Alternatives to BitLocker
Full-volume encryption built into Windows that protects data on lost, stolen or discarded devices. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
BitLocker
Full-volume encryption built into Windows that protects data on lost, stolen or discarded devices.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as BitLocker.
VeraCrypt
Disk encryption that creates encrypted containers, encrypts whole partitions, and can encrypt the drive Windows boots from.
VeraCrypt is free and open source, can encrypt the Windows system drive with pre-boot authentication, and adds containers, hidden volumes, and macOS and Linux versions.
DiskCryptor
An open-source Windows tool for encrypting disk partitions, including the system partition.
DiskCryptor is free and open source and encrypts system and non-system partitions on Windows, but it is a smaller project without documented administrator deployment options like BitLocker's.
BestCrypt
Commercial encryption software from Jetico for protecting hard drives, files and folders.
BestCrypt is a paid commercial product from Jetico that encrypts drives, files and folders, and runs on macOS and Linux as well as Windows.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
FileVault
Full-disk encryption built into macOS that protects the data on a Mac's startup disk.
cryptsetup and LUKS
The standard Linux full-disk encryption layer.
Steganos Data Safe
Commercial encryption software that stores sensitive files inside encrypted virtual drives on Windows.
zuluCrypt
A Linux GUI and command-line tool for creating, opening and managing encrypted volumes and files.
Folder Lock
A Windows program that locks and encrypts files and folders inside password-protected lockers.
AxCrypt
A file encryption app that protects files and folders with AES-256 before sharing or cloud storage.
