Alternatives to VeraCrypt

Disk encryption that creates encrypted containers, encrypts whole partitions, and can encrypt the drive Windows boots from. 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 VeraCrypt.

  • cryptsetup and LUKS

    The standard Linux full-disk encryption layer.

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxCommand line

    cryptsetup with LUKS is the standard Linux full-disk encryption layer with multiple key slots, but it is Linux only and lacks hidden volumes and Windows system encryption.

  • BitLocker

    Full-volume encryption built into Windows that protects data on lost, stolen or discarded devices.

    PaidProprietaryWindows

    BitLocker is built into Windows with nothing to install and documented admin recovery, but it is closed source, Windows only and has no hidden volumes.

  • FileVault

    Full-disk encryption built into macOS that protects the data on a Mac's startup disk.

    FreeProprietarymacOS

    FileVault encrypts the Mac startup disk with nothing to install, but it is macOS only, closed source and has no portable containers or hidden volumes.

  • BestCrypt

    Commercial encryption software from Jetico for protecting hard drives, files and folders.

    PaidProprietaryWindowsmacOSLinux

    BestCrypt from Jetico encrypts drives, files and folders on Windows, macOS and Linux, but it is proprietary and paid rather than open source.

  • DiskCryptor

    An open-source Windows tool for encrypting disk partitions, including the system partition.

    FreeOpen sourceWindows

    DiskCryptor is an open-source Windows tool for encrypting system and non-system partitions, but it is a smaller project with no macOS or Linux support.

  • zuluCrypt

    A Linux GUI and command-line tool for creating, opening and managing encrypted volumes and files.

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxCommand line

    zuluCrypt opens VeraCrypt, TrueCrypt, LUKS and BitLocker volumes on Linux through a GUI or command line, but runs on Linux only.

  • Tomb

    A minimalist Linux command-line tool that creates and manages encrypted LUKS volumes called tombs.

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxCommand line

    Tomb creates LUKS-based encrypted containers with short commands and separate key files, but it is Linux only and has no graphical interface.

  • Shufflecake

    A Linux tool for creating multiple hidden encrypted volumes that offer plausible deniability.

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxCommand line

    Shufflecake provides multiple hidden volumes per device with separate keys for deniability, but it is Linux only and cannot hide its own presence.

Also worth comparing

These listings name VeraCrypt 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

    VeraCrypt is free and open source, runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and uses encrypted containers or whole partitions, though mounting needs administrator rights.

  • OpenZFS

    An open-source filesystem and volume manager with built-in native encryption for datasets.

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxCommand line

    VeraCrypt adds Windows and macOS support with encrypted containers and full partitions, but it offers no pooled storage or dataset management.

  • Steganos Data Safe

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

    PaidProprietaryWindows

    VeraCrypt is free and open source on Windows, macOS and Linux, with mountable encrypted containers, full system encryption and hidden volumes, though mounting needs administrator rights.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.