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VeraCrypt VS Windows BitLocker

Compare VeraCrypt VS Windows BitLocker and see what are their differences

VeraCrypt logo VeraCrypt

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

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.
  • VeraCrypt Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-29
  • Windows BitLocker Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-30

VeraCrypt features and specs

  • Open Source
    VeraCrypt is open source, meaning its source code is publicly available. This allows for transparency, community review, and auditing by security experts.
  • Strong Encryption
    VeraCrypt supports a variety of strong encryption algorithms such as AES, Serpent, and Twofish, providing robust protection for your data.
  • Cross-Platform
    VeraCrypt is available for multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, ensuring compatibility across different desktop environments.
  • Hidden Volumes
    VeraCrypt allows the creation of hidden volumes within an encrypted container, providing an additional layer of plausible deniability.
  • No Backdoors
    As an open-source project, VeraCrypt has no hidden backdoors, ensuring that no unauthorized parties can access your encrypted data.

Possible disadvantages of VeraCrypt

  • Performance Overhead
    Encrypting and decrypting data on-the-fly can introduce performance overhead, potentially slowing down system performance, especially on less powerful hardware.
  • Complexity
    VeraCrypt's advanced features and settings can be overwhelming for novice users, requiring a certain level of technical knowledge to use effectively.
  • Lack of Cloud Integration
    VeraCrypt does not offer built-in cloud storage integration, making it less convenient for users who rely on cloud services for data storage.
  • Limited Support
    Being an open-source project, VeraCrypt's support is limited to community forums and documentation, lacking the professional support options available with commercial encryption solutions.
  • No Mobile App
    VeraCrypt does not have a dedicated mobile application, limiting its usability to desktop and laptop environments.

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.

VeraCrypt videos

The Complete VeraCrypt Encryption Tutorial

More videos:

  • Review - Veracrypt Get Started Guide: Encryption Made Easy
  • Review - FLOSS Weekly 340: VeraCrypt

Windows BitLocker videos

No Windows BitLocker videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to VeraCrypt and Windows BitLocker)
Security & Privacy
62 62%
38% 38
Encryption
66 66%
34% 34
File Encryption
53 53%
47% 47
Security Tools
74 74%
26% 26

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare VeraCrypt and Windows BitLocker

VeraCrypt Reviews

6 TrueCrypt Alternatives for Reliable Data Encryption
VeraCrypt owners built the tool from an earlier TrueCrypt fork, but more recent releases broke with the TrueCrypt volume format, which means the encryption software cannot open existing TrueCrypt encrypted files. Built with the same features and interface as TrueCrypt—which significantly reduces onboarding time—the software was improved with increased iterations per...
Best encryption software of 2020 : Free, paid and business tools and services
Best encryption software tools(Image credit: Folder Lock)1. Folder LockVISIT WEBSITEFree to download basic versionEffective personal encryptionMainly mobile oriented(Image credit: AxCrypt)2. AxCryptVISIT WEBSITEStrong encryption for personal useFree version availableMainly mobile-oriented(Image credit: CryptoExpert)3. CryptoExpertVISIT WEBSITEUses multiple encryption...
Best Disk Encryption Software – the 5 top tools to secure your data
VeraCrypt is a fork of TrueCrypt and is widely considered its successor. It performs all of the same functions as TrueCrypt and then some. VeraCrypt adds security to the algorithms used for system and partitions encryption. These improvements make it immune to new developments in brute-force attacks, according to developers. You can find a full list of improvements and...
5 Best TrueCrypt Alternatives - Open source encryption apps
A notable feature of VeraCrypt is that any file, for example, an innocent-looking photo file, can be used as the container for a VeraCrypt volume. Even more notable is its hidden volume feature which provides plausible deniability. It does this by hiding an encrypted volume inside another VeraCrypt volume in such a way that, if the correct precautions are taken, it is...
Source: proprivacy.com

Windows BitLocker Reviews

We have no reviews of Windows BitLocker yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Windows BitLocker seems to be more popular. 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.

VeraCrypt mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of VeraCrypt yet. Tracking of VeraCrypt recommendations started around Mar 2021.

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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What are some alternatives?

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

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.

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

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

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).

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.

FileVault - FileVault is a method of using encryption with volumes on Mac computers.