HD Doctor vs Ontrack (Kroll): Which to choose for data recovery
Direct answer
HD Doctor and Ontrack (now Kroll Ontrack) are two legitimate professional recovery options. Ontrack is a global brand with presence in 30+ countries and handles complex international cases with strong references. HD Doctor is the largest independent operation in the Americas south of the United States, with its own Class 100 cleanroom, official Western Digital Platinum Partnership and significantly shorter turnaround for Brazil-based clients thanks to local logistics.
Important: both companies operate real laboratories and qualified technical teams. The right choice depends on media type, urgency, budget and location more than on reputation alone.
Who is Ontrack
Ontrack (Kroll Ontrack since 2016) is one of the largest data recovery firms in the world, founded in 1985 in the United States. It belongs to Kroll, a risk and investigation group. It operates in 30+ countries with notable cases including recovering data from the Columbia space shuttle. In Brazil it operates through partners and international shipping to its laboratory in Bracknell (UK) or Minneapolis (US). Pricing is in hard currency and timelines include international logistics.
When Ontrack may be preferable
- 1.International litigation case. Dispute involving US or European court that requires a report issued in those jurisdictions.
- 2.Multinational with global contract. Companies with an existing global MSA with Kroll for other services (forensics, investigation).
- 3.Extremely rare media types. Very old proprietary media (LTO 30+ years, specific military tapes) where Ontrack has built tooling inventory.
Our process vs theirs
Summary of HD Doctor's flow versus Ontrack's typical flow for a client in Brazil.
- 1
Diagnosis
HD Doctor: 24 to 48h in our own lab in São Paulo, free. Ontrack: international shipping, diagnostic fee in hard currency, response in 5 to 10 business days.
- 2
Quote
HD Doctor: fixed quote in BRL before start. Ontrack: quote in USD/EUR subject to FX.
- 3
Approval
HD Doctor: local contract in PT with LGPD clause. Ontrack: English contract, foreign jurisdiction in many cases.
- 4
Recovery
HD Doctor: media stays in Brazil, locally documented custody. Ontrack: media goes to UK or US, international transfer under GDPR/HIPAA.
- 5
Delivery
HD Doctor: new HDD + local copy, pickup in SP or domestic shipping. Ontrack: new HDD returned via international FedEx/DHL, possible customs fees.
Typical SLA comparison (standard logical case)
| Scenario | Turnaround |
|---|---|
| Diagnosis | HD Doctor: 24 to 48h. Ontrack: 5 to 10 business days (incl. shipping) |
| Standard logical recovery | HD Doctor: 5 to 10 business days. Ontrack: 10 to 20 business days |
| Physical recovery with cleanroom | HD Doctor: 7 to 15 business days. Ontrack: 15 to 30 business days |
| Corporate RAID | HD Doctor: 10 to 25 business days. Ontrack: 20 to 45 business days |
| Express service | HD Doctor: from 24h. Ontrack: from 5 days (limited by logistics) |
- Ontrack timelines assume a Brazil-based client and include pickup, international shipping, customs, processing and return.
- Both companies apply No Data, No Charge in eligible cases.
Side-by-side comparison
Public, verifiable criteria. Updated 2026.
| Family | Support | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Class 100 (ISO 5) cleanroom | ✅ Own facility in São Paulo | ✅ Yes, offshore |
| Official Western Digital partnership | ✅ Platinum Partner (only one in the Americas south of US) | Not publicly disclosed |
| Years in market | 24+ years | 40+ years |
| Cases handled | 300,000+ | Hundreds of thousands (not published) |
| Direct reception in Brazil | ✅ Direct intake in SP, RJ, BH, Curitiba | International shipping via partners |
| BRL invoicing | ✅ Yes, local invoice | Typically USD/EUR via partner |
| Direct LGPD compliance | ✅ Contract and DPO in Brazil | GDPR primary; LGPD via contract clause |
| Average turnaround (logical case) | 5 to 10 business days | 10 to 25 business days (incl. logistics) |
| No Data, No Charge policy | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Service languages | PT, EN, ES | EN (PT/ES via partner) |
When HD Doctor makes more sense
- 🇧🇷You are in Brazil or Latin America and want to avoid international logistics (3 to 7 days each way, customs broker, possible retention).
- 💰You want to pay in BRL with a local invoice, with no FX exposure.
- 📄You need a contract with an LGPD clause and a local DPO accountable in Brazil.
- ⚡You are in a hurry: our average turnaround is half of Ontrack's when shipping is included.
- 🤝You want to talk to the responsible engineer directly, in Portuguese, without a middleman.
FAQ: HD Doctor vs Ontrack
Is Ontrack better than HD Doctor because it is older?
Age alone is not the criterion. Ontrack has 40+ years and more international cases. HD Doctor has 24+ years, is WD Platinum Partner (only one in the Americas south of the US) and delivers the same technical level with half the turnaround for clients in Brazil. Both run real cleanrooms and certified teams.
How much does Ontrack vs HD Doctor cost?
We do not publish list pricing because complexity varies. As a reference, Ontrack typically charges in USD or EUR and adds international logistics. HD Doctor charges in BRL with local invoicing. In comparable cases, Brazil-based clients usually save by paying locally, but the deciding factor should be recovery probability, not price alone.
Can I send to Ontrack if HD Doctor cannot recover?
Yes. We return your media exactly as received, with a technical report describing what was done. That report can be presented to any other firm. In 24+ years we have received many cases previously attempted elsewhere and recovered them.
Does Ontrack hold certifications that HD Doctor does not?
Both run Class 100 (ISO 5) cleanrooms and have certified teams from major manufacturers. HD Doctor has been WD Platinum Partner since 2018 (only one in the Americas south of the US). Ontrack holds ISO 27001 and partnerships with Microsoft and Veritas. Corporate clients concerned with audit should request specific certificates from both.
For a multinational, is Ontrack the better pick?
It depends. If you already have a global MSA with Kroll, that simplifies things. If you are opening a new contract and the impacted operation is in Brazil, HD Doctor offers a PT contract, BRL invoicing and shorter turnaround. For international forensic investigation, Kroll has a dedicated arm (Kroll Discovery) that may fit better.
What happens to my data during recovery?
HD Doctor: data stays physically in Brazil, in our own lab, with CCTV, fireproof safe and logged access. LGPD clause mandatory in contract. Ontrack: data ships to UK (Bracknell) or US (Minneapolis), under GDPR/CCPA, with optional LGPD clause. For regulated-data companies, keeping data in Brazil simplifies ANPD audit.
Want an honest read on your case?
Diagnosis in 24 to 48h. No commitment, no fee.