20+ Open-Source File Encryption Tools for (Almost) Every Use Case

We’ve curated a practical toolkit of open-source file encryption tools—most using symmetric ciphers—to help you safeguard personal data against unauthorized access.

Whether you need to encrypt a quick file in your browser, secure cloud backups, create hidden cryptographic containers, or script everything from the CLI, there's something here for nearly every scenario.

You’ll also find answers to questions like: Is AES still the gold standard? What about Serpent or Kuznyechik? Let’s break it down from basic tools to expert-level solutions.

Built-In Full-Disk Encryption: Good Start, But Not Always Enough

Before diving into third-party tools, it’s worth acknowledging what’s already built into most operating systems.

• Smartphones: Modern iOS and Android devices offer strong full-disk encryption—good enough that black market exploits can cost millions. Just use a strong passphrase (not a short PIN), turn off biometrics, and don’t unlock the bootloader.

• macOS: FileVault leverages XTS-AES-128 with a 256-bit key, anchored by the T2 chip. Security is comparable to iPhone-level encryption.

• Windows: BitLocker (AES-128 or AES-256) and EFS (Encrypting File System) are solid, but only available in Pro editions—not Home.

• Linux: Most distros use LUKS with AES-256, though other ciphers like Serpent, Twofish, and Kuznyechik are supported. Distro implementations vary, which makes a one-size-fits-all assessment tricky.

Bottom line: Built-in solutions work for general protection, but open-source encryption tools offer more control, more features—and often, more transparency.

Simple File Encryption

Hat.sh & Cloaker (Web-based)

Browser-based tools using libsodium, offering:

• XChaCha20-Poly1305: Authenticated symmetric encryption

• Argon2id: Secure password-based key derivation

• X25519: Optional asymmetric key exchange

Picocrypt (Desktop)

Tiny, portable (2MB) cross-platform tool—no admin rights needed.

• Defaults: XChaCha20 + Argon2

• “Paranoia mode”: Adds Serpent cascading and HMAC-SHA3

• Other perks:

  • Reed-Solomon error correction

  • Keyfile support

  • File splitting and compression

re-Cloud Encryption

Cryptomator

• Encrypts folders before syncing to cloud (AES-256 + scrypt)

• Obfuscates filenames and folder structures (not metadata)

• Audited, except iOS Swift library

Why AES?
It’s the global standard for symmetric encryption. Extensively vetted since 1997. No practical attacks to date.

Duplicati

• AES-256 via SharpAESCrypt/GPG

• Designed for incremental, scheduled cloud backups

• VSS/LVM support for locked files

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RClone

• Multi-platform cloud sync tool (CLI only)

• Uses XSalsa20-Poly1305 encryption (via NaCl)

• Encrypts filenames, but not metadata

Pro tip: Use 16+ character random passphrases or combine memorized phrases with generated segments. KeePass and similar tools can help manage them.

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Encrypted Archives & Containers

VeraCrypt

Widely trusted and feature-rich:

• Supports AES, Serpent, Kuznyechik, Twofish—or cascades of multiple algorithms

• Offers:

  • Hidden volumes

  • Plausible deniability

  • Full-disk and container encryption

Expert rankings:

• AES & Camellia: Globally accepted

• Kuznyechik: Russia's GOST cipher (controversial, but no known breaks)

• Serpent/Twofish: Strong but less analyzed

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zuluCrypt

Linux GUI frontend for cryptsetup, compatible with LUKS, VeraCrypt, and even BitLocker volumes.

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Kryptor

A CLI replacement for GPG, age, and Minisign.

• Uses: XChaCha20-Poly1305, Argon2id, BLAKE2b

• Hides metadata

• Supports key exchange

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Dexios (Rust-based CLI)

• AES-256-GCM or ChaCha20-Poly1305

• Key derivation: Argon2id or BLAKE3-Balloon

• Audited by NCC Group (2022)

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Tomb

• CLI tool for LUKS-based vaults

• Supports key storage on USB or steganography (hide keys in images or text)

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Audits Matter

Encryption algorithms like AES, Serpent, and Kuznyechik are highly studied. No practical break has ever been demonstrated.

But here’s the catch:
It’s not the algorithm—it’s the implementation that gets people in trouble. Bugs, side channels, and misconfigurations are the real enemies. That’s why third-party audits (like NCC's for Dexios) are critical.

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GUI-Based “Crypto Swiss Army Knives”

SiriKali

Cross-platform GUI built on Qt/C++, wrapping:

• Gocryptfs (audited, per-file encryption)

• cppcryptfs / Securefs (AES-256-GCM)

• EncFS (avoid—it’s unmaintained since 2018)

FUSE-based pros/cons:

Good for cloud sync
Exposes folder structure and metadata

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CryFS (Beta)

• Encrypts each file as a block, hiding metadata

• Uses AES-256

• Downsides:

  • Can bloat small files

  • May break cloud sync file limits

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Final Verdict

Open-source encryption has never been more accessible—or more varied. For most users:

• Quick jobs: Hat.sh (web) or Picocrypt (desktop)

• Cloud protection: Cryptomator (easy) or RClone (powerful CLI)

• Maximum control: VeraCrypt (containers) or Dexios (audited CLI)

What to avoid:

• EncFS (unpatched since 2018)

• CryFS (still in beta)

When privacy matters, choose tools with strong defaults, transparent audits, and active communities.