Overview of programs and online services for recovering damaged PDF documents Adobe Acrobat: practical analysis of effectiveness
Recovery Toolbox conducts a large-scale regular study every quarter to determine the actual effectiveness of various programs and services designed to recover damaged PDF documents created in Adobe Acrobat and other programs. The study is conducted to improve the quality of data recovery using the online service and the Recovery Toolbox for PDF program. This is not an artificial laboratory test with specially generated damage to ordinary documents, but a test based on real user files uploaded to a special cloud service for recovering PDF documents: https://pdf.recoverytoolbox.com/online/
The test is regularly performed on more than 1,000 PDF documents uploaded by real users from around the world. Users upload PDF documents of different formats and versions, and the damage to the files is always varied and unpredictable, which makes the recovery task comprehensive and complete.
PDF document recovery testing methodology
The selection of PDF files did not go through any filtering or sorting: the testers worked with everything that was uploaded by users. This means that the sample included files with varying degrees of damage, and all files were of different formats, versions, and sizes. The test also included password-protected files with different levels of protection.
Both special utilities and online recovery services were used in the test. These included:
Each tool was tested on the same set of files. This made it possible to objectively compare which of the utilities was able to recover more data, preserve the document structure, and correctly restore text, graphics, forms, and other PDF elements.
What was evaluated during the recovery process:
- Was it possible to open the file after recovery?
- Was the document structure preserved?
- How correctly were text and graphic elements recovered?
- Were there any artifacts, damaged areas, or distortions?
Results of the comparative test of PDF document recovery
Based on the data obtained, a comparative table was compiled, indicating how successfully each tool coped with the task at hand. The results allow us to conclude on the advisability of using a particular program or online service depending on the degree of damage to the PDF file and its complexity.
| Service or program |
% of successfully recovered PDF files |
Price for recovering 1 file |
Comments |
| Online service Recovery Toolbox https://pdf.recoverytoolbox.com/online/ |
~43% |
$10 per 1 GB |
Universal tool for all devices and operating systems. |
| Recovery Toolbox for PDF |
~41% |
$25 |
Only applicable for Windows |
| SecureRecovery® for PDF |
~19% |
$59.99 |
Online service available |
| Online service Online.repair |
~42% |
$10 per 1 GB |
Windows program available: PDF Repair Kit |
| Online service OnlineFileRepair.com |
~41% |
$5 per 1 GB |
|
| DataNumen PDF Repair |
~15% |
$149.95 |
Batch mode for processing large numbers of PDF files |
| Service ilovepdf.com |
~7% |
Free for one-time recovery |
No preview |
| Service pdf2go.com |
~15% |
Free for one-time recovery |
No preview |
| Service sejda.com |
~2% |
$5 per week |
Slow service. Desktop version available. Convenient preview of the recovered file |
| Service pdf4me.com |
~10% |
$6 per day |
Up to 20 files per day. Convenient preview of the recovered file |
Additional information:
- DataNumen PDF Repair includes a convenient batch recovery feature that allows you to process multiple damaged PDF documents in a single operation.
- SecureRecovery® for PDF software is distributed under a licensing model where the cost of the full version is comparable to the cost of recovering a single PDF document. This makes it a good deal for those who plan to use the program repeatedly or work with a large number of damaged files.
- The services ilovepdf.com and pdf2go.com are very similar. Apparently, the sites have the same owner.