Best Encryption Software and Tools for 2023

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August 11, 2023, 12:50 PM EDT

This is a comprehensive list of best encryption software and tools, covering their features, pricing and more. Use this guide to determine your best fit.

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Encryption secures information by translating it into computer code that’s unreadable to those who don’t have the means to access the information. These means of access can include passwords, credentials and authentication of some form. Though encryption could still possibly be broken or cracked, strong encryption is nearly impenetrable.

Securing data both stored and in-transit through encryption is essential as part of an organization’s cybersecurity strategy. There are various encryption options out there. Here are the top picks.

Jump to:

Top encryption software: Comparison table
Top encryption software
Key features of encryption tools
Methodology
How do I choose the best encryption software for my business?

Top encryption software: Comparison table

Product Name	Price	Offers Support?	Offers Password Management?	On-the-Fly Decryption?	Enterprise-Grade Encryption?
Microsoft BitLocker: Best for Windows environments	Free with Windows OS	Yes	Unknown	No	Yes
VeraCrypt: Best for hidden encryption	Free	No	No	Yes	No
AxCrypt Premium: Best for local storage encryption	$12 per month, per user for AxCrypt Business plan	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Trend Micro Endpoint Encryption: Best for handling diverse media and file types	Part of a series of offerings that vary by price; contact vendor but a license supporting up to 500 endpoints averages about $75-$85 per month	Yes	No	No	Yes
NordLocker: Best for all-in-one encrypted data	Business plan: $8.99 per user, per month (500GB); Business Plus: $18.99 per user, per month (2TB); Contact for custom plans	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Boxcryptor: Best for securing cloud storage	Starts at $12 per user, per month	Yes	No	No	Yes
Advanced Encryption Package: Best for easy encryption on latest version of Windows	Basic free version Fully unlocked version: one-time fee of $49.95	No	No	Yes	Yes

Top encryption software

Microsoft BitLocker: Best for Windows environments

Microsoft BitLocker is available on server and business editions and contains various encryption tools. The Redmond solution focuses on encrypting files and drives on a device right out of the box. Likewise, you can set up recovery keys to retrieve data if you get firmware problems or errors. It’s an excellent choice for encryption software for Windows.

Typically, you need a Microsoft account or will need to link a device to a Windows domain to use it. You can also configure it for a corporate environment using Group Policy. The settings help you decide which drives you want to encrypt and how to distribute your keys (certificates).

Additionally, the computer must have a Trusted Platform Module that can support the encryption process.

Pricing

Free as part of Windows software.

Features

Encrypts full drives and other media.
Supports Microsoft account-linking and domain-linking.
Built into Windows software.

Pros

User-friendly.
Offers whole-disk encryption of files and folders.

Cons

Only works on Windows platform.

AxCrypt Premium: Best for local storage encryption

AxCrypt Premium allows users to encrypt files locally using the AES-256 encryption algorithm. Sharing is possible with its key-sharing option. The solution protects classified and sensitive information and provides access to a master password generator.

Pricing

There’s a one-month trial period. The monthly price is $12 per user for AxCrypt Business, but customers get 20% off if they choose annual billing.

Features

Allows file and key sharing.
Supports encryption and decryption of files on Android and iOS devices.
Offers master password management.

Pros

Good support options for enterprises.
Compatible with Android, iOS, macOS and Windows.

Cons

Doesn’t support Windows and Linux phones by default.
Locked files aren’t typically encrypted.

NordLocker: Best for all-in-one encrypted data

NordLocker offers data synchronization, encryption and secure file sharing. The company behind this cloud-based application also has other products in their portfolio, including NordPass, NordSecurity and NordVPN.

Pricing

There’s a 14-day trial period and three subscription plans:

Business: 500GB of cloud storage for $12.99 per user, per month and $8.99 per user annually.
Business Plus: 2TB of cloud storage for $18.99 per user, per month.
Custom: contact sales.

Features

Supports folder locking.
Offers drag-and-drop auto encryption.
Supports secure file sharing.
On-the-go decryption and updates.

