Guides/AxCrypt alt
An alternative to AxCrypt that isn't a subscription trap
AxCrypt used to be the friendly Windows file encryption tool; its current shape is a freemium ladder. If you want the old-fashioned deal — pay once, own the tool — Elba is a good alternative.
Where Elba wins
One-time purchase, no accounts, no cloud, works on any OS with a Chromium browser, source is readable in the HTML file. On 1 January 2030 it becomes MIT open source.
Where AxCrypt still wins
Right-click Windows Explorer integration and per-file (not per-folder) workflows. If those are your must-haves, keep AxCrypt.
Questions people actually ask
- Can I migrate my AxCrypt files to Elba?
- Decrypt them with AxCrypt first, then move the plain files into a folder and seal that folder with Elba.
- Is Elba cross-platform?
- Yes — it runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, and ChromeOS in any Chromium browser.
Take the island
Elba is one HTML file. It runs locally in a Chromium browser, seals a folder with AES-256-GCM, never phones home, and becomes open source on 1 January 2030.
- €49MMXXVI· now ·
- €39MMXXVII2027
- €29MMXXVIII2028
- €19MMXXIX2029
- FreeMMXXX2030
the price falls each year · free to all 1 jan 2030
pay once · no account · nothing leavesRelated guides
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