Guides/Compared with…
Elba vs AxCrypt — one HTML file vs a Windows-first installer
AxCrypt is a mature Windows-first encryption app with a limited free tier and premium plans. Elba is a single HTML file, no installer, one-time purchase, and equally usable on Mac, Linux, and Chromebook.
Where AxCrypt wins
OS integration (right-click ‘encrypt’), a free entry tier, and cloud-storage awareness on Windows.
Where Elba wins
Portability across every OS, no installer, no account, no annual fee, and a licence that becomes MIT in 2030.
Questions people actually ask
- Is AxCrypt's free tier enough?
- For occasional single-file encryption, sometimes. For folders and stronger key derivation, you're on their premium.
- Can I read AxCrypt files with Elba?
- No — file formats differ. Decrypt in AxCrypt, then reseal with Elba.
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
- An alternative to AxCrypt that isn't a subscription trap
Looking for an AxCrypt alternative without the free-tier squeeze? Elba is a one-time-purchase, offline HTML file for folder encryption.
- Elba vs 7-Zip encryption: when a zip is enough (and when it isn't)
7-Zip's AES-256 encrypted archives are a solid free option. Here's where Elba differs, and when to reach for which.