Tool comparison
Choose a Takeout repair workflow you can verify.
The useful comparison is not paid versus free. It is how each tool handles large archives, ambiguous matches, output safety, and evidence after the run.
Where Takeout Rescue is different
Takeout Rescue combines numbered archives, resolves sidecars and duplicate album copies, and reads supported metadata back after writing. JSON and CSV reports stay with the output.
The current license options are a $9 single-library export and $24 permanent access.
Where alternatives may fit better
Choose an established cross-platform product when you need a currently published non-Windows build. Choose ExifTool directly when you want complete command-level control and can validate matching rules yourself.
Test representative edge cases
Review files with edited dates, social-media images, HEIC and MOV resources, duplicate albums, truncated JSON names, and videos. Re-import representative output into the destination application before deleting anything.