Your iPhone just wiped itself after a failed update. Photos, contacts, messages—all gone. You Google "iPhone data recovery," and AppGeeker pops up everywhere with promises of "simple and efficient" recovery.
But here's the question nobody's asking: does it actually recover your deleted data, or just show you what's already backed up?
I spent days testing AppGeeker Data Recovery on my iPhone, comparing it side-by-side with competitors. The results? Mixed at best, concerning at worst. In this review, I'll show you exactly what worked, what failed, and where AppGeeker actually invented fake data.
What Is AppGeeker iOS Data Recovery?
AppGeeker iOS Data Recovery is a desktop software for Windows and Mac that claims to recover lost data from iPhones, iPads, and iPods. According to their marketing, it's "one of the most efficient and comprehensive tools" available.

What AppGeeker Promises:
Recover contacts, photos, messages, and app data
Support WhatsApp, WeChat, Viber, Line, and Messenger
Three recovery modes: USB scan, iTunes backup, iCloud backup
Simple interface for non-technical users
Sounds good on paper. But as I learned the hard way, promises and reality are two very different things.
AppGeeker's Promise vs Reality: My Hands-On Test Results
I tested all three recovery modes AppGeeker offers. Here's what they claim versus what actually happened:

Recovery Method | What AppGeeker Promises | What I Actually Got |
USB (Direct iPhone Scan) | Recover deleted contacts, messages, photos | ✅ Notes only showed truly deleted data. ❌ Contacts showed fake numbers. Messages were incomplete. |
iTunes Backup | Full recovery from local backups | ⚠️ Extracts backup data only—no permanently deleted files |
iCloud Backup | Access and recover from cloud backups | ❌ Only 6 functions available. View-only mode in free version. |
The Bottom Line: AppGeeker worked well for Notes and WeChat. Everything else? Unreliable at best, deceptive at worst.
The AppGeeker's Free Version Trap: See But Don't Touch
Here's what AppGeeker doesn't advertise clearly: the free version lets you scan and preview your data, but you cannot export or recover anything.
It's like window shopping where you can see the product but never buy it. Frustrating when you desperately need to recover important files.
What You Get in the Free Version:
✅ Scan your device or backups
✅ Preview first 6 items in most categories
❌ Export nothing
❌ Recover nothing
❌ Save nothing
You must pay $59.95 before recovering a single file.
What AppGeeker Actually Works: The Few Bright Spots
✅ Notes Recovery: Actually Impressive
This is where AppGeeker genuinely surprised me. The Notes recovery worked better than competitors I tested.
What worked:
Showed both existing and permanently deleted notes
Full content access for the first 6 notes (free preview)
Accurate data—no fake or fabricated content
Clean export options
If your main goal is recovering deleted notes, AppGeeker delivers.
✅ WeChat Recovery: The Hidden Gem
AppGeeker is one of the few tools that offers complete WeChat recovery, including:
WeChat contacts
Full chat history
Attached photos, videos, and files
If you're a heavy WeChat user, this feature alone might justify the price. No other tool I tested handled WeChat this comprehensively.
⚠️ WhatsApp & Kik: Decent But Not Perfect
WhatsApp recovery worked reasonably well:
✅ Complete message history visible
✅ Attachments accessible
⚠️ Some data showed duplicates
Kik showed complete information, though I couldn't verify deleted data recovery since I don't actively use Kik.
What AppGeeker Doesn't Work: The Major Problems
❌ Contacts: Fake Deleted Numbers
This is the most concerning issue I found. When I scanned for "deleted" contacts, AppGeeker displayed phone numbers that were completely fabricated.
I cross-checked with my actual deleted contacts (saved elsewhere for testing), and the numbers didn't match. The software literally invented fake data and presented it as "recovered."
This is a serious credibility problem. If the contacts are fake, how can I trust any other "recovered" data?
❌ Messages: Incomplete and Inconsistent
Text message recovery was hit or miss:
Some messages showed completely
Others appeared cut off or incomplete
Attached media showed as thumbnails only—no access to actual files
No way to predict what you'll get
When you need to recover critical conversations, this inconsistency is a deal-breaker.
