6 Best Free USB Encryption Software in 2024

By using the best free USB encryption software, you can protect your files from being accessed by third parties without wasting your money on expensive programs. Nowadays, professional hackers can easily access your data if you keep it on your personal computer. This is why it’s crucial to prevent it from being disclosed by encrypting your files with the help of dedicated software.

Top 6 Free USB Encryption Software

  1. Rohos Mini Drive - To protect USB flash drive with password
  2. DiskCryptor - Open-source
  3. USB Safeguard - Uses the AES-256 algorithm
  4. AxCrypt - Timed execution feature
  5. Cryptainer LE - Creates encrypted containers
  6. Kakasoft USB Security - Protects data with just three clicks

If you are a business owner, it’s even more crucial to safeguard your records to avoid possible financial losses. Make sure to select a reliable USB encryption software to ensure that your data will be safeguarded against any possible threat. World corporations and government agencies use the most advanced protection options. However, you can protect your files by installing the best free USB encryption software that can be used by pro-level users and beginners alike.

What makes these programs similar is that they encrypt and password-protect sensitive information on USB flash drives. You can select any available encryption algorithm, such as AES, Twofish or Serpent, to make your files impossible to open unless a user knows a secure password.

1. Rohos Mini Drive - Our Choice

To protect USB flash drive with password
  • Can create hidden or visible encrypted containers
  • AES 256-bit NIST-compliant encryption
  • Encrypts application data from Skype, Chrome
  • Connects to a USB flash drive as a removable drive
  • None

Verdict: Rohos Mini Drive is a free utility for encrypting data (up to 2 gigabytes) on USB flash drives. Creates a hidden, password-protected and instant encryption partition on any USB flash drive. The password-protected USB drive section will be accessible on any computer even without Administrative rights. If you need to open a protected partition on someone else's computer, just click on the Rohos mimi.exe icon located in the root of the USB drive and enter the password for the disk.

rohos mini drivefree usb encryption software interface

2. DiskCryptor

Open-source
  • Encrypts external devices as well as internal ones
  • Can encrypt more than one partition simultaneously
  • Installs quickly
  • Works with RAID volumes
  • No update since 2014

Verdict: If you are looking for a good quality encrypted USB disk protection software program, DiskCryptor should be on your list. It comes complete with a variety of features including the ability to encrypt individual files. DiskCryptor is also an application that works on both Mac OS X and Windows. DiskCryptor's encryption key is randomly generated and stored encrypted in the first sector of each volume. The security of the cryptographic algorithm is verified by an inline test, and the open source code ensures that there are no backdoors in the program.

diskcryptor free usb encryption software interface

3. USB Safeguard

Uses the AES-256 algorithm
  • Supports USB flash drive, HDD hard drive, SSD
  • Keeps data safe on all systems
  • No requires installation
  • File system encryption with AES 256 bits key
  • Dated interface

Verdict: USB Safeguard is a small utility that allows you to reliably protect data stored on a flash drive using 256-bit encryption algorithm (AES). Using the program is very simple - just copy it to a USB flash drive, run it, and then enter the password and confirm it. Before using USB Safeguard, you need to take care of backing up important data on the flash drive, because the utility formats the flash drive when you first start it. I also recommend you find out how to encrypt Internet connection to protect Internet traffic or network activity.

usb safeguard free usb encryption software interface

4. AxCrypt

Timed execution feature
  • Regular updates
  • Self-extracting archives
  • Easy to share encrypted files
  • Not plug and play

Verdict: AxCrypt is a simple encryption software. It will become an indispensable tool if you use the same computer with several people and want to keep your information private. In most cases, the key length is AES 128-bit, but users can apply a higher level of encryption if needed. AxCrypt Premium offers AES 256-bit encryption, which is the strongest standardized encryption and is used for top secret information around the world.

axcrypt free usb encryption software interface

5. Cryptainer LE

Creates encrypted containers
  • Modern USB protection software
  • 256-bit AES encryption
  • Password hint included
  • Locks files once the USB flash drive or memory card is removed
  • Short trial period

Verdict: If you are looking for a good freebie then Cryptainer LE is the product for you. This software was created by a well know company called ParetoLogic and their goal was to create an easy to use, cost effective and highly efficient encryption program. The program can be used on any Windows computer and run from external media such as hard drives or flash drives.

cryptainer le free usb encryption software interface

6. Kakasoft USB Security

Protects data with just three clicks
  • Automatic backups
  • It is available for business and personal
  • Notifications if backups fail
  • Easy restore process
  • Weak functionality

Verdict: Kakasoft USB Security free USB encryption program comes as a free download, to ensure complete protection of the files that you may safely keep on your personal notebook, digital camera or other portable media player. The product features the best of password protection as well as data encryption and thus does not let others to crack the codes for which it was created. This is also an excellent solution to protect your digital photographs from being copied or duplicated. It does this by employing the latest Fibonacci algorithm as a means of scrambling the data and making it unreadable by others. By the way, I recommend you choosing antivirus software to protect your system.

kakasoft usb securityfree usb encryption software interface
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