File archiver with a high compression ratio and built-in encryption functionality.
7-Zip
7-zip.org
Our take
Almost everyone already has it for archives, and the built-in AES-256 encryption on a 7z file is a perfectly respectable way to lock up a folder before sending it. Just know its lane: this is convenient archive encryption, not full-disk security or a key-management system, and the password is the entire defense. A pragmatic pick for password-protecting a zip; reach for VeraCrypt or a dedicated tool when the stakes are higher.
GitHub at a glance
ip7z/7zip
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Latest release
26.01
2mo ago
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7-Zip alternatives
VERNAM A free, fully client-side file encryptor that runs in your browser. Drop in any file, set or generate a passphrase, and it seals the result into its own .vrn format. Nothing is ever uploaded, and it works offline.
PrivacyNotes Zero-knowledge notes, tasks, files, passwords and journal secured by a single 12-word recovery phrase, with no email or password required. The crypto core and database schema are published for audit. No subscription model.
VeraCrypt It can create a virtual encrypted disk that works just like a regular disk but within a file. It can also encrypt a partition or the entire storage device with pre-boot…
Cryptomator Cryptomator encrypts your data quickly and easily. Afterwards you upload them protected to a cloud service.
LUKS LUKS (Linux Unified Key Setup) is the standard disk-encryption specification for Linux, implemented by the cryptsetup utility. It provides a header format and key-slot system on top of the dm-crypt kernel module, supporting multiple decryption passphrases per volume.
GnuPG GnuPG (GNU Privacy Guard) is the free, GPL-licensed implementation of the OpenPGP standard. A command-line tool for Linux, macOS, and Windows, it encrypts and signs files and email, and manages public-key directories.