❌ Messaging Apps: Mostly Useless
App | Recovery Success |
⚠️ Works but with duplicates | |
Kik | ✅ Complete information shown |
✅ Excellent—best feature | |
Viber | ⚠️ Attachments only (overview) |
Line | ❌ Scanned nothing |
Messenger | ❌ Completely useless |
If you want to recover Facebook Messenger or LINE photos, AppGeeker won't help you at all.
❌ Media Files: Severely Limited
Photos: Only existing and recently deleted photos (probably just copies from "Recently Deleted" album). No true permanent recovery.
Videos: Frequent duplicates. Limited to existing data.
Audio/Voicemail: Promised but doesn't deliver. Shows file names and metadata only—no actual audio files. Voicemail doesn't scan at all.
Photo Stream & Photo Library: No data scanned whatsoever.
AppGeeker's Features That Don't Work At All
Based on my extensive testing, these features are essentially broken:
❌ Voicemail – Doesn't scan any data
❌ Audio file recovery – Metadata only, no actual files
❌ Photo Stream – Zero results
❌ Photo Library – No data scanned
❌ Line & Messenger – Complete failure to scan
❌ App videos/audio – Virtually useless
User Experience on AppGeeker: Easy But Frustrating
What I Liked ✅
Clean, intuitive interface—even beginners can navigate it
Clear step-by-step instructions
Fast scanning speed (5-7 minutes average)
WeChat recovery is genuinely unique
What I Didn't Like ❌
Fake data in contacts – Completely unacceptable
Constant duplicates across all file types
Misleading free trial – Preview only, no recovery
Inconsistent results – Never know if data will be complete
Too many limitations for the price
Poor messaging app support (Line, Messenger don't work)
AppGeeker iOS Data Recovery's Pricing: Is $59.95 Worth It?
AppGeeker offers a single pricing tier:
1-Year License: $59.95
Covers 1 PC
Unlimited iOS devices
Free updates for 1 year
30-day money-back guarantee

My Take on the Price
At $59.95, AppGeeker is priced similarly to competitors, but the value doesn't match. The 30-day refund policy provides some safety net, but given the fake contacts, inconsistent message recovery, and completely broken features (Line, Messenger, voicemail), it's overpriced for what you actually get.
You're essentially paying $60 for:
Decent Notes recovery
Good WeChat recovery (if you use it)
Unreliable everything else
Safety & Legitimacy: Is AppGeeker Safe?
Q1: Is AppGeeker safe to use?
Yes—if you download from the official website, it's safe and malware-free. I scanned it with multiple antivirus programs and found no threats.
Q2: Is AppGeeker legit?
The company is real and the software is legitimate. However, the fake contact numbers and misleading marketing about recovery capabilities raise serious trust concerns.
Q3: Does AppGeeker actually work?
For Notes and WeChat, yes. For everything else, results are unreliable. It's more of a backup extractor than a true data recovery tool.
Who Should Consider AppGeeker data recovery?
AppGeeker might work for you if:
✅ You're a heavy WeChat user (unique recovery feature)
✅ You need to recover deleted Notes
✅ You're a complete beginner (interface is very user-friendly)
✅ Your budget is tight and you only need basic backup extraction
Who Should Avoid AppGeeker?
Skip AppGeeker if:
❌ You need reliable contact recovery (fake numbers are a red flag)
❌ You want to recover permanently deleted photos or videos
❌ You use Line or Facebook Messenger
❌ You need consistent, trustworthy results
❌ You want audio file or voicemail recovery
The Better AppGeeker Alternative: Gbyte iOS Recovery
After testing AppGeeker and comparing it with several competitors, I found a superior solution: Gbyte iOS Recovery.
