ccrypt
A command-line utility for encrypting and decrypting files and streams with the Rijndael cipher.
These buttons open the developer's own site, repository or store listing in a new tab. wares.gg does not host downloads.
About ccrypt
ccrypt encrypts and decrypts files and streams with a key phrase you supply, using the Rijndael block cipher that AES is based on. You normally run it through the ccencrypt and ccdecrypt commands. The ccat command decrypts a file straight to the terminal, so no temporary plaintext file is left behind.
A compatibility mode decrypts files made by the old Unix crypt command, and an Emacs mode lets you edit encrypted text files. Binaries are offered for Linux, macOS, Windows through Cygwin, several BSDs and other Unix systems.
Strengths
- Simple ccencrypt, ccdecrypt and ccat commands
- ccat decrypts to the terminal without leaving plaintext files
- Emacs mode for editing encrypted text files
- Builds for many Unix-like systems
Limitations
- Command line only, no graphical interface
- Windows builds rely on Cygwin
Details
- Pricing
- FreeFree to download, with source code and prebuilt binaries.
- License
- Open source, license not stated
- Developer
- Peter Selinger
- Platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux, Command line
- How it runs
- Downloadable app
- Account
- Not required
- Works offline
- Yes
- Best suited for
- Encrypting individual files from the terminal with a passphrase
- Categories
- Encryption tools, CLI tools
- Last verified
- Added
- Provenance
- Facts checked against the developer's own pages and store listings, 1 sources on file.
Alternatives to ccrypt
Compare allSoftware that can replace ccrypt for an important use case, and what changes if you switch.
age
File encryption with one small key, no options to get wrong, and a command you can remember.
age is open source under BSD-3-Clause and also works with pipes, adding public-key recipients and SSH keys, while still being command line only.
scrypt
A simple command-line tool for password-based file encryption built on the scrypt key derivation function.
scrypt keeps passphrase-only encryption on the command line, using a key derivation function designed to resist hardware brute-force attacks, but it is not open source.
rage
A Rust implementation of the age file encryption format, with a command-line tool and library.
rage is a Rust implementation of the age format with a command-line tool and library, supporting public keys and plugins rather than only a passphrase.
AES Crypt
A file encryption program that protects individual files with a password using AES.
AES Crypt adds desktop apps and an Android version alongside its command-line tool, but it is paid after a 30-day trial and not open source.
Kryptor
Command-line file encryption and signing using modern cryptography.
Kryptor adds public-key encryption and signing with modern primitives on the command line, but it uses its own file format with limited interoperability.
EncryptPad
A text editor and file encryptor that uses OpenPGP-compatible symmetric encryption.
EncryptPad keeps an editing workflow for encrypted text like ccrypt's Emacs mode, adding a graphical editor and OpenPGP-compatible files, but it is not open source.
Picocrypt
A tiny, single-purpose file encryption tool using XChaCha20 and Argon2id. Archived by its author, but still working.
Picocrypt replaces the terminal with a small graphical tool using XChaCha20 and Argon2id, but it is archived with no more releases planned.
GnuPG
Complete free implementation of the OpenPGP standard.
GnuPG provides full OpenPGP public-key encryption and signing across platforms, but its key management and command line are much more complex than ccrypt's three commands.
ccrypt as an alternative
Listings that name ccrypt as an alternative.
hat.sh
An open-source web app that encrypts and decrypts files locally inside your browser.
ccrypt is a free open-source command-line tool using the Rijndael cipher, with a ccat command that decrypts to the terminal without plaintext files.
Similar software
Related functionality, not necessarily a direct replacement.
