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When I entered the corporate industry five years ago, I used to access the web via a local area network (LAN) server. When every website you browse is monitored, it raises alarming questions regarding security and encryption.
After learning a thing or two, I teamed up with IT specialists and network engineers to get a more holistic picture of encryption. That's when they informed me that a truckload of memory storage, server incompatibility, hardware and OS versioning, and employee lack of awareness are the reasons for weak data encryption.
When I combined their mentoring with my own experience, I set about to test around 40+ encryption software to learn how to improve cybersecurity.
Out of the 40 solutions, I experimented with 7 best encryption software that provided key features like public key interface (PKI), ciphering, hashing, file shredding, and secure locker services that reduce the scope of data infiltration and malware. It also led me to outline key parameters, pros and cons, and real-time G2 reviews of these 7 best encryption software that would help cybersecurity teams take their chance and invest their dollar wisely.
Apart from my own testing, these 7 best encryption software have also been rated as top market leaders on G2 in terms of customer satisfaction, ease of use, market presence, and cost-effectiveness.
These encryption software are top-rated in their category, according to G2 Grid Reports. I’ve also added their monthly pricing to make comparisons easier for you.
Encryption software offers symmetric and asymmetric cryptography features to encrypt and secure files and decrypt encrypted files using a public or private key. It safeguards your local files and web materials against unwarranted spies or snoops. As I went through the testing and experimentation phase, I learned how the encryption patterns have modified and shifted from traditional encryption algorithms to modern functionalities like hashing, passphrases, and lockers.
It is fascinating to witness how we've come a long way from encrypting and securing files via ciphertext to storing them in cloud storage containers or lockers. Whether my data is stored on-premise or on the cloud, these best encryption tools extend their service via simple and secure authentication to public and private clouds. Further, the public key interface (PKI) feature helped me exchange protected data by sharing a common public key with the recipient while maintaining its privacy from other users.
One thing is for sure: these software build a digital fortress around your sensitive data that is inaccessible to snoopers or feds and provide end-to-end protection against malware and brute force attacks. But while I share my own personal experience of how satisfied I am with the encryption services, I'd say signing up for a trial or registering for a custom demo would give you first-hand experience with shortlisting tools for your data encryption processes.
I spent several weeks experimenting and testing around 40 best encryption software and evaluated the pros and cons, features, pricing, and customer service to assemble this final list of 7 best encryption systems that provide end-to-end data security and malware protection and prevent unauthorized data breaches.
During the testing stage, I also took artificial intelligence assistance to narrow down core features and use cases of every software module. Further, this list also accounts for real-life user reviews, needs, pain points, and degree of satisfaction. On top of that, I also checked out Grid Reports to see how these encryption software compare. All this research led to the best encryption software tailored just for you.
Choosing encryption software was a twofold process for me: I wanted tools that offer end-to-end file encryption and were easy to set up, implement, and run. I experimented with various local and cloud devices with different storage capacities to evaluate which encryption tool offers the maximum compatibility and data exchange facilities to transmit data from point A to point B without any packet loss.
Other than putting together a checklist of which encryption algorithms are present in the encryption software, I looked for additional plug-and-play tools and online backup services to double-verify that no unencrypted file is left on the system. With that, I have outlined the fitting parameters for every encryption tool that you should pre-check to get your dollar's return on investment and build a strong cybersecurity entourage for your company.
These parameters set an encryption tool apart from the noise of different cybersecurity systems in the market. Now, with my personal experience of trying and researching the best 7 encryption tools out of the 40+ tools that I shortlisted, I am certain that each of these solutions is designed to protect your on-premise and cloud server databases and set high standards for data safety while reducing the data breach or unauthorized access.
While the above features gave me the necessary benefits, enabling smooth and safe data exchange and creating vaults for my convenience, businesses have a different process of shortlisting a suitable tool. Before you get into this list, outline your requirements, budget, network architecture workflows, and existing solutions to analyze the most suitable encryption software.
The list below contains genuine user reviews of encryption software. It is important to note that vendors offering a free trial are also considered free in this context.
To be included in this category, a solution must:
*This data was pulled from G2 in 2025. Some reviews may have been edited for clarity.
