Alternatives to securefs

Mounts an encrypted directory as a normal filesystem. 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 securefs.

  • gocryptfs

    An encrypted overlay filesystem for Linux that encrypts each file individually, so cloud sync and backups only move what changed.

    FreeOpen sourcemacOSLinuxCommand line

    gocryptfs also encrypts each file for cloud sync and was independently audited, but it has no native Windows support and its macOS support is beta.

  • Cryptomator

    Encrypts a folder inside your existing cloud storage, so Dropbox or OneDrive holds files it cannot read.

    FreemiumOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOS

    Cryptomator gives cloud folder encryption a graphical app on desktop and mobile with only a vault password, though its mobile apps are paid and it is GPL-3.0 licensed.

  • cppcryptfs

    Mounts a gocryptfs-encrypted folder as a Windows drive letter, encrypting file contents and names transparently.

    FreeOpen sourceWindows

    cppcryptfs mounts gocryptfs-format folders as Windows drive letters, so it covers Windows only and needs the Dokany driver instead of WinFsp.

  • CryFS

    An encrypted filesystem that protects files stored in cloud storage, including their metadata and folder structure.

    FreeOpen sourcemacOSLinuxCommand line

    CryFS also hides folder structure and metadata, not just contents, but runs only on macOS and Linux under the LGPL-3.0 license.

Also worth comparing

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

  • Folder Lock

    A Windows program that locks and encrypts files and folders inside password-protected lockers.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindows

    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.

  • fscrypt

    A command-line tool, written in Go, for managing native Linux filesystem encryption on ext4 and F2FS.

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxCommand line

    securefs mounts an encrypted directory on Linux, macOS or Windows without needing native filesystem encryption, but it requires FUSE or WinFsp.

  • Steganos Data Safe

    Commercial encryption software that stores sensitive files inside encrypted virtual drives on Windows.

    PaidProprietaryWindows

    securefs is free MIT-licensed software that mounts an encrypted directory as a filesystem across platforms, but it is command-line only and needs WinFsp on Windows.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.