Alternatives to VeraCrypt
TrueCrypt's audited successor
VeraCrypt ranks #1 of 11 in File encryption tools, with an Alt Score of 75. It is licensed under Apache-2.0, free from Free and available on Windows, macOS and Linux. 9 of 9 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
Individuals and organizations who need to protect sensitive files, entire drives, or system partitions from unauthorized access — including people who want plausible deniability if forced to reveal a password.
Encrypted virtual disk containers that mount as regular drives, plus full encryption of partitions, USB drives, and system disks with pre-boot authentication. Hidden volumes let you nest a second, undetectable encrypted volume inside a decoy one. Available free for Windows, macOS, and Linux, including ARM64 devices.
VeraCrypt creates an encrypted volume protected by a password (and optional keyfiles), then transparently encrypts and decrypts data on the fly as it's mounted and used, using strong ciphers with high iteration counts (or Argon2id) to resist brute-force attacks.
Where VeraCrypt stands out
Verified capabilities most alternatives don't have.
Why people leave VeraCrypt
Dashed reasons are sourced facts; the rest are opinions. Vendors can dispute.
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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 VeraCrypt compares with its alternatives, feature by feature.
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| File encryption tools checklist | VeraCrypt | AxCrypt | BestCrypt Container Encryption | AES Crypt | age | Cryptomator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| License | ||||||
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| Cloud-friendly (per-file sync) | ||||||
| Cross-platform | ||||||
| Open source & audited | ||||||
| Hidden volumes | ||||||
| Key files support | ||||||
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| CLI |
Every fact and feature listed for VeraCrypt is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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License Apache-2.0 verified 2026-07-08
Dual: Apache-2.0 + TrueCrypt License 3.0.
VeraCrypt is dual-licensed under: 1. Apache License 2.0 2. TrueCrypt License version 3.0
https://github.com/veracrypt/VeraCrypt/blob/master/License.txt -
Pricing model Free verified 2026-07-08
Free Open source disk encryption with strong security for the Paranoid
https://veracrypt.io/en/Donation.html -
Starts at Free verified 2026-07-08
You can support VeraCrypt development through donations using PayPal, cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin and Ethereum) and Liberapay.
https://veracrypt.io/en/Donation.html -
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux verified 2026-07-08
Windows 11 (x64 and ARM64) ... macOS 12 Monterey or later ... Linux x86, x86-64, ARM64
https://veracrypt.io/en/Supported%20Operating%20Systems.html -
Status active verified 2026-07-08
VeraCrypt 1.26.29 (June 9th, 2026), which added Argon2id support, security fixes, and stability improvements.
https://veracrypt.io/en/News.html -
Container / volume encryption Yes verified 2026-07-08
There are two types of VeraCrypt volumes: File-hosted (container) [and] Partition/device-hosted (non-system).
https://veracrypt.io/en/VeraCrypt%20Volume.html -
Per-file encryption No verified 2026-07-08
Volume/container-based, not per-file.
There are two types of VeraCrypt volumes: File-hosted (container) [and] Partition/device-hosted (non-system).
https://veracrypt.io/en/VeraCrypt%20Volume.html -
Cloud-friendly (per-file sync) No verified 2026-07-08
Large container files re-write entirely; poor for incremental cloud sync.
There are two types of VeraCrypt volumes: File-hosted (container) [and] Partition/device-hosted (non-system).
https://veracrypt.io/en/VeraCrypt%20Volume.html -
Cross-platform Yes verified 2026-07-08
Windows 11 (x64 and ARM64) ... macOS 12 Monterey or later ... Linux x86, x86-64, ARM64
https://veracrypt.io/en/Supported%20Operating%20Systems.html -
Open source & audited Yes verified 2026-07-08
It includes fixes for issues reported by Quarkslab audit that was funded by OSTIF.
https://veracrypt.io/en/News.html -
Hidden volumes Yes verified 2026-07-08
Whether the hidden or the outer volume will be mounted is determined by the entered password
https://veracrypt.io/en/Hidden%20Volume.html -
Key files support Yes verified 2026-07-08
VeraCrypt keyfile is a file whose content is combined with a password.
https://veracrypt.io/en/Keyfiles.html -
Password strength enforcement Partial verified 2026-07-08
Guidance/warnings, not hard technical enforcement.
We strongly recommend choosing a password consisting of more than 20 characters (the longer, the better).
https://veracrypt.io/en/Choosing%20Passwords%20and%20Keyfiles.html -
CLI Yes verified 2026-07-08
The `-t` or `--text` option selects the text user interface and must be specified as the first argument.
https://veracrypt.io/en/Command%20Line%20Usage%20for%20Unix.html
FAQ
Yes. AxCrypt, age and Cryptomator have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.
age, Cryptomator and Kryptor — every license claim links its source.