The best encryption tools, according to hackers
7 encryption tools were recommended on Hacker News between November 2025 and November 2026. We rank them by how many separate people recommend each one, and 3 earn the Hacker Approved badge.
Top picks
The three most recommended encryption tools with the badge. Each figure is 5 people. RecommendsCriticizes One comment
Reuses existing SSH keys
Simple, auditable file encryption that people recommend over GPG, including with SSH keys, though critics say it lacks PGP's key management and smartcard support.
Encrypts files on any cloud storage
People recommend it as a free, open-source way to encrypt files stored in Dropbox or other cloud services, with apps for Mac, Windows, iOS and Android.
Recommended replacement for older PGP tools
Free Rust implementation of OpenPGP, recommended as a modern replacement for older PGP tools. Critics say it is not fully compatible with the wider PGP base.
All 7 encryption tools, ranked
Select a column heading to sort. Approval share is recommenders out of everyone who gave an opinion; the tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs. Months counts the months, out of 13, in which someone recommended it.
| Rank | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | age encryption tool | 49 | 12 | 80% | 11 | — | Approved |
| 2 | GnuPG | 40 | 46 | 47% | 8 | — | — |
| 3 | PGP | 38 | 48 | 44% | 12 | 25 yrs3 owners | — |
| 4 | GPG | 23 | 29 | 44% | 11 | — | — |
| 5 | Cryptomator | 18 | 2 | 90% | 10 | — | Approved |
| 6 | Sequoia PGP | 12 | 5 | 71% | 6 | — | Approved |
| 7 | gocryptfs | 5 | 1 | 83% | 5 | — | — |
How we rank
Rank is the number of separate people who recommend a product in a Hacker News comment over the past year. Someone who praises the same encryption tool in five threads counts once.
The badge goes to encryption tools that at least 10 people recommend, with recommenders outnumbering critics at least 2 to 1, recommended in at least 4 of the 13 months.
Rankings are never for sale. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. It never changes the order.