quoted by our partner; ~5–10 business days. |
| Diagnosis & odds assessment | $150 | Read-only attempt; you get the realistic chances before committing. |
Estimates are typical residential ranges and assume our standard hourly rate. Because we bill hourly, the final cost depends on how long the job actually takes — it can run higher. A business rate or any active discount may change your price. You'll always get a real quote after diagnosis. Clean-room recovery is priced by a third-party partner — not our hourly rate — and is confirmed by quote before any work begins.
Software vs. clean-room recovery
Software recovery
The drive is detected by the computer but files are missing, deleted, or unreadable. Same-visit and $150–$300 typical.
Clean-room recovery
The drive clicks, won't spin up, or took physical/water/fire damage. $400–$1,200 at our partner clean-room, about 5–10 business days.
Common questions
Why is clean-room recovery so much more than software recovery?+
Software recovery is our labor on a drive the computer can still read. Clean-room recovery means opening a physically failed drive in a dust-free lab with specialized hardware — a different process done by a partner, which is why it's quoted separately and costs more.
Will I pay if the data can't be recovered?+
We give you the realistic odds after a read-only diagnosis, before any paid recovery. For clean-room cases our partner confirms the quote and the chances up front, so you decide with the price in hand.
Should I keep trying to fix it myself first?+
No. If a drive is clicking or won't mount, repeated power-ons can turn a recoverable case into an unrecoverable one. Stop using it and call — the first attempt has the best odds.
Ready to book?
First hour is the diagnostic. You’ll know the full cost before any extra work.