Alternatives to Kryptor

Command-line file encryption and signing using modern cryptography. 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 Kryptor.

  • age

    File encryption with one small key, no options to get wrong, and a command you can remember.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxCommand line

    age offers similar small, hard-to-misuse command-line file encryption with short keys and SSH key recipients, but it does not provide signing.

  • GnuPG

    Complete free implementation of the OpenPGP standard.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxCommand line

    GnuPG adds OpenPGP interoperability, keyrings and smartcard support for encryption and signing, at the cost of an unforgiving command line and confusing defaults.

  • Picocrypt

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

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    Picocrypt encrypts files with XChaCha20 and Argon2id through a small standalone program without public keys or signing, and it is archived with no further releases.

  • Gpg4win

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

    FreeOpen sourceWindows

    Gpg4win gives Windows users OpenPGP signing and encryption through the Kleopatra key manager, interoperating with other OpenPGP tools, but it is Windows only.

  • 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, offering short keys, pipe-friendly use and plugins from the command line, but without Kryptor's signing support.

  • Sequoia PGP

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

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxCommand line

    Sequoia PGP provides OpenPGP encryption, signing and key management through the sq command, written in Rust, and is available on Linux rather than all desktop systems.

  • scrypt

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

    FreeProprietaryCommand line

    scrypt encrypts files with a passphrase from the command line, with no public keys or signing, and it is not open source unlike Kryptor.

  • 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 Rijndael, adds an Emacs mode, but has no public keys or signing and relies on Cygwin on Windows.

Also worth comparing

These listings name Kryptor 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

    Kryptor is free and open source under GPL-3.0 and adds public-key encryption and signing, but it works from the command line and uses its own file format.

  • Encrypto

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

    FreeProprietaryWindowsmacOS

    Kryptor is free and open source with encryption and signing using short public keys, but it runs from the command line and uses its own file format.

  • hat.sh

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

    FreeOpen sourceWeb

    Kryptor is a free GPL-3.0 command-line tool adding signing and short public keys, but it uses its own file format and needs installing.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.