In my experience, Signal was a perfect instant messaging system for sending and receiving encrypted files and editing or modifying decrypted files. As I noticed that it was difficult to send encrypted files to recipients via other tools, Signal provided an instant messaging service for attaching custom documents with encrypted attachments and sharing them on any cloud platform like Dropbox, Google Drive, and so on.
Signal's biggest strength is its end-to-end encryption. It locks your message data, call recordings, and stored files within its safe vault. I didn't have to worry about anyone snooping in on my conversations, which feels reassuring as today, private data is vulnerable to all global servers.
I also found out that it uses the Signal protocol to protect files during uploading or downloading. One of the first things I noticed was how simple and clean the interface is. It is not cluttered with unnecessary features, so you can encrypt and send your documents or files without any hassle.
While signal doesn't overwhelm you with options, it still offered everything that I needed from an instant messaging platform. It can shred unencrypted messages or files, destroy magnetic file data, log in from mobile or any other gadget, and create group chats to send and receive encrypted files.
However, while you can custom upload documents, Signal couldn't give me any support for disk storage or cloud storage. It doesn't provide encryption for local system files until you don't customize it as a rich text document and upload it over Signal's server.
Overall, the app was easy to use, but there is a learning curve for features like disappearing messages or managing backups. Plus, if the person you are messaging isn't on Signal, the chats won't be encrypted.
The signal doesn't provide encryption algorithm coverage or a password manager. Overall, while I feel it provides a good platform for spearheading business communication, it lacks a little in terms of maintaining data privacy and security.
"Signal is end-to-end encrypted, which ensures 100% privacy. It is so easy to communicate with people even when they are far from us. It is also ad-free and does not track user data. Users can set messages to automatically delete after a specified time which enhances privacy."
- Signal Review, Aakriti M.
"Camera quality is very poor. My phone has a very good camera, but somehow when I click photos within Signal, the quality becomes poor. Also, sometimes notifications do not come until I open the app. So this needs to be fixed. Also, it takes up more storage than other messaging apps."
- Signal Review, Rohit T.
Learn about the implications of using an instant messaging app in the workplace and facilitate the right communication with your peers.
If there is an app that stands out for encrypting files and offering highly technical cipher to protect company data, it is none other than Microsoft Bitlocker for me.
Microsoft Bitlocker is Microsoft's built-in encryption tool for Windows. It can encrypt files or even simply lock unencrypted files without encrypting them.
If the locker is open, I can view all the files and folders. But if the locker is closed, the data remains elusive and untraceable. It uses the advanced encryption standard (AES) algorithm with 128-bit or 256-bit keys to protect your data from prying eyes. It also offers additional online secure deletion and backup services.
I also deployed Microsoft Bitlocker on different Windows operating systems, only to find out that it integrated perfectly with Windows 10 or Windows 11. You don't require any additional integration to configure and launch the application.
Another key feature was that I could save all my passwords in an inbuilt password manager, add hashing layers to lockers, and even log in to the cloud console to access all my saved lockers. Microsoft Bitlocker provided seamless cloud compatibility and tight-knit encryption services for my files.
Speaking of passwords, there was a difference between how to set keys for lockers. If you forget your recovery key, your data is gone forever. While this makes Bitlocker secure, there was no original footprint of my file on the computer other than the encrypted file I couldn't access.
If you are a MacOS or Android user, you won't be able to launch Microsoft Bitlocker. I also couldn't share any files or folders with non-Windows operating system users.
I could notice that some features were not completely user friendly as well. When my system had to update for TPM check, the entire process resembled a command line interface program that was difficult to understand. I couldn't complete the password recovery process to unlock my files without external assistance.
"What I like most about Microsoft BitLocker is that it provides a high level of data security through full disk encryption. It’s easy to set up and doesn’t require extra effort from the user. For someone who wants to protect their personal or work data from unauthorized access, BitLocker is an extremely useful and convenient tool. Security is a top priority for me, and BitLocker does exactly that – it gives peace of mind and confidence that my information is safe."
- Microsoft Bitlocker Review, Emran M.
"It only works for Windows and does not completely or fully support on Linux based machines"
- Microsoft Bitlocker Review, Srivathsav M.
