Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Axcrypt VS GnuPG

Compare Axcrypt VS GnuPG and see what are their differences

Axcrypt logo Axcrypt

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

GnuPG logo GnuPG

GnuPG is a complete and free implementation of the OpenPGP standard as defined by RFC4880 (also known as PGP).
  • Axcrypt Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-09-06

AxCrypt is an award-winning encryption software that provides strong, simple and reliable encryption solution. Since its inception in 2001, it has grown to be one of the world’s most popular encryption software with over 20 million downloads worldwide. AxCrypt's mission is to provide encryption solutions to individuals and organizations in the simplest manner, so that we can ensure the convenient implementation and usage of our software for everyone.

It is available in English, French, German, Italian, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Mandarin and more.

AxCrypt offers a Premium subscription (for individuals) and Business subscription (for companies) with a range of exclusive features like AES-256 encryption, Key sharing, Secured Folders, Cloud Storage Awareness, Password Management, File Wipe, Anonymous File Names, Password Generator, and more. See more about AxCrypt's subscription plans here: https://axcrypt.net/pricing

  • New feature for Business subscription: Master Key enables business administrators to recover files of the business members, eliminating the risk of losing access to critical files due to employees leaving or forgetting their passwords.
  • Affiliate Program where anyone can earn 25% commission.

AxCrypt has recently released new content analyzing how different industries can implement AxCrypt Business, covering a range of industries from Technology to Education to Healthcare. You can read more here: https://axcrypt.net/industries

  • GnuPG Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-18

Axcrypt features and specs

  • Strong Encryption
    AxCrypt provides AES-256 bit encryption, which is highly secure and is widely recognized as one of the strongest encryption standards.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    AxCrypt has a clean and intuitive interface which makes it easy for users to navigate and perform encryption tasks without extensive technical knowledge.
  • Cloud Storage Integration
    The software seamlessly integrates with popular cloud storage services such as Dropbox and Google Drive, making it easy to encrypt and share files stored on these platforms.
  • Key Sharing
    AxCrypt allows users to share encrypted files with others securely by sharing decryption keys, making collaboration easy even with sensitive data.
  • Cross-Platform Availability
    AxCrypt is available on multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, providing flexibility for users across different devices.

GnuPG features and specs

  • Open Source
    GnuPG is free and open-source software, which means that anyone can inspect, modify, and enhance the code to fit their needs. This transparency enhances security by allowing independent audits.
  • Strong Encryption
    GnuPG uses well-established encryption standards like OpenPGP, providing strong security for encrypting and signing data.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    GnuPG runs on a variety of operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and more, making it highly versatile.
  • Wide Adoption
    GnuPG is widely used and supported by many software applications, making it easier to integrate into existing workflows.
  • Active Development
    The software is actively maintained and updated, ensuring that any security vulnerabilities are promptly addressed and new features are added.

Possible disadvantages of GnuPG

  • Complexity
    For non-technical users, GnuPG can be difficult to set up and use, especially if they are unfamiliar with command-line interfaces.
  • Limited GUI Options
    While there are some graphical user interfaces available for GnuPG, they often lack the full functionality of the command-line version and can be less user-friendly.
  • Interoperability Issues
    Not all email clients or communication platforms fully support GnuPG, which can cause interoperability issues when exchanging encrypted messages.
  • Key Management Complexity
    Managing public and private keys can be complex, requiring users to understand key generation, distribution, and revocation processes.
  • Performance Overhead
    Encrypting and decrypting data can introduce performance overhead, particularly for large files or systems with limited resources.

Axcrypt videos

Free encryption software for windows AxCrypt

More videos:

GnuPG videos

The Complete PGP Encryption Tutorial | Gpg4win & GnuPG

More videos:

  • Review - PGP | Send Encrypted Emails using GnuPG
  • Review - NYLUG Presents: Neal Walfield -on- An Advanced Introduction to GnuPG

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Axcrypt and GnuPG)
Security & Privacy
57 57%
43% 43
File Encryption
72 72%
28% 28
Encryption
65 65%
35% 35
Security Tools
59 59%
41% 41

User comments

Share your experience with using Axcrypt and GnuPG. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, GnuPG seems to be a lot more popular than Axcrypt. While we know about 39 links to GnuPG, we've tracked only 1 mention of Axcrypt. 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.

Axcrypt mentions (1)

  • Client side encryption for OneDrive
    With regard to encryption tools, I use AxCrypt, which is cross-platform, but isn't free in that form. It would though encrypt each file in-place, without need for a dedicated folder or vault and encrypted file will sync with OneDrive, via the standard sync client. It would also allow you to share encrypted files with others, without giving them your encryption password. Source: over 3 years ago

GnuPG mentions (39)

  • How to Automate Encryption with C++ Script
    The other day I noticed that I had compressed several files as backups on a DVD media (the DVDs were at least 15 years old) and I had also encrypted all of them with GnuPG. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • GPG secret key: How to change the passphrase
    Suppose you get along with GPG (The GNU Privacy Guard, GnuPG) for good privacy, and sometimes want to change the passphrase of its secret key. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Is there a way to encrypt gmail emails?
    GnuPG will do this, but both people need to have it set up properly. Source: about 2 years ago
  • pyaction 4.19.0 Released
    This Docker image is designed to support implementing Github Actions With Python. As of version 4.0.0., it starts with The official python docker image as the base Which is a Debian OS. It specifically uses python:3-slim to keep the image size Down for faster loading of Github Actions that use pyaction. On top of the Base, we've installed curl Gpg, git, and the GitHub CLI. We added curl and gpg because they Are... - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago
  • [Request] Here is a drawing of a cat. Unfortunately a superhacker form the future is after it (the hacker has dyson-sphere super computers etc.). I encrypt the cat using a random number from 1 to N as password, and the hacker knows this as well. What N do you recommend? WHY? (math too pls)
    Though FWIW my real answer, if you were asking this as a practical question rather than an educational exercise, would be to find some existing standard encryption program and use that. Something like GPG, perhaps, or even the built-in encryption in your computer's filesystem. It's going to be plenty good enough. Source: about 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Axcrypt and GnuPG, you can also consider the following products

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

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

Kleopatra - Kleopatra is a certificate manager and GUI for GnuPG.

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.

Microsoft BitLocker - BitLocker is a full disk encryption feature included with Windows Vista and later.