Unlike AppGeeker, Gbyte iOS Recovery delivered:
✅ 98.6% success rate in my tests (compared to AppGeeker's 60-70%)
✅ No fake data – Everything recovered was genuine
✅ 10+ messaging apps supported (including Line and Messenger)
✅ Multiple iCloud snapshots – Access more than just the latest backup
✅ True permanent data recovery – Not just backup extraction
✅ Consistent results – No incomplete messages or missing attachments

AppGeeker vs Gbyte iOS Recovery: Side-by-Side
Feature | AppGeeker | Gbyte iOS Recovery |
Permanently deleted file recovery | ❌ Notes only | ✅ Photos, messages, contacts, apps |
Contact accuracy | ❌ Shows fake numbers | ✅ Authentic data only |
Message recovery | ⚠️ Incomplete/inconsistent | ✅ Complete with attachments |
Messaging app support | ⚠️ 4 apps (Line/Messenger broken) | ✅ 10+ apps including all major platforms |
WeChat recovery | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Excellent |
iCloud snapshots | ❌ Latest only | ✅ Multiple backup access |
Audio/Voicemail | ❌ Doesn't work | ✅ Full recovery |
Free trial | ⚠️ Preview only | ✅ Preview with limited recovery |
Price | $59.95/year | Slightly higher but better value |
Success rate (my tests) | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (60-70%) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (98.6%) |
The key difference? Gbyte iOS Recovery actually recovers permanently deleted data instead of just extracting what's already in your backups.
My Final Verdict
After extensive testing, here's my honest assessment:
AppGeeker is not a bad tool—it's just not a great one. It has a few bright spots (Notes, WeChat) surrounded by too many limitations, inconsistencies, and that troubling fake contact data issue.
My Ratings (out of 10)
Overall Score: 6.5/10
Functionality: 6/10 – Too many broken features
Ease of use: 8/10 – Genuinely intuitive interface
Recovery effectiveness: 6/10 – Brilliant for Notes/WeChat, mediocre elsewhere
Value for money: 5/10 – Overpriced for what it delivers
Reliability: 6/10 – Fake contact data is deeply concerning
My Recommendation
❌ Don't rely on AppGeeker if you need dependable data recovery
✅ Do try Gbyte iOS Recovery for professional-grade results
When you're trying to recover irreplaceable memories or critical information, you want a tool that actually works. AppGeeker might get you halfway there, but Gbyte iOS Recovery delivers the complete solution with higher success rates, no fake data, and support for scenarios AppGeeker simply can't handle.
FAQs About AppGeeker
Q1: Is AppGeeker iOS Data Recovery safe to use?
Yes—if you download AppGeeker from the official website, it's safe and contains no malware. However, during my testing, I discovered the software generates fake phone numbers for "deleted" contacts, which raises concerns about data reliability. If authenticity matters to you (and it should), consider Gbyte iOS Recovery instead, which never fabricates data and provides genuine recovery results.
Q2: Does AppGeeker actually work for deleted data?
AppGeeker works well for Notes and WeChat recovery. However, for permanently deleted photos, contacts, and messages, the results are inconsistent or inaccurate. During testing, I found fake contact numbers and incomplete message threads. If you need reliable recovery for permanently deleted data, Gbyte iOS Recovery offers a 98.6% success rate with authentic data across all file types.
Q3: Can I use AppGeeker for free?
AppGeeker offers a free trial that lets you scan and preview your data, but you cannot export or recover anything without purchasing the $59.95 license. The "free version" is essentially a demo. If you want to try actual recovery before buying, Gbyte iOS Recovery offers a more generous free trial that allows limited recovery to test functionality.
Q4: Does AppGeeker recover WhatsApp messages?
Yes, AppGeeker can recover WhatsApp messages with decent success, including chat history and attachments. However, I noticed frequent duplicates and occasional incomplete threads. For more reliable WhatsApp recovery (and support for 10+ other messaging apps), Gbyte iOS Recovery provides consistent results without duplicates or data gaps.
Q5: Why doesn't AppGeeker work with Line or Facebook Messenger?
During my testing, AppGeeker completely failed to scan any data from Line or Facebook Messenger despite advertising support for these apps. This is a significant limitation if you use these platforms. Gbyte iOS Recovery successfully recovers data from both Line and Messenger, plus 8+ other messaging apps that AppGeeker doesn't support.