Keep a regular check on your system's health and diagnose real-time vulnerabilities with free antivirus software to prevent any scope of trojans or malware.
As soon as I tested Progress MOVEit, I anticipated it would be the ideal choice for mid-to-enterprise-level cybersecurity teams. It manages, supervises, and automates all file-sharing and transfer processes on one centralized platform.
Whether it is encryption services, file automation, activity level tracking, or maintaining service level agreements, Progress MOVEit doesn't have a dearth of features. It uses advanced file transfer protocols and asymmetric cryptography to deliver files from one system to another.
Further, it also enabled me to onboard new data partners, set cloud locker login, and run backup syncs of unencrypted documents to ensure the data wasn't lost. From its clean interface to intuitive workflows, you don't need to be an IT genuis to work with this platform. I could share encrypted files with a quick turnaround and even set workflow automation to reduce manual data monitoring and diagnosis.
Whenever I hit a snag, their customer support team has always been on point. Plus, the knowledge base it provides is a treasure trove of useful info—perfect for solving minor issues yourself. Whether you are handling routine transfers or big data migrations, Progress MOVEit is a trusted and reliable tool to work with.
But, like any other encryption software, Progress MOVEit isn't perfect. My system lagged frequently during longer system updates, thwarting me from encrypting my files at the right time.
I also struggled to get a rundown of the number of disks scanned, the last backup details, date, and time in the form of a customizable analytics report. If you are someone who relies on detailed analytics, you might the current offerings to be a bit lacking.
I don't deny Progress MOVEit's unbreakable encryption standards, but past security incidents have left some users cautious. It needs a stronger password and hashing mechanism to compress and secure multiple files and build more trust.
"What I like best about Progress MOVEit is its strong emphasis on security and compliance, coupled with its ease of use. The platform's ability to encrypt files both in transit and at rest, along with detailed audit trails, provides peace of mind that sensitive data is well-protected. Additionally, the intuitive user interface makes it easy for both technical and non-technical users to manage file transfers effectively. The automation features are particularly valuable, reducing manual effort and ensuring that file transfers happen reliably and on schedule. The integration capabilities also stand out, allowing MOVEit to seamlessly fit into existing workflows and systems."
- Progress MOVEit Review, Eric R.
"Sometimes there are bugs on the application and when you try to get help, they won't be able to solve the bug issue because it's an update that needs to be rolled to an X date to do it all for all their clients."
- Progress MOVEit Review, Ryan T.
Divide the difference between tokenization and encryption to contemplate which data security preference is better for safeguarding your business's digital assets.
Not only did FileVault offer cryptography services to my individual files, but it extended the encryption service to a complete disk drive. FileVault offers encryption features like storage containers, vaults, and lockers that can store anything, from identity-proof documents to credit card information.
FileVault is macOS's built-in encryption feature. It provides services like full disk encryption, online file shredding, secure file protocol, and online backup and recovery. It's free, included with every Mac, and doesn't require any extra configuration.
What I love most about FileVault is its airtight security. It uses XTS-AES-128 encryption with a 256-bit key, which sounds super technical - and it is - but in plain terms- it means my data is locked down like Fort Knox with a master password.
Whether personal documents, work files, or anything else, FileVault ensures that the files are encrypted and converted into cipher to protect them from unethical predators. The data is all tied to my Mac credentials, meaning only I or someone with my private key can access it.
That said, FileVault does have its downers. One thing I've noticed is a slight performance hit when FileVault is enabled. It is not a dealbreaker for me, but if you work with older macOS or resource-heavy apps, the system might lag or be vulnerable to external bugs.
Another hiccup is accessibility. While it's great on my Mac, there is no mobile app to launch the app and access encrypted files. If you have multiple people using the same Mac, it would be hard to set data masking and protect your data from other users.
Sure, FileVault isn't perfect, but it does provide the highest degree of endpoint protection and encryption to your local and global files.
"If you need to encrypt the disk of your Mac, start with what's built-in unless you have other specific needs. Since it serves as a boot lock as well, you're going to get an extra level of protection for your system. When paired with Jamf, you have a fully automated solution for encrypting your Mac fleet."
- FileVault Review, Erik W.