Pros

Easy-to-use.
Supports multi-factor authentication.
Offers centralized management.
Combines backup, encryption and file-sharing options.

Cons

Doesn’t support Linux natively.

SEE: NordLocker vs. VeraCrypt

Boxcryptor: Best for securing cloud storage

Boxcryptor is ideal for those who want cloud-focused encryption software. It supports RSA and AES 256-bit encryption.

The free version offers limited features, but Boxcryptor is a good option for its cloud storage encryption capabilities.

Pricing

Starts at $12 per user, per month.

Features

Multi-platform support.
Provides end-to-end encryption.
Works with many cloud storage providers.
Provides security audits.
Offers simple and secure authentication.
Offers secure collaboration.

Pros

Works on all folders.
Secure online backup included.
Provides cloud-based encryption.
Has a free version.

Cons

Not an option for on-premise encryption.
Free version only works on two devices

Advanced Encryption Package: Best for easy encryption on latest version of Windows

Advanced Encryption Package is available for Windows 10 and 11 only. The easy-to-use data encryption software makes you create your password to access files and choose your encryption algorithm. Decryption is easy as well.

Pricing

Basic: free version.
Fully unlocked version: one-time fee of $49.95.

Features

Offers secure file deletion.
Supports 17 encryption algorithms.
Encrypts text to and from the clipboard.
Has command-line management.

Pros

Seamless integration with Windows 10 and 11.
Easy-to-use interface.
Free.
Allows you to encrypt text copied to the clipboard.

Cons

Not available for non-Windows 10 or 11 platforms.

Key features of encryption tools

When choosing encryption software, you should focus on these key features:

User Interface

You want an easy-to-use interface so that you can manage and access the encrypted data. Multi-factor access control is a plus.

Automatic Backup

Ideally, an encryption tool should automatically backup encrypted files. Doing so provides another layer of protection in case data is damaged or lost.

Encryption Algorithms

At the very least, encryption should support the AES-256-bit algorithm which is military-grade security.

Diverse device support

Organizations with users that bring their own devices to do work should look for encryption software that can be used across different types of devices.

Customer Support

Solid and multiple support options are always ideal.

Methodology

We used market research to determine the top encryption software. This research involved studying industry rankings, discussions and product reviews. Finally, we narrowed the list to the most appropriate candidates, choosing based on features like how well the software protects sensitive data, its integration capabilities and the pricing in comparison to the features each offer.

How do I choose the best encryption software for my business?

Looking at the list of products above, you’ll find bundles, free options and some with trial versions. So it’s easy to try them all out and choose the right file encryption program that meets your needs.

BitLocker could be ideal for those who want files encrypted throughout their network and doesn’t have a huge learning curve to use. However, VeraCrypt and AxCrypt may be better if the focus is on protecting individual files without sharing.

Trend Micro is more of an enterprise focused tool because of its business-focused feature set. Boxcryptor may be best for cloud-based infrastructures.

Additionally, you should look for vendors with free product trials and transparent pricing.

1
ESET PROTECT Advanced

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Protect your company computers, laptops and mobile devices with security products all managed via a cloud-based management console. The solution includes cloud sandboxing technology, preventing zero-day threats, and full disk encryption capability for enhanced data protection. ESET Protect Advanced complies with data regulation thanks to full disk encryption capabilities on Windows and macOS. Get started today!

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2
Graylog

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With Graylog, you get the key features you need to maintain a robust security posture. Graylog is a scalable, flexible log management and cybersecurity platform that combines SIEM, security analytics, industry-leading anomaly detection capabilities with machine learning. Built by practitioners for practitioners, Graylog Security flips the traditional SIEM application on its head by stripping out the complexity, alert noise, and high costs.

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NINJIO Cybersecurity Awareness Training

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NINJIO SENSE is our behavioral science-based training that helps employees understand what it “feels like” when hackers are trying to manipulate them by focusing on the 7 core susceptibilities hackers exploit during social engineering attacks.

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