Overwrite

Overwrite is a macOS disk-sanitization utility for external drives, USB sticks, and SD cards. It is aimed at Mac users who need a documented removable-media wipe, from a file-system cleanup to a whole-device overwrite. The choice comes down to how much coverage and verification your workflow requires, and whether the inability to erase a boot drive is acceptable.

Overview

Overwrite keeps its remit deliberately narrow: it works on external and removable media and cannot touch the Mac’s internal boot drive. That makes it suitable for retiring USB storage, SD cards, and external disks, but not for wiping the computer you are currently using. SSD support is included, and completed operations produce a locally signed Certificate of Data Erasure.

There are two distinct approaches. The Mac App Store edition works through the file system, while Overwrite Elite addresses every block the Mac can address on an external drive. The distinction matters when a record of the operation is more important than maximum physical coverage, or when a whole-device procedure is required.

Key features

File-system and full-disk scopes

The Pro App Store edition deletes a drive’s files and overwrites its free space through the file system. It then issues a signed certificate, making it a practical fit for routine handoffs where accessible data must be cleared and documented. It does not perform read-back verification, so the certificate does not include a measured post-wipe coverage check.

Elite overwrites every addressable block on an external drive and offers 1-, 3-, 7-, or 35-pass protocols. More passes provide selectable overwrite depth, although the heavier options are better suited to processes that prioritize procedure over speed. After a multi-pass Full Disk wipe, optional read-back can measure coverage and print that result on the certificate. A free standalone verifier can check Elite certificates, which is useful when an auditor or recipient needs to validate the document independently.

Privacy and organizational records

Neither edition requires accounts, analytics, or crash reporting. Elite makes three disclosed connections, while the App Store edition uses Apple’s StoreKit. Organization licensing adds organization names to certificates, a consolidated CSV audit log, purchase orders, W-9, and invoices. Those additions address chain-of-custody and procurement needs that individual plans do not.

Pricing

Preview costs nothing and only lets you explore drives and app screens. It provides no secure wiping or erasure certificates, so it is an inspection mode rather than a usable sanitization plan.

Annual Pro costs $12.99 a year and includes unlimited secure wipes, all four protocols, signed certificates, wipe history, and CSV export. It is the sensible choice for recurring use when an annual renewal is acceptable. Lifetime Pro costs $24.99, paid once, includes the same Pro features, and works on every Mac signed in with your Apple ID; it suits owners who expect to keep using the utility across Macs.

Overwrite Elite costs $99, paid once for one user and two Macs. It covers external and removable media, requires macOS 14 or later, and is delivered by direct download. This is the plan for whole-device protocols, optional read-back coverage, and independently checkable Elite certificates.

For teams, Lab Pack is $399, paid once for five users. Site License on request for site-wide licensing, while Enterprise on request, with requirements quoted. Organization features and purchasing documents make those tiers more relevant to formal operations than to occasional personal wipes. There is no free trial.

Platforms

Overwrite runs on macOS. Elite requires macOS 14 or later; both editions support SSDs and removable media. There is no bootable-media mode, and the internal boot drive is outside the product’s scope.

Who it's for

Choose Overwrite if your work centers on removable Mac media and you need certificates rather than an undocumented deletion. Annual or Lifetime Pro fits individuals who need file-system cleanup with records; Elite fits organizations or technicians that require addressable-block coverage, selectable pass counts, and optional measured verification. It is a poor match for someone who must sanitize an internal system disk or needs a cross-platform tool.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Elite covers every addressable external-drive block and offers four pass protocols.
• Pro: Signed certificates, CSV history, and Elite’s standalone verifier support auditable workflows.
• Pro: No accounts, analytics, or crash reporting in either edition.
• Con: Neither edition can wipe the internal boot drive, and there is no bootable-media option.
• Con: The App Store edition has no read-back verification, limiting evidence to its signed certificate.
• Con: Elite costs substantially more and requires macOS 14 or later.

Alternatives

Active@ KillDisk is the better fit when you need Linux, macOS, and Windows support or a perpetual personal license at 64.95 USD or 79.95 USD. DriveWipe is a free cross-platform option for users who do not need Overwrite’s paid certificate-focused tiers. HDShredder suits Windows- or Linux-based workflows, with a free private-use edition and paid partition features. Lethe is free across Linux, macOS, and Windows, but requires root or administrator access and has SSD and RAID limitations. nwipe is a free Linux-only, command-line and ncurses choice. Strix Disk Cleaner is a free MIT-licensed Windows/Linux alternative. Blackwire Drive Eraser & Sanitizer is a Windows free tier for up to two drives at once, without certificates. Disk Wipe is free Windows freeware with no stated restrictions.

For a broader category comparison, see Disk Wiping Software.

Verdict

Overwrite is a strong choice for Mac users sanitizing external or removable media who need signed, exportable records, with Elite adding whole-device passes and measurable read-back coverage. Look elsewhere if you need to erase an internal boot drive, run on Linux or Windows, or avoid a paid plan for documented verification.