Alternatives to Picocrypt
A tiny, single-purpose file encryption tool using XChaCha20 and Argon2id. Archived by its author, but still working. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Picocrypt
A tiny, single-purpose file encryption tool using XChaCha20 and Argon2id. Archived by its author, but still working.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Picocrypt.
age
File encryption with one small key, no options to get wrong, and a command you can remember.
age is actively maintained, BSD-licensed file encryption with short public keys and SSH key recipients, but it is command-line only with no graphical front end.
Kryptor
Command-line file encryption and signing using modern cryptography.
Kryptor adds public-key encryption and signing with modern primitives from the command line, but uses its own file format and has no Reed-Solomon error correction.
GnuPG
Complete free implementation of the OpenPGP standard.
GnuPG brings OpenPGP public-key encryption, signing and smartcard support that interoperates widely, but its key management and command line are hard for newcomers.
Gpg4win
GnuPG packaged for Windows with the Kleopatra key manager, for signing and encrypting files and email.
Gpg4win offers graphical OpenPGP file encryption on Windows through Kleopatra and Explorer integration, but it is Windows only and involves managing OpenPGP keys.
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, adds mobile apps and sharing with other AxCrypt users, but it is paid and closed source.
Encrypto
A free drag-and-drop app for Mac and Windows that encrypts files with AES-256 before sharing.
Encrypto offers free drag-and-drop AES-256 file encryption with password hints on Mac and Windows, but it is closed source and has no Linux version.
AES Crypt
A file encryption program that protects individual files with a password using AES.
AES Crypt encrypts single files with a password on desktop, Android and command line, but it is paid after a trial and not open source.
rage
A Rust implementation of the age file encryption format, with a command-line tool and library.
rage is a maintained Rust implementation of the age format, used from the command line with pipes and plugins instead of a graphical window.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Picocrypt as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
ccrypt
A command-line utility for encrypting and decrypting files and streams with the Rijndael cipher.
Picocrypt replaces the terminal with a small graphical tool using XChaCha20 and Argon2id, but it is archived with no more releases planned.
EncryptPad
A text editor and file encryptor that uses OpenPGP-compatible symmetric encryption.
Picocrypt is open source and encrypts files with XChaCha20 and Argon2id through a small graphical tool, but it has no text editor and is archived.
hat.sh
An open-source web app that encrypts and decrypts files locally inside your browser.
Picocrypt is a free GPL-3.0 desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux using XChaCha20 and Argon2id, but it is archived with no further releases.
scrypt
A simple command-line tool for password-based file encryption built on the scrypt key derivation function.
Picocrypt provides a graphical passphrase-based encryptor using Argon2id and XChaCha20 with error correction, but it is archived and will receive no more releases.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
VeraCrypt
Disk encryption that creates encrypted containers, encrypts whole partitions, and can encrypt the drive Windows boots from.
Cryptomator
Encrypts a folder inside your existing cloud storage, so Dropbox or OneDrive holds files it cannot read.
OpenSSL
Work with certificates and cryptography using a widely used toolkit.
