Alternatives to Cryptomator
Per-file encryption made for cloud sync
Cryptomator ranks #5 of 11 in File encryption tools, with an Alt Score of 65. It is licensed under GPL-3.0, freemium from Free and available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android. 9 of 9 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
Individuals and teams who store files in cloud services like Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, or iCloud and want to keep the contents private from the provider and anyone else. Useful for anyone needing client-side encryption without changing their existing cloud storage habits.
A free, open-source app for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS that creates encrypted vaults inside your existing cloud storage folders. Files and filenames are encrypted with AES-256 before they ever leave your device, so the cloud provider only ever sees ciphertext. The code is publicly auditable and has undergone independent security audits, with no vendor lock-in or subscription required to access your data.
You create a password-protected vault inside a cloud-synced folder; unlocking it mounts a virtual encrypted drive on your device. Any file you drag into that drive is encrypted on the fly and stored as ciphertext in the underlying cloud folder, then synced normally by your existing cloud client.
Why people leave Cryptomator
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Ranked alternatives
Ordered by Alt Score. Click any score to see the breakdown.
AxCrypt is a file and folder encryption app that lets users right-click to encrypt individual files with AES-128/256, rather than mounting a container or volume.
BestCrypt Container Encryption, from Finnish vendor Jetico, creates mountable encrypted containers on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android, similar in concept to VeraCrypt.
AES Crypt is a free, open-source utility (since 2005) for encrypting individual files with the AES-256 cipher, available as both a GUI (right-click integration) and a command-line tool on Windows, mac.
NordLocker, from the makers of NordVPN, creates password-protected encrypted folders (lockers) on the user's device using AES-256 and Argon2, with drag-and-drop file/folder encryption and optional end.
Tomb (the Crypto Undertaker), maintained by the Dyne.org Foundation since 2007, is a lightweight shell-script CLI that wraps Linux's cryptsetup/LUKS to create, open and manage encrypted volume files (.
DiskCryptor is an open-source Windows encryption tool that can encrypt entire disks, partitions, external drives and file-based containers using AES, Twofish and Serpent.
Feature comparison
How Cryptomator compares with its alternatives, feature by feature.
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| File encryption tools checklist | Cryptomator | VeraCrypt | AxCrypt | BestCrypt Container Encryption | AES Crypt | age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | ||||||
| Starts at | ||||||
| License | ||||||
| Platforms | ||||||
| Container / volume encryption | ||||||
| Per-file encryption | ||||||
| Cloud-friendly (per-file sync) | ||||||
| Cross-platform | ||||||
| Open source & audited | ||||||
| Hidden volumes | ||||||
| Key files support | ||||||
| Password strength enforcement | ||||||
| CLI |
Every fact and feature listed for Cryptomator is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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Pricing model Freemium verified 2026-07-08
Encrypt your personal cloud files. Open source and free forever." ... Android full access: "€29.99" ... iOS full access: "€29.99"" — Desktop free; mobile apps one-time paid.
Cryptomator Individual:
https://cryptomator.org/pricing/ -
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android verified 2026-07-08
Version 1.19.3 ... Minimum: Windows 10 ... Minimum: macOS 11 ... Android: Minimum: Android 8.0 ... iOS: Minimum: iOS 14.0
https://cryptomator.org/downloads/ -
License GPL-3.0 verified 2026-07-08
Desktop GPL-3.0; CLI AGPL-3.0; dual-licensed with a commercial option.
GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE Version 3, 29 June 2007
https://github.com/cryptomator/cryptomator/blob/develop/LICENSE.txt -
Starts at Free verified 2026-07-08
Cryptomator is free to use on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.
https://cryptomator.org/downloads/ -
Status active verified 2026-07-08
Version 1.19.3
https://cryptomator.org/downloads/ -
Container / volume encryption Partial verified 2026-07-08
Virtual-drive vaults (folder-based), not disk volumes.
With every access on your files inside the virtual drive, Cryptomator will en- and decrypt these files on-the-fly.
https://docs.cryptomator.org/security/architecture/ -
Per-file encryption Yes verified 2026-07-08
Files are transparently en- and decrypted. There are no unencrypted copies on your hard disk drive.
https://docs.cryptomator.org/security/architecture/ -
Cloud-friendly (per-file sync) Yes verified 2026-07-08
Per-file vault design optimized for cloud sync.
With every access on your files inside the virtual drive, Cryptomator will en- and decrypt these files on-the-fly.
https://docs.cryptomator.org/security/architecture/ -
Cross-platform Yes verified 2026-07-08
Cryptomator is free to use on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.
https://cryptomator.org/downloads/ -
Open source & audited Partial verified 2026-07-08
OSS (GPL-3.0); vendor references independent audits but no deep-linked report found.
There are no unencrypted copies on your hard disk drive.
https://docs.cryptomator.org/security/architecture/ -
Hidden volumes No verified 2026-07-08
Not steganographic; no hidden volumes.
It uses recognizable file extensions (`.c9r`, `.c9s`) and stores configuration files (`vault.cryptomator`, `masterkey.cryptomator`)
https://docs.cryptomator.org/security/security-target/ -
Key files support No verified 2026-07-08
Password + optional recovery key; no keyfile auth.
Cryptomator requires at least 8 characters
https://docs.cryptomator.org/desktop/adding-vaults/ -
Password strength enforcement Partial verified 2026-07-08
8-char minimum + strength meter.
Cryptomator requires at least 8 characters, but we recommend you to use longer phrases such as pass-sentences. The bar below the password field will help you estimate the strength of your password.
https://docs.cryptomator.org/desktop/adding-vaults/ -
CLI Yes verified 2026-07-08
This is a minimal command-line application that unlocks a single vault of vault format 8 and mounts it into the system.
https://github.com/cryptomator/cli
FAQ
Yes. VeraCrypt, AxCrypt and age have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.
VeraCrypt, age and Kryptor — every license claim links its source.