"Apple has yet to provide an enterprise-wide management option for FileVault. While 3rd party vendors do a lot of the work here, it would mean more if Apple did work here to make sure we have a sustained path forward with FileVault."
- FileVault Review, Joel P.
In my experience, Virtru has got to be the most versatile email encryption tool to transfer your files via email from one desktop to the other.
Virtru protects the email content that has been sent and also gives me an audit trail of attachments securely sent by the email server. I especially love how seamlessly it integrates with platforms like Gmail or other email clients. You just have to enable it, and it provides optimum security and encryption algorithm support for your email attachments.
Virtru also uses end-to-end file encryption to ensure you and your intended recipient can access the mail. I just had to set a public key to encrypt an email and share it via an instant messaging device with the user who can supply the password and open the attachment. It seemed easy, convenient, and secure at the same time.
I was also impressed by Virtru's suite of real-time integrations, especially the ones with Microsoft Outlook and Google Workspace. It is not just about locking down your own inbox but also about protecting sensitive data like business details, personal transaction details, and so on.
But, when I tried to access Virtru on mobile, I ran into compatibility issues. Sometimes, my emails didn't open as smoothly as they should, which was a bit frustrating on the go.
If you are sharing files, Virtru has you covered with email encryption and granular access control. But what if the file size is too big? I couldn't attach rich text documents with multiple encrypted attachments with the email that informed me the tool could not send or receive files beyond a certain size.
That said, Virtru's cons don't overshadow its gleaming pros. For someone like me who is a bit paranoid about email data security, it seemed pure gold. Also, I deem it a perfect fit for industries that frequently share sensitive data, like healthcare, banks, retail, and e-commerce companies.
"Virtu has been helpful with securing our information as well as the information of our clients. There have been so many articles about hackers and leaks from big companies where personal info is compromised but with Virtu, we feel confident to email sensitive materials. It has been quick to start, easy to use, and working how it is needed so far. Have not needed to contact customer support, which has been great. Personally, I implement Virtu in 95% of emails sent or received. Simple to use, easy to resolve."
- Virtru Review, Juliette S.
"Sending an encrypted email to providers outside of the organization is often slow and difficult on the receiving end. They report being caught in a buffering loop for long periods, even days. Both internally and externally, email attachments often require a second authentification, which is time-consuming."
- Virtru Review, Jim O.
If you are a security maniac like me, Tresorit will be a one-stop shop for editing, managing, and decrypting files with improved security coverage.
Tresorit is a content collaboration tool that enables you to interact, run conversations, share attachments and resources, and manage data audit logs for your company's processes. I could lock the received data within folders and hide them from the main menu so that it remains inaccessible to other content collaborators.
For businesses and anyone who wants GDPR or HIPAA compliance, Tresorit offers data residency options to tokenize data files and deliver them via protected networks.
Another feature that I found super handy was to set up secure deposit links. This lets people send files to me securely. And it is ridiculously easy for them to use it. Further, I had several options at my disposal like file and folder encryption, file shredding, file overwriting and accessing vaults via command line to manage and safeguard digital files and track real-time activity of users throughout all company locations.
Tresorit seemed like a great cybersecurity framework for content management, but there are some visible cons. I presume the subscription would be expensive for freelancers or small businesses operating on a tight budget.
Downloading files for offline use was also not as straightforward as I'd like, and managing files without an internet connection will be clunky. If you integrate Tresorit with your virtual private network, it needs your IP addresses and "https" web addresses to protect you from server traffic.
I have also noticed that the synchronization or encryption process takes a bit of time and delays your business operations. It is not a dealbreaker, but if you are working on tight deadlines to access and edit new databases, this can cause a hurdle.
"The top component for me is the ironclad security. Realizing my records are safeguarded with start-to-finish encryption and zero-information design gives me fulfillment, particularly while teaming up with outer clients."
- Tresorit Review, Tamer S.
"I seemed to have very slow download rates for many small files that I wanted to download for a project. I should have zipped and downloaded these files from the website, but I went over the (for me) more convenient way of selecting the folder in Explorer. 11.000 pictures were then downloaded with a rate of 3-5kB/s, which was no issue with my internet connection."
- Tresorit Review, Martin P.
