{
    "products": [
        {
            "slug": "bitlocker",
            "name": "BitLocker",
            "kind": "app",
            "website": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/operating-system-security/data-protection/bitlocker/",
            "page": "https://listme.name/software/bitlocker",
            "tagline": "Built-in Windows disk encryption for Pro and Enterprise editions",
            "summary": "BitLocker is Microsoft's disk encryption feature for Windows, built into Windows Pro, Enterprise and Education editions. It encrypts the operating system drive and fixed drives, and Windows 11 can turn on device encryption automatically on some devices.",
            "developer": "Microsoft",
            "platforms": [
                "windows"
            ],
            "pricing": "free",
            "price_note": "Included with Windows Pro, Enterprise and Education editions",
            "free_to_use": true,
            "open_source": false,
            "strengths": [
                "Built into Windows Pro, Enterprise and Education",
                "Encrypts the system drive and fixed drives"
            ],
            "limits": [
                "Not included in every Windows edition",
                "Encrypts system and fixed drives, not USB drives"
            ],
            "checked": "2026-10-10",
            "connected_to_publisher": false,
            "overview": "BitLocker encrypts the Windows operating system drive and fixed drives, and it is included with Windows Pro, Enterprise and Education editions, according to Microsoft's documentation. Microsoft's overview says it does not encrypt external or USB drives.\n\nBitLocker is a built-in feature rather than a separate download, so there is no separate price. Microsoft's documentation describes device encryption as a simpler way for some devices to turn on BitLocker automatically. Its source code is not published, so Microsoft's documentation is the main public reference."
        },
        {
            "slug": "veracrypt",
            "name": "VeraCrypt",
            "kind": "app",
            "website": "https://veracrypt.io/",
            "page": "https://listme.name/software/veracrypt",
            "tagline": "Free, open-source encryption for disks and encrypted volumes",
            "summary": "VeraCrypt is free, open-source disk and volume encryption software for Windows, macOS and Linux. It is based on TrueCrypt and multi-licensed under the Apache License 2.0 and the TrueCrypt License 3.0, and its installers are published with PGP signatures.",
            "platforms": [
                "windows",
                "macos",
                "linux"
            ],
            "pricing": "open-source",
            "price_note": "Free and open source; no paid edition listed",
            "free_to_use": true,
            "open_source": true,
            "license": "Apache-2.0 and TrueCrypt License 3.0",
            "source": "https://github.com/veracrypt/VeraCrypt",
            "strengths": [
                "Free and open source under Apache 2.0 and TrueCrypt License 3.0",
                "Encrypts whole disks and encrypted volumes",
                "Installers published with PGP signatures"
            ],
            "limits": [
                "Mac builds rely on macFUSE or FUSE-T",
                "Less suited to sharing single files than cloud-focused tools"
            ],
            "checked": "2026-10-10",
            "connected_to_publisher": false,
            "overview": "VeraCrypt encrypts whole disks and encrypted volumes, and its site describes it as free open-source disk encryption for Windows, macOS and Linux. It is based on the original TrueCrypt code. Builds are published for all three systems, and the Mac build relies on macFUSE, with FUSE-T recommended on Apple silicon.\n\nThe project is multi-licensed under the Apache License 2.0 and the TrueCrypt License 3.0, and its license file says so. Its downloads come with PGP signatures so you can check each installer. Because VeraCrypt works on disks and volumes, it suits full-disk and container use more than sharing single files with other people."
        }
    ],
    "differences": [
        "Only VeraCrypt runs on macOS.",
        "Only VeraCrypt runs on Linux.",
        "VeraCrypt is open source; BitLocker is not.",
        "BitLocker: free. VeraCrypt: free and open source."
    ],
    "shared_rankings": [
        {
            "list": "file-encryption-software",
            "name": "File encryption software",
            "page": "https://listme.name/best/file-encryption-software",
            "of": 10,
            "results": [
                {
                    "product": "bitlocker",
                    "rank": 6,
                    "score": 84,
                    "verdict": "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",
                    "spec": {
                        "protects": "System and fixed drives",
                        "platforms": "Windows Pro, Enterprise, Education",
                        "interface": "Windows settings",
                        "open_source": false
                    }
                },
                {
                    "product": "veracrypt",
                    "rank": 1,
                    "score": 92.5,
                    "verdict": "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",
                    "spec": {
                        "protects": "Whole disks and encrypted volumes",
                        "platforms": "Windows, macOS, Linux",
                        "interface": "Graphical app",
                        "open_source": true
                    }
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "ranks_higher_in_closest_shared_list": "veracrypt",
    "page": "https://listme.name/compare/bitlocker-vs-veracrypt",
    "json": "https://listme.name/api/v1/compare/bitlocker-vs-veracrypt.json",
    "notes": [
        "Scores are editorial and only comparable inside one list. Products with connected_to_publisher true receive a disclosed ranking lift: https://listme.name/methodology"
    ],
    "source": "https://listme.name",
    "license": "Free to read and cite with attribution to listme.name.",
    "docs": "https://listme.name/developers"
}