Alternatives to Folder Lock
A Windows program that locks and encrypts files and folders inside password-protected lockers. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Folder Lock
A Windows program that locks and encrypts files and folders inside password-protected lockers.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Folder Lock.
VeraCrypt
Disk encryption that creates encrypted containers, encrypts whole partitions, and can encrypt the drive Windows boots from.
VeraCrypt is free and open source, runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and uses encrypted containers or whole partitions, though mounting needs administrator rights.
Steganos Data Safe
Commercial encryption software that stores sensitive files inside encrypted virtual drives on Windows.
Steganos Data Safe is also a paid closed-source Windows product, storing files in encrypted safes that behave like ordinary drives, optionally bundled with a VPN and password manager.
BestCrypt
Commercial encryption software from Jetico for protecting hard drives, files and folders.
BestCrypt is paid commercial software from Jetico that encrypts files, folders and whole drives, and runs on Windows, macOS and Linux instead of Windows only.
Cryptomator
Encrypts a folder inside your existing cloud storage, so Dropbox or OneDrive holds files it cannot read.
Cryptomator is open source under GPL-3.0 with free desktop apps on Windows, macOS and Linux, encrypting a folder vault aimed at cloud storage with paid mobile apps.
AxCrypt
A file encryption app that protects files and folders with AES-256 before sharing or cloud storage.
AxCrypt encrypts files and folders with AES-256 on desktop and mobile, adds sharing with other AxCrypt users, and requires a paid plan after the trial.
securefs
Mounts an encrypted directory as a normal filesystem.
securefs is free MIT-licensed software that mounts an encrypted directory as a normal filesystem, but it is command-line only and needs WinFsp on Windows.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Encrypto
A free drag-and-drop app for Mac and Windows that encrypts files with AES-256 before sharing.
BitLocker
Full-volume encryption built into Windows that protects data on lost, stolen or discarded devices.
AES Crypt
A file encryption program that protects individual files with a password using AES.
DiskCryptor
An open-source Windows tool for encrypting disk partitions, including the system partition.
SiriKali
Graphical manager for encrypted folders created by gocryptfs, securefs and similar tools.
