It’s a sickening moment—opening Messenger to find conversations gone. No warning, no explanation, just empty space where important words once lived. In 2025, recovery tools have become the safety net for this exact nightmare. But with dozens of options on the market, how do you know which one can actually deliver?
That question sent me on a weeks-long test of 8 leading apps. I ran them all on iOS 26, deleting real chats, attachments, and even SMS, to see who could bring them back. And yes, one tool left the rest in the dust.
The Fast Answer: Our Top Pick
Gbyte Recovery is the winner in 2025. It scanned faster than any rival, retrieved nearly all Messenger messages with full details intact, and introduced a cableless iCloud recovery system that felt refreshingly modern. This wasn’t just about speed—it was the first time Messenger deleted messages recovery felt simple and reliable instead of experimental.
Our Testing Benchmarks
To keep things fair, I recreated real-world loss scenarios. Deleted Messenger conversations, erased voice notes, and cleared SMS—all on an iPhone 15 Pro. Every app faced the same test.
I scored each tool on:
- Scan time – how quickly results showed up
- Recovery accuracy – whether full conversations returned
- Ease of use – design matters when you’re stressed
- Messenger-specific depth – not just fragments, but complete threads with timestamps
#1. Gbyte Recovery: Our Top Pick for 2025
After extensive testing, Gbyte Recovery emerged as the clear winner. It struck the perfect balance where others faltered: blisteringly fast deep scans, the highest success rate in recovering our test messages, and a beautifully intuitive interface that doesn’t sacrifice power for simplicity.
It seamlessly handled both iOS and Android recoveries without requiring complex device modes. The preview function was superior, clearly organizing found messages by application and date. For anyone needing to restore deleted text messages, its targeted approach and consistent performance make it the most reliable and stress-free option on the market in 2025.
Pros: Highest success rate, fastest scans, best-in-class UI, strong cross-platform support.
Cons: Slightly newer brand than some veterans, but its performance speaks for itself.
Verdict: The best overall package for messenger deleted messages recovery, offering unmatched speed, reliability, and ease of use.
Price: $49.99/month or $99.99/year.
#2. iMyFone D-Back
iMyFone D-Back is a dedicated and powerful force in iOS data recovery, earning its high ranking through consistent performance. It excels at deep scanning and boasts an exceptional success rate for retrieving lost Messenger conversations on iPhones. Beyond simple recovery, it includes advanced utilities to fix iOS system issues that can sometimes lead to data loss, adding significant value. Its interface is straightforward, and the preview function allows for easy selection of the messages you need to recover. While it does support Android, its capabilities on that platform are functional but not best-in-class, placing it just behind our top overall pick for cross-platform supremacy.
Pros: Exceptional iOS success rate, includes system repair mode, intuitive interface, reliable performance.
Cons: Android functionality is capable but not its primary strength.
Verdict: A premier, specialist-grade tool for iPhone users that is a mere half-step away from the top spot.
Price: Starts at $49.95 (1-year license for 1 device)
#3. Tenorshare UltData
Tenorshare UltData is a direct and formidable competitor to D-Back, matching it almost feature-for-feature in our testing. It stands as another top-tier option for iOS users, providing a high recovery success rate, a fast deep scan, and a clear preview of deleted Messenger messages before restoration. Like its rival, it also offers functionality to recover data from broken devices and repair operating system problems. The choice between UltData and D-Back often comes down to minor interface preferences or which company is offering a better deal at the time of purchase. Its Android support is present but, again, is overshadowed by its excellent iOS performance.
Pros: High iOS recovery rate, comprehensive feature set including phone repair, fast scanning.
Cons: Android support is good, but not elite compared to its iOS prowess.
Verdict: A powerhouse for iPhone data recovery that is virtually tied for second place, making it another excellent choice for Apple device owners.
Price: Starts at $55.95 (1-year license for 1 device)
#4. PhoneRescue
PhoneRescue by iMobie is a strong and reliable contender, especially within the iOS ecosystem. It boasts a high success rate and a clean, modern interface that is easy to navigate. It recovered most of our test messages but fell just short of the top three in terms of raw scan speed and the precise organization of recovered data. Its Android version is capable but doesn’t quite match its iOS excellence.
Pros: High iOS success rate, clean design, multiple recovery modes, reliable.
Cons: Slightly slower scans than top contenders, Android version is good but not elite.
Verdict: A very strong and reliable choice, particularly for iPhone users who want a balance of power and usability.
Price: Starts at $49.99 (1-year license for 1 device)
#5. Disk Drill
Disk Drill is a powerhouse for computer data retrieval and has extended its functionality to mobile devices. Its mobile recovery feels like an added feature rather than a core strength. It works and can successfully restore deleted text messages, but the process isn’t as streamlined or specialized as it is in dedicated mobile tools. If you already own it for PC/Mac recovery, it’s a useful bonus.
Pros: Excellent for PC/Mac recovery, familiar brand to many, includes data protection features.
Cons: Mobile feature is secondary and less intuitive, slower mobile scan times.
Verdict: Best for those who primarily need a top-tier computer recovery tool and want mobile functionality as a bonus.
Price: $89 (Pro Edition, includes mobile recovery)
#6. MobiSaver
As its name implies, MobiSaver is geared primarily towards Android users. For Android devices, it’s a decent performer with a fair success rate for the price. However, its iOS functionality is virtually non-existent and was unable to perform a deep scan without putting the device into a special diagnostic mode, a process we found complex and cumbersome compared to the seamless experience of higher-ranked tools.
Pros: Cost-effective for Android, straightforward for basic recovery.
Cons: Poor iOS support, requires complex modes for advanced recovery, average scan speed.
Verdict: A viable pick for Android-only users on a strict budget, but not a universal or top-performing solution.
Price: $39.95 (Android-only license)
#7. FonePaw
FonePaw provides a clean and straightforward interface that makes the recovery process simple for beginners. However, this simplicity sometimes comes at the cost of depth. Its scans were faster than most but were less thorough, returning fewer results and missing some messages that other software successfully recovered. It’s a good tool for those who are intimidated by more complex software, but its lower overall success rate is a notable drawback.
Pros: Very easy to use, quick scans, beginner-friendly.
Cons: Less thorough scanning, lower overall success rate, lacks advanced features.
Verdict: Great for beginners with simple, recent deletion needs, but power users will need a more robust solution.
Price: Starts at $45.95 (Monthly Subscription)
#8. AppGeeker Data Recovery
AppGeeker offers a basic recovery suite that can handle simple cases. It performs a standard scan but often struggled in our tests to locate the more recently deleted Messenger threads that other tools found easily. Its interface feels dated compared to the competition, and the scanning process was slower than most. For users with very basic needs and a tight budget, it’s an option, but its low success rate makes it hard to recommend for critical messenger deleted messages recovery.
Pros: Low-cost option, simple process.
Cons: Low recovery success rate, outdated UI, slow scanning.
Verdict: A budget option that comes with significant limitations and should be considered a last resort.
Price: $49.95 (Standard License)
Final Verdict: Restoring Your Peace of Mind
Accidentally deleting important messages is a heart-sinking moment, but it doesn’t have to be permanent. While there are many competent tools available, our testing consistently showed that Gbyte Recovery provides the best combination of power, speed, and usability to make the messenger deleted messages recovery process as successful and stress-free as possible. It’s the tool we’d recommend first to a friend and the clear winner for 2025.
Don’t wait until new data overwrites your lost conversations. Act quickly, choose a reliable tool, and give yourself the best chance to restore those valuable digital memories.
