Best File Shredder Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Active@ KillDisk is ranked #1 of 28 as of 5 October 2026, ahead of R-Wipe & Clean and Alternate File Shredder. The best-ranked option with a free plan is R-Wipe & Clean. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Easy File Shredder at $2.50/mo.
File shredder software is designed to erase files or folders, and some tools also offer drive or free-space wiping. Compare the deletion targets with overwrite methods and supported platforms; scheduled shredding may matter if you want erasure to run on a schedule. Check free-plan availability and paid-from pricing, too. Active@ KillDisk, R-Wipe & Clean, and Alternate File Shredder are among the options, alongside DeleteOnClick and File Shredder. Verify whether each tool covers the specific targets you need, since wiping a drive or free space is distinct from removing individual files.
28 file shredder software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
8 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Active@ KillDiskWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 2 | R-Wipe & CleanWindows · Mac | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 3 | Alternate File ShredderWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 4 | DeleteOnClickWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 5 | File ShredderWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 6 | Macrorit Data WiperWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 7 | nwipeLinux · Self-hosted | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 8 | CBL Data ShredderWindows | One bar | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.1 | |
| 9 | BitRaser File EraserWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | $2.83/mo | 5.5 |
| 10 | O&O AppBusterWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 11 | ASCOMP BackUp MakerWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 12 | BleachBitWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 13 | Crypto ShredderWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 14 | D-Secure File EraserWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · API | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | $3.33/mo | 5.2 |
| 15 | HDShredderWindows · Linux | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 16 | iBeesoft File ShredderWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 17 | BCWipe Total WipeOutWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 18 | Moo0 File ShredderWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 19 | The DevourerWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 20 | AutorunsNo platforms listed | No signal | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
| 21 | Blancco Drive EraserWindows · Linux | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
| 22 | Easy File ShredderWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | $2.50/mo | 5.0 |
| 23 | Files ShredderWindows · Mac | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
| 24 | O&O SafeEraseWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 4.9 |
| 25 | ShredOSLinux | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 4.9 |
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Free-space wiping | Files and folders |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Active@ KillDisk | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | 64.95 one-time | — | — |
| 2 | R-Wipe & Clean | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 3 | Alternate File Shredder | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 4 | DeleteOnClick | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 5 | File Shredder | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 6 | Macrorit Data Wiper | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | No |
| 7 | nwipe | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 8 | CBL Data Shredder | 6.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 9 | BitRaser File Eraser | 5.5 | No | $2.83/mo | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 10 | O&O AppBuster | 5.4 | No | — | No | 29.95 one-time | Yes | Yes |
| 11 | ASCOMP BackUp Maker | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | 29.9 one-time | Yes | Yes |
| 12 | BleachBit | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 13 | Crypto Shredder | 5.2 | No | — | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 14 | D-Secure File Eraser | 5.2 | No | $3.33/mo | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 15 | HDShredder | 5.2 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 16 | iBeesoft File Shredder | 5.2 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 17 | BCWipe Total WipeOut | 5.1 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 18 | Moo0 File Shredder | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | — | No | Yes |
| 19 | The Devourer | 5.1 | No | — | — | — | Yes | No |
| 20 | Autoruns | 5.0 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 21 | Blancco Drive Eraser | 5.0 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 22 | Easy File Shredder | 5.0 | No | $2.50/mo | No | 49.95 one-time | Yes | Yes |
| 23 | Files Shredder | 5.0 | No | — | Yes | 29.99 one-time | — | Yes |
| 24 | O&O SafeErase | 4.9 | No | — | No | 29.95 one-time | Yes | Yes |
| 25 | ShredOS | 4.9 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which file shredder software is ranked first on Freedom251?
Active@ KillDisk is ranked #1 of 28 with a score of 6.6. R-Wipe & Clean is second and Alternate File Shredder third.
How many of these have a free plan?
8 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Easy File Shredder has the lowest first paid tier we found: $2.50/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation.