Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Windows BitLocker VS DiskCryptor

Compare Windows BitLocker VS DiskCryptor and see what are their differences

Windows BitLocker logo Windows BitLocker

This topic provides a high-level overview of BitLocker, including a list of system requirements, practical applications, and deprecated features.

DiskCryptor logo DiskCryptor

DiskCryptor is the only truly free solution, provided under GNU General Public License (GPLv3)...
  • Windows BitLocker Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-30
  • DiskCryptor Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-11-19

Windows BitLocker features and specs

  • Strong Encryption
    BitLocker uses Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) with either 128-bit or 256-bit keys, providing robust protection for data.
  • Seamless Integration
    BitLocker is integrated with Windows OS, making it easy to deploy and manage within the Microsoft ecosystem.
  • TPM Integration
    BitLocker can use the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip to secure encryption keys, enhancing security through hardware.
  • Group Policy Management
    Administrators can manage BitLocker settings and deployment through Active Directory and group policies, making it suitable for enterprise environments.
  • Recovery Options
    BitLocker provides multiple recovery methods, including a recovery key, recovery password, or integration with Active Directory, ensuring data access in case of issues.

Possible disadvantages of Windows BitLocker

  • Performance Overhead
    Encryption and decryption processes can introduce performance overhead, which may affect system performance, especially on older hardware.
  • Compatibility Issues
    BitLocker requires specific hardware features like TPM 1.2 or 2.0, and its usage may be limited or unsupported on some older devices or non-Windows systems.
  • Complex Recovery
    While recovery options are available, they can be complicated to manage, especially for less experienced users or in environments without proper configuration.
  • Limited Non-Windows Support
    BitLocker is designed for Windows OS, making cross-platform accessibility and management challenging, particularly for organizations using multiple operating systems.
  • Potential Data Loss Risk
    Improper management of encryption keys or accidental disk damage can lead to data loss, emphasizing the need for careful setup and key management.

DiskCryptor features and specs

  • Open Source
    DiskCryptor is open-source software, allowing users and developers to review and modify the code, ensuring transparency and security.
  • Free of Cost
    The software is available for free, making it accessible to users without any cost, which is beneficial compared to some paid encryption solutions.
  • Wide Compatibility
    DiskCryptor supports a wide range of Windows operating systems, ensuring broad compatibility for users with different system setups.
  • Full Drive Encryption
    The tool offers full drive encryption, safeguarding entire volumes including the system partition, which ensures comprehensive protection of data.
  • Multiple Encryption Algorithms
    DiskCryptor supports multiple encryption algorithms such as AES, Serpent, and Twofish, providing users with different options for securing their data.

Possible disadvantages of DiskCryptor

  • Complex User Interface
    The interface can be challenging for beginners, as it may not be as user-friendly or intuitive as other disk encryption tools.
  • Limited Support and Updates
    Being a community-driven project, DiskCryptor may have limited support and infrequent updates compared to commercial software.
  • Windows Only
    DiskCryptor is only available for Windows, restricting its use on other operating systems such as macOS or Linux.
  • Lack of Advanced Features
    Compared to some commercial solutions, DiskCryptor might lack advanced features like remote key management or integration with other security tools.
  • Potential Security Concerns
    Since the software relies on community contributions, there might be potential security risks if vulnerabilities are not promptly addressed.

Windows BitLocker videos

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DiskCryptor videos

DiskCryptor Easy Windows System Drive Encryption Tutorial ( Truecrypt Alternative )

More videos:

  • Tutorial - DiskCryptor How to easily encrypt CD & DVD discs and mount them quickly

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Windows BitLocker and DiskCryptor)
Security & Privacy
86 86%
14% 14
File Encryption
91 91%
9% 9
Encryption
82 82%
18% 18
Security Tools
66 66%
34% 34

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Reviews

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DiskCryptor Reviews

6 TrueCrypt Alternatives for Reliable Data Encryption
DiskCryptor is a free, open source software meant to replace BitLocker. This free encryption software can encrypt all disk partitions, and versions 0.1-0.4 are compatible with TrueCrypt. The current version—1.2.2/848.118.202—was released in April 2020 and enables external drive and file encryption.
Best Disk Encryption Software – the 5 top tools to secure your data
DiskCryptor is another Windows-only full disk encryption solution. Relative to the above options, very little formal security analysis has been performed on DiskCryptor even though it’s open source. We also don’t know much about the authors and their motives. Skepticism as to whether the software is truly sound runs high. So why was it popular?

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Windows BitLocker should be more popular than DiskCryptor. It has been mentiond 10 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Windows BitLocker mentions (10)

  • The Uber Leak Exposes the Global War on Workers
    The initial yes. Once encrypted you can trigger remote via intune/sccm/MDM https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/information-protection/bitlocker/bitlocker-overview. - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
  • Do you protect your privacy using any type of software?
    On linux it you can achive it via LUKS, on windows with the help of bitlocker or preferably veracrypt. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Protecting unencrypted hard drives
    What os are you using? If it happens to be a “pro” version of windows you could use bitlocker full-drive encryption which is built-in. There is one known vulnerability which involves gaining access to the RAM within seconds of shutdown, but that’s easily averted by keeping the computer in your possession for a minute or two after shutting it down. Source: about 3 years ago
  • AMD - Stutter Experienced with fTPM Enabled - AGESA 1207
    There's additional info about bitlocker and tpm here. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Any automated tool for Windows 10 Security Hardening?
    There is also bitlocker drive encryption. That is one way to secure your data if you are worried someone can physically remove your drives. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/information-protection/bitlocker/bitlocker-overview. Source: about 3 years ago
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DiskCryptor mentions (1)

  • Is BitLocker safe and can't we unlock the drive on other Operating Systems?
    I am already using BitLocker and have already encrypted my Pc SSD and HDD and even thinking of encrypting all my external drives with BitLocker. But today I read this article from diskcryptor and I was confused about the things it pointed out. Such as,. Source: over 2 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Windows BitLocker and DiskCryptor, you can also consider the following products

Axcrypt - AxCrypt - Password Protect Files With Strong Encryption. AxCrypt is the leading open source file encryption software for Windows.

VeraCrypt - VeraCrypt is a free open source disk encryption software for Windows, Mac OSX and Linux.

TrueCrypt - TrueCrypt is a leading cross-platform that provides encryption tools that allow you to migrate any encrypted data to virtual disks images on your systems.

AES Crypt - AES Crypt is an advanced file encryption utility that integrates with the Windows shell or runs from the Linux command prompt to provide a simple, yet powerful, tool for encrypting files using the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES).

Cryptomator - When it comes to saving your files on a cloud server, it is important to ensure the security of those files. Keeping your delicate files out of the wrong hands can save you a lot of time and hassle. Read more about Cryptomator.

File Lock PEA - Password-encryption of files and directories. File PEA encrypts files and folders with authenticated encryption to protect confidentiality and integrity. The program uses memory-hard key derivation functions to prevent custom hardware attacks.