Alternatives to age

File encryption with one small key, no options to get wrong, and a command you can remember. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as age.

  • GnuPG

    Complete free implementation of the OpenPGP standard.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxCommand line

    GnuPG is the full OpenPGP implementation with keyrings, signing and smartcard support, but its key management and command line are much harder to use safely than age.

  • Kryptor

    Command-line file encryption and signing using modern cryptography.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxCommand line

    Kryptor also offers a small, hard-to-misuse command-line option set with short public keys, and adds file signing, but uses its own file format and is a smaller project.

  • Picocrypt

    A tiny, single-purpose file encryption tool using XChaCha20 and Argon2id. Archived by its author, but still working.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    Picocrypt swaps the command line for a small standalone program with XChaCha20, Argon2id and Reed-Solomon error correction, but it is archived and will receive no further releases.

  • Gpg4win

    GnuPG packaged for Windows with the Kleopatra key manager, for signing and encrypting files and email.

    FreeOpen sourceWindows

    Gpg4win brings OpenPGP encryption and signing to Windows only, with the Kleopatra key manager and Outlook and Explorer integration instead of age's minimal command line.

  • rage

    A Rust implementation of the age file encryption format, with a command-line tool and library.

    FreeOpen sourceCommand line

    rage is a Rust implementation of the age format under MIT or Apache-2.0, so files stay compatible and age plugins still work, with a library alongside the command-line tool.

  • Sequoia PGP

    An OpenPGP implementation in Rust with the sq command-line tool for encrypting, signing and managing keys.

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxCommand line

    Sequoia PGP offers OpenPGP encryption, signing and key management in memory-safe Rust through the sq tool, but it is listed for Linux only and is aimed at developers.

  • ccrypt

    A command-line utility for encrypting and decrypting files and streams with the Rijndael cipher.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxCommand line

    ccrypt encrypts files and streams with a passphrase using the Rijndael cipher, with no public keys or SSH recipients, and its Windows builds rely on Cygwin.

  • scrypt

    A simple command-line tool for password-based file encryption built on the scrypt key derivation function.

    FreeProprietaryCommand line

    scrypt offers passphrase-only file encryption on the command line with brute-force resistant key derivation, but it drops public-key recipients and is not open source.

Also worth comparing

These listings name age as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.

  • AES Crypt

    A file encryption program that protects individual files with a password using AES.

    PaidProprietaryWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidCommand line

    age is free and open source under BSD-3-Clause and supports public keys and SSH keys, but it is command line only with no official graphical front end.

  • Encrypto

    A free drag-and-drop app for Mac and Windows that encrypts files with AES-256 before sharing.

    FreeProprietaryWindowsmacOS

    age is free, open source, and encrypts to public or SSH keys, but it is command line only, so it suits technical users more than drag-and-drop sharing.

  • EncryptPad

    A text editor and file encryptor that uses OpenPGP-compatible symmetric encryption.

    FreeProprietaryWindowsmacOSLinuxCommand line

    age is open source and adds public-key recipients, but it is command line only, has no editor, and does not produce OpenPGP-compatible files.

  • GPG Suite

    An OpenPGP toolkit for macOS for encrypting, signing and verifying files and email.

    FreemiumProprietarymacOS

    age is free and open source for encrypting files with short keys on macOS and elsewhere, but it is command line only and has no signing or mail integration.

  • hat.sh

    An open-source web app that encrypts and decrypts files locally inside your browser.

    FreeOpen sourceWeb

    age is a free BSD-licensed command-line tool with short keys and SSH key recipients, requiring installation and a terminal instead of a browser.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.