File encryption isn't one problem—encrypting a whole disk
(VeraCrypt), adding encryption on top of an existing cloud provider
(Cryptomator), signing and encrypting individual files for another
person (GnuPG, age), or archiving and encrypting a folder of files
(PeaZip) are different jobs with different right tools.
All five tools here are free, and all but PeaZip's GUI wrapper are
fully open source with published, auditable cryptography—no vendor
lock-in, no subscription.
Transparency: All tools in this guide are free
and link directly to their official project sites—no affiliate
links. Sponsorship FAQ.
VeraCrypt creates encrypted virtual disks (containers) or
encrypts entire partitions and drives, using strong,
well-reviewed algorithms. It supports hidden volumes—a second
encrypted volume inside the first, deniable under coercion—and
is the direct, actively-maintained successor to the discontinued
TrueCrypt project, widely trusted after years of community and
academic scrutiny.
Pros
Full-disk and container encryption in one tool
Hidden volume support for plausible deniability
Free and open source, long track record
Cross-platform
Cons
Interface feels dated
Hidden volumes require careful usage discipline or the
deniability breaks
Not built for syncing to cloud storage—use Cryptomator for
that
Ideal for: Encrypting entire drives, USB
sticks, or creating a private encrypted container on any
machine.
Pricing: Free.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Why it's here: The trusted default for
whole-disk and container encryption.
Cryptomator encrypts files locally before they sync to whatever
cloud storage you already use—Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive,
or anything else—turning any conventional provider into a
zero-knowledge one. Encryption is fully client-side and open
source, so you keep using the storage you already pay for while
the provider only ever sees ciphertext.
Pros
Works with any existing cloud provider
Open source, auditable client-side encryption
Free desktop apps; mobile apps are paid
Cons
Requires a separate cloud storage account underneath it
Mobile apps aren't free
Doesn't replace native cloud sharing features—shared links
need extra care
Ideal for: Anyone who wants to keep their
existing cloud provider but stop trusting it with plaintext
files.
Pricing: Free on desktop; mobile apps are a
one-time paid purchase. Platforms: Windows,
macOS, Linux, Android, iOS.
Why it's here: The pick for adding real
encryption to Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive without
switching providers.
age ("actually good encryption") is a modern command-line file
encryption tool built to avoid the configuration footguns of
OpenPGP: no algorithm choices to get wrong, no metadata leakage,
and keys short enough to read over the phone. It encrypts to one
or more recipient public keys, a passphrase, or even existing
SSH keys, using modern primitives (X25519, ChaCha20-Poly1305)
with no legacy baggage.
Pros
No configuration options to misconfigure
No metadata leakage by design
Can encrypt to existing SSH keys, no new key management
Small, auditable codebase
Cons
Command-line only, no polished GUI
No built-in signing (unlike GnuPG)
Less familiar to non-technical users than GUI tools
Ideal for: Technical users who want simple,
modern file encryption without OpenPGP's complexity.
Pricing: Free, open source.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux (CLI); Go
library available.
Why it's here: The pick when GnuPG feels like
more complexity than the task needs.
GnuPG (GPG) is the free, complete implementation of the OpenPGP
standard, used to encrypt and cryptographically sign files and
messages. It's the most widely deployed tool of its kind,
integrated into countless email clients (including K-9 Mail) and
package-signing workflows, though its flexibility means more
configuration decisions than a tool like age.
Pros
Widely deployed standard, integrates with email clients
Signing and encryption in one tool
Free and open source
Decades of scrutiny and adoption
Cons
More configuration surface than modern alternatives like
age
Key management (trust, revocation) has a real learning
curve
PeaZip is a free, open-source archive manager that supports
strong AES-256 encryption when compressing files into an
archive, aimed at users who want a familiar point-and-click
experience rather than a command line. It's the most
approachable tool on this list for someone who just wants to zip
up a folder and password-protect it.
Pros
Graphical interface, no command line required
AES-256 encrypted archives
Free and open source
Handles most common archive formats
Cons
Encryption is limited to archives, not full disks or
arbitrary files
Less rigorously audited than VeraCrypt or GnuPG
Windows-first experience; Linux/macOS support is less
polished
Ideal for: Non-technical users who want a
simple, familiar way to password-protect a folder of files.
Pricing: Free, open source.
Platforms: Windows, Linux (macOS support
limited).
Why it's here: The approachable pick for
readers who want a GUI, not a terminal.
A weak passphrase defeats all of these. AES-256
and OpenPGP are not the weak point in almost any real-world
break-in—a guessable passphrase is. Use a password manager to
generate and store it.
Encryption doesn't protect metadata by default.
Filenames, file sizes, and folder structure can leak information
even when contents are encrypted—age and some archive formats
handle this differently, so check before relying on it.
Lost keys mean lost data, by design. None of
these tools have a backdoor for forgotten passwords—that's what
makes them trustworthy, and also what makes backups of your key or
passphrase essential.
They solve different problems. Cryptomator encrypts files
headed to cloud storage; VeraCrypt encrypts a local container
or an entire disk. Many privacy-conscious users run both.
Is age a replacement for GnuPG?
For simple file encryption to yourself or a known recipient,
yes, and many find it easier. For email encryption or
workflows that specifically require OpenPGP compatibility,
GnuPG remains necessary.
Does encrypting a file protect it if my whole device is
compromised?
Not fully—if malware captures your passphrase or reads
decrypted files from memory, file-level encryption won't help.
It protects data at rest (a stolen laptop, a subpoenaed cloud
account), not an actively compromised, running system.
