Alternatives
Best Cryptomator alternatives in 2026
Cryptomator is open-source encryption for files in Dropbox, Google Drive and OneDrive. These 9 alternatives come from the same rankings, ordered by editorial score. Connected products carry a small, disclosed lift.
Ranked alternatives
- 1
VeraCrypt
Free, open-source encryption for whole disks and encrypted volumes on Windows, macOS and Linux, with PGP-signed installers. It is disk-focused, so it is less convenient than Cryptomator for files in cloud folders.
Best for Encrypted disks and volumes on desktops
WindowsmacOSLinuxFree and open sourceOpen source
- 2
GnuPG
The main free OpenPGP implementation, under GPL-3.0, for files and email on Windows, macOS and Linux. Setup is technical, and most use needs the command line or a front end such as Gpg4win.
Best for OpenPGP encryption for files and email
WindowsmacOSLinuxCommand lineFree and open sourceOpen source
- 3
age
A small, scriptable file encryption tool under BSD-3-Clause, with a Go library and installs for macOS, Linux and Windows. It is command-line only, so it suits developers rather than everyday users.
Best for Scripted file encryption from the command line
WindowsmacOSLinuxCommand lineFree and open sourceOpen source
- 4
gocryptfs
Encrypts each file as its own encrypted file inside a mountable folder, so encrypted data syncs with Dropbox or rsync. It is MIT licensed and command-line driven, with Linux fully supported and macOS in beta.
Best for Developers who sync encrypted folders from a terminal
LinuxCommand lineFree and open sourceOpen source
- 5
BitLocker
Built-in full-disk encryption at no extra cost on Windows Pro, Enterprise and Education. It covers the system and fixed drives but not USB drives, and its source is not published.
Best for Windows Pro users who want built-in disk encryption
WindowsFree
- 6
AxCrypt
Encrypts single files with AES-256 across desktop and mobile, with a free plan for two encryptions a month. Only part of its code is published, and full use needs a paid Premium plan.
Best for Encrypting single files with a small free plan
WindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOSFree plan, paid upgrades
- 7
FileVault
Built-in macOS disk encryption that Apple turns on automatically on Apple silicon and T2 Macs. It protects the startup disk rather than single files, and it comes with macOS at no extra cost.
Best for Mac users who want the startup disk encrypted
macOSFree
- 8
7-Zip
Free, open-source archiver with AES-256 encryption for 7z and ZIP files, plus a command-line version. It is listed for Windows only and protects archives rather than a live vault.
Best for Password-protected archives on Windows
WindowsFree and open sourceOpen source
- 9
Picocrypt
A GPL-3.0 tool for Windows, macOS and Linux that encrypts files and folders, with downloads linked from its GitHub repository. Its README warns about a fake website that posed as the official one, so use the repository link.
Best for Users who want an open-source desktop encryption app
WindowsmacOSLinuxFree and open sourceOpen source
Compare Cryptomator head to head
- Cryptomatorversus
VeraCrypt - Cryptomatorversus
GnuPG - Cryptomatorversus
age - Cryptomatorversusgocryptfs
- Cryptomatorversus
BitLocker - Cryptomatorversus
AxCrypt
Or build your own comparison table with Cryptomator and up to three other products.
About Cryptomator alternatives
Before you switch
Learning Center
1:16Lock-in and exit costs: check how you leave before you commitLearn what lock-in is, run an export test on real data, compare open formats and local versus hosted storage, and plan an exit with your EU data rights in mind.
1:20How to run a software trial that tells you somethingRun a software trial that answers your question. Set criteria first, use real files, test import, export and sharing, then decide before the end date.
