Security & privacy tools / File encryption7 tools
Best file encryption tools
Encrypt files and folders so only you can open them. Facts come from each tool's own pages, and every score says where it comes from. How we rank
- Tools
- 7
- Researched
- 5
- Free option
- 5
- Only listed
- 2
Ranked by signals we can measure or quote: website health, the facts each tool's own pages state, and community discussion. Nothing here has been hands-on tested yet, so this is not a quality test. How the signals rank works
Quick answer
- No signup needed: Cryptomator
- Files stay on your device: Cryptomator
Based on what each tool's own pages say. A tool is left out when its pages say it varies or do not say. Details are listed under each tool.
Want two of these head to head? Compare tools side by side.
Details and sources
- Free tier
- Free plan at $0, described as limited use for testing. Includes AES-256 encryption, 2 files per month, key sharing with 1 recipient, and Password Manager and Secured Messenger up to 10 each. Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux; mobile is view only.
- Paid plan
- Premium and Business are billed per month, billed annually, and each has a 14-day free trial. The page shows an annual option as 20% off. The fetched page did not show the price amounts or currency.
- Signup
- Not stated.
- Watermark
- Not applicable.
- Where files go
- AxCrypt's servers are in Sweden. For cloud files (Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox) the policy says AxCrypt does not transmit, retain or share file content or metadata externally. Web server access logs are kept 15 days. The policy does not clearly say whether local files are uploaded.
From the tool's own pages, checked 2026-11-01. Sources: Pricing, Privacy policy. Prices and limits change; check the tool before you rely on them.
Details and sources
- Free tier
- NordLocker provides 3 GB of free cloud storage and local encryption for everyone. The page says: “Yes, NordLocker’s local encryption and 3 GB of private cloud storage are free for everyone.”
- Paid plan
- Premium plans include 500 GB or 2 TB of cloud storage. The page says: “And if you ever need more storage, you can get one of our Premium 500 GB or 2 TB cloud storage plans.”
- Signup
- The service is subscription-based and requires a Nord Account. The page says: “You can cancel the auto-renewal of your subscription at any time by logging into your Nord Account.”
- Watermark
- Not stated.
- Where files go
- Not stated.
From the tool's own pages, checked 2026-11-08. Sources: Pricing. Prices and limits change; check the tool before you rely on them.
Read automatically by a program, not by a person. Each fact quotes the sentence it came from, and a fact is shown only if that sentence is on the page. Where a page did not say, it reads “Not stated.”
Details and sources
- Free tier
- Gpg4win is Free Software. The page says: “Gpg4win (GNU Privacy Guard for Windows) is Free Software and can be installed with just a few mouse clicks.”
- Paid plan
- Not stated.
- Signup
- Not stated.
- Watermark
- Not stated.
- Where files go
- Not stated.
From the tool's own pages, checked 2026-11-08. Sources: Home. Prices and limits change; check the tool before you rely on them.
Read automatically by a program, not by a person. Each fact quotes the sentence it came from, and a fact is shown only if that sentence is on the page. Where a page did not say, it reads “Not stated.”
Details and sources
- Free tier
- The desktop version of Cryptomator is free. The page says: “Cryptomator is more accessible than other solutions because its desktop version is free, and it only charges a small fee for using its mobile app.”
- Paid plan
- The mobile app version of Cryptomator charges a small fee. The page says: “Cryptomator is more accessible than other solutions because its desktop version is free, and it only charges a small fee for using its mobile app.”
- Signup
- Not stated.
- Watermark
- Not stated.
- Where files go
- Cryptomator encrypts data locally on the user's device. The page says: “Encrypt your data locally with client-side encryption.”
From the tool's own pages, checked 2026-11-08. Sources: Home. Prices and limits change; check the tool before you rely on them.
Read automatically by a program, not by a person. Each fact quotes the sentence it came from, and a fact is shown only if that sentence is on the page. Where a page did not say, it reads “Not stated.”
Details and sources
- Free tier
- GnuPG is free software that can be freely used, modified, and distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License. The page says: “Since its introduction in 1997, GnuPG is Free Software (meaning that it respects your freedom). It can be freely used, modified and distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License.”
- Paid plan
- Not stated.
- Signup
- Not stated.
- Watermark
- Not stated.
- Where files go
- Not stated.
From the tool's own pages, checked 2026-11-08. Sources: Home. Prices and limits change; check the tool before you rely on them.
Read automatically by a program, not by a person. Each fact quotes the sentence it came from, and a fact is shown only if that sentence is on the page. Where a page did not say, it reads “Not stated.”
Answers come from each tool's own pages (“Unclear” means they do not say). Tick “Compare” on two to four tools to read them side by side.
Also listed (2, not yet tested)
Each of these answered when we visited its site. We have not tested them or recorded facts, so they are in alphabetical order, not ranked.
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