When I used Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business, I jogged back to the days when every personal or home PC was pre-configured with Kaspersky's antivirus application to protect systems from unwarranted viruses.
It's the same now as well. What I have always appreciated about Kaspersky is its rock-solid protection and intuitive user interface laden with clean and green graphics. On the dashboard, I could view the last system scan, firewall protection, threat investigation, incident protection, and vulnerability scanning.
I've seldom experienced threat detection like this. It's like having an ever-vigilant guard on duty. It not only offered services to encrypt files but also provided a centralized management console to track, regulate, and diagnose systemic transfers.
Whether you deploy updates, monitor threats, or manage policies across devices, everything is in one place. Plus, Kaspersky ran auto-check-ins to detect any infiltration or vulnerabilities on my system to ensure everything was secure.
I also genuinely liked the interface. It's straightforward, which means you don't have to be a cybersecurity expert to find your way around. And despite being packed with features, it felt extremely lightweight and didn't eat into internet server capacity.
Now, let's discuss the areas for improvement within this cybersecurity solution. While the feature set is extensive, I felt a little overwhelmed when navigating the myriad of endpoint protection options.
While the performance was generally fine, there were times when my files took a lot of time to scan, and the system felt a little sluggish. Customer support also didn't offer any immediate resolution, so I had to hold the telephone line for a long time to raise a ticket.
Overall, Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business proved to be robust and reliable encryption tool that encrypted all my files and provides optimum cloud-based security for your assets. If you are okay with occasional performance downtimes, it is one of the best encryption software to consider during your decision-making process.
"Kaspersky Endpoint security protects us from viruses, malware, phishing, ransomware attacks, data protection, and many security threats. The tool is very easy to use and manage the user. Also, it is simple to implement and integrate to a local server. The customer support is very responsive if there are any security issues. All the employees of our organization use it frequently."
- Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business Review, Md Samiul A.
"There could be more visibility in threat detection. For example, if it detects a virus, it's quarantined, and we can't find details like how the virus got in; it only shows the file name and the path. So there should be more detailed reporting on why it was quarantined."
- Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business Review, Manish D.
The best encryption software for Windows are Axcrypt Premium, Nordlocker, FolderLock, Xecrets Ez Premium, and Microsoft Bitlocker.
To encrypt an external hard drive, VeraCrypt is free, open-source software that offers advanced encryption standards (AES) algorithm and cipher-text services to external disks and drives. Microsoft Bitlocker is another excellent choice that integrates with your system for full-disk encryption.
The best free encryption software are VeraCrypt and AxCrypt, which provide secure file encryption with strong anti-malware and anti-ransomware capabilities.
The best free file encryption software are 7-Zip, VeraCrypt, Cryptomator, and Nordlocker. These software can provide robust and reliable file encryption and secure deletion with additional integrations, like data backup services, to different types of businesses.
Encryption software is powered by encryption algorithms like AES, Blowfish, or GOST block cipher that encrypt your files and provide lockers with an asymmetric key to restore them to normal and access their original contents. It also includes built-in templates for GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS compliance and adheres to the legal, federal, and state requirements of every country.
Encryption software uses hierarchical key management systems, such as passphrase management, hotkey encryption, or hashing, to protect the keys from external unauthorized users. Advanced integrations and protocols also ensure that passkeys are protected, whether public or privately shared.
Encryption engines are optimized with multithreading or parallel processing to encrypt or decrypt data streams at 10 Gbps, making them suitable for recording and storing critical data like customer records, transaction histories, or credit card information.
While industries are leapfrogging into higher levels of artificial intelligence-based data security, one thing I understood is that traditional antivirus software isn't going to solve your needs. As sensitive data becomes more prone to external infiltrators and breaches, each one of these encryption tools offers certain fallback and recovery mechanisms to clutch your data by the jaw and not let it seep through the cracks.
With this test and evaluation, it's to be noted that I didn't shortlist these tools in an industry-specific way. While there were cybersecurity features that might have worked for me and my industry, the same cannot hold true for everyone. Before you delve into shortlisting and analyzing encryption software, list your business goals, IT infrastructure needs, and network bandwidth, and of course, come here anytime to refer to my two cents as well.
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