The best encryption software to use in 2026

Best encryption software in 2026 at a glance

The encryption tools below cover different use cases, from securing local drives and cloud storage to protecting emails, passwords, messages, and internet traffic.

What is encryption software, and do you need it?

Encryption scrambles readable data into an encoded form that can only be accessed with the correct decryption key. Encryption software applies this protection to data stored on your device or transmitted between devices and online services.

Encryption is used across many everyday digital services, including:

• Messaging apps.
• Online banking.
• Virtual private networks.
• HTTPS websites.
• Browsers.
• Email services.
• File storage.

Without encryption, sensitive information such as passwords, messages, files, and payment details may be easier to intercept or access if a device, account, or connection is compromised.

The right encryption software depends on what you want to protect. For example, the best email encryption software serves a different purpose from a tool designed to encrypt an entire drive, secure cloud files, or protect internet traffic.

Best encryption software by use case

The tools above protect different types of data in different ways. Below, you can see what each option is designed to protect and when it may make sense for you.

Secure your internet connection: NordVPN

NordVPN encrypts your internet traffic while it travels between your device and a VPN server, helping prevent someone monitoring the network from reading the data you send and receive. It creates an encrypted VPN connection using protocols such as NordLynx and OpenVPN, which determine how the connection is established and secured.

A VPN also replaces your visible IP address with the IP address of the VPN server you connect to, which helps reduce how much information websites and other online services can infer about your location.

This protection applies to data in transit rather than files stored on your device. If you want to encrypt local files, folders, or entire drives, you need dedicated file or disk encryption software instead.

Email encryption: Proton Mail

Proton Mail is an encrypted email service that uses end-to-end encryption to protect message content. Emails sent between Proton Mail users remain encrypted while being sent and while stored, so Proton Mail itself cannot read their content.

This differs from services that mainly use email encryption in transit — protection applied while messages travel between servers — without providing end-to-end encryption.

Email services such as Gmail may also collect account, device, and usage data as part of providing their services. This type of data collection is a separate privacy consideration from whether the content of an email is end-to-end encrypted.

If you are looking for private email communication, Proton Mail is a commonly considered option. Other anonymous email services may offer different privacy features, so the right choice depends on the level of encryption, anonymity, and account features you need.

File and cloud encryption: NordLocker

NordLocker is designed to encrypt individual files and store them in protected cloud storage. It uses end-to-end encryption and a zero-knowledge design, meaning your files are encrypted so the provider cannot read their contents. AES-256 and XChaCha20 provide the underlying encryption.

You can use NordLocker to secure documents, photos, videos, and other sensitive files as well as share encrypted files with other users. Its free plan includes 3 GB of cloud storage, making it one option to consider if you are looking for the best encryption software for cloud storage without paying upfront.

Unlike full-disk encryption, NordLocker file encryption protects selected files and folders without encrypting the entire drive.

Private browsing: Tor

Tor routes your internet traffic through several volunteer-run servers, called relays, before it reaches its destination. Each relay knows only part of the route, making it harder to connect your browsing activity to your original IP address.

Tor encrypts your traffic in multiple layers, and each relay removes one layer before passing it to the next. This can improve your privacy compared with regular browsing, but it may also slow your connection.

Tor can also be used to access .onion websites on the dark web. Some .onion sites may contain scams, malware, or illegal content, so it is worth understanding how safe Tor is and what precautions to take before visiting unfamiliar sites.

Password encryption: NordPass

Using a unique, complex password for every account helps limit the damage if one password is exposed, but remembering dozens of strong passwords is impractical. A password manager can generate and store them in an encrypted vault instead.

The NordPass password manager uses XChaCha20 to encrypt the data in your vault and lets you store passwords, passkeys, and other sensitive information in one place. It can also generate strong passwords and autofill them when needed.

Encrypted messaging: Signal

Signal is an open-source messaging app that uses end-to-end encryption to protect text messages, voice calls, and video calls. Its source code is publicly available for inspection, which allows independent researchers and developers to review how its security features work.

If you are comparing Signal with other secure messaging apps, look at how each one protects messages, handles backups, and manages privacy-related settings.

Because Signal is free and open source, it is also worth considering if you are looking for free encryption software, particularly for private messaging and calls.

Business and remote access: NordLayer

NordLayer opens in a new tab is a business security platform designed to protect connections between employees and company resources. It encrypts network traffic as users connect to internal systems, cloud services, and other work resources from different locations.

If your team works remotely or uses public Wi-Fi, encrypted remote access helps protect data while employees connect from outside the office.

If you manage remote access, NordLayer lets you add or remove team members, control access based on IP addresses, and limit which resources each person can reach. This can reduce unnecessary access across the company network.

Full-disk encryption: VeraCrypt and BitLocker

VeraCrypt and Microsoft BitLocker are two widely used options for protecting entire drives. Full-disk encryption protects a whole volume, including its files and system data, while file-level encryption lets you secure selected files or folders instead.

VeraCrypt is open-source software for encrypting entire drives, partitions — separate sections of a drive — and virtual encrypted volumes on Windows, macOS, and Linux. BitLocker is Microsoft's built-in full-disk encryption tool for the Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions of Windows 10 and Windows 11. It uses AES encryption to protect the drive.

The best drive encryption software depends largely on your operating system and whether you want a built-in option or a cross-platform tool. If you are looking for the best folder encryption software, a file-level encryption tool may be more appropriate than full-disk encryption.

How to choose encryption software

Encryption software protects different types of data, so choosing the right tool starts with understanding what you need to secure. Consider these factors before deciding which option fits your needs:

1. 1.Identify what you want to protect. Decide whether you need to encrypt individual files, folders, an entire drive, emails, messages, passwords, or internet traffic.
2. 2.Check the encryption technology. Look for established methods such as AES-256 and, where relevant, end-to-end encryption. Understanding how 256-bit encryption works, as well as the difference between symmetric and asymmetric encryption, can also help you compare different tools.
3. 3.Check device and platform support. Make sure the software works on every operating system and device where you plan to use it.
4. 4.Look at transparency and security testing. Check whether the software is open source, independently audited, or otherwise subject to external security reviews.
5. 5.Compare free and paid options. Free tools may cover basic encryption needs, while paid plans can include additional storage, sharing, device support, or business features.
6. 6.Check how encryption keys are handled. Make sure keys and recovery credentials are stored securely, because losing them may mean losing access to encrypted data.

How to start encrypting your data

Start by identifying what you want to protect. If your goal is to encrypt internet traffic, you can use a VPN such as NordVPN. If you want to protect files stored on your device or an entire drive, use file or disk encryption software instead.

NordVPN has more than 8,000 servers covering 150 countries and lets you protect up to 10 devices at the same time. Its “Secure my connection” button automatically connects you to an appropriate VPN server, so you do not need to choose one manually.

Encryption is only one part of online security. On eligible plans, NordVPN also includes next-gen antivirus protection against malware, phishing, scams, and other online threats. NordVPN subscriptions also come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.