Best Secure File Shredding Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Cairo Secure Eraser is ranked #1 of 26 as of 5 October 2026, ahead of Eraser and Free File Eraser. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Eraser. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Protectstar Antivirus AI at €0.75/mo.
If you need to remove files beyond ordinary deletion, file shredding tools can be compared by the kinds of data and devices they cover. Compared on folder shredding, free-space shredding, scheduled shredding, and shredding standards, the entries also differ in Linux, macOS, and Windows support. Free-plan availability and paid starting prices add cost context. Cairo Secure Eraser, Eraser, and File Shredder are among the options shown. Consider which operating systems you use, whether you need folder or free-space handling, and whether scheduling or a particular listed standard matters for your deletion process.
26 secure file shredding software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
11 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 | Cairo Secure EraserWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 2 | EraserWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 3 | Free File EraserWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 4 | OW ShredderWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 5 | RaiderLinux | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 6 | DeleteOnClickWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 7 | File ShredderWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 8 | Protectstar Antivirus AIAndroid | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | €0.75/mo | 6.3 | |
| 9 | WipeFileWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 10 | BitRaser File EraserWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | $2.83/mo | 5.5 |
| 11 | ASCOMP BackUp MakerWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 12 | O&O AppBusterWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 13 | BCWipe Total WipeOutWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 14 | D-Secure File EraserWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · API | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | $3.33/mo | 5.2 |
| 15 | SecureDelWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 16 | AutorunsNo platforms listed | No signal | — | — | 0 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 17 | Crypto ShredderWindows | One bar | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 5.1 | |
| 18 | Easy File ShredderWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | $2.50/mo | 5.1 |
| 19 | SecureRecoveryWindows · Mac | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 20 | SysTools File ShredderWindows · Mac | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 21 | ZERDAVA File ShredderWindows · Android | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | $2.17/mo | 5.1 |
| 22 | Kernel File ShredderWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | $2.42/mo | 5.0 |
| 23 | Moo0 File ShredderWindows | One bar | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 5.0 | |
| 24 | ShredItWindows · Mac · Android · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 4.9 |
| 25 | O&O SafeEraseWindows | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 4.8 |
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Free-space shredding | Folder shredding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cairo Secure Eraser | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 2 | Eraser | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 3 | Free File Eraser | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 4 | OW Shredder | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 5 | Raider | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | No | Yes |
| 6 | DeleteOnClick | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 7 | File Shredder | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 8 | Protectstar Antivirus AI | 6.3 | Free plan | €0.75/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 9 | WipeFile | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 10 | BitRaser File Eraser | 5.5 | No | $2.83/mo | — | — | — | — |
| 11 | ASCOMP BackUp Maker | 5.4 | No | — | Yes | 29.9 one-time | — | — |
| 12 | O&O AppBuster | 5.4 | No | — | No | 29.95 one-time | — | — |
| 13 | BCWipe Total WipeOut | 5.2 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 14 | D-Secure File Eraser | 5.2 | No | $3.33/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 15 | SecureDel | 5.2 | No | — | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 16 | Autoruns | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 17 | Crypto Shredder | 5.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 18 | Easy File Shredder | 5.1 | No | $2.50/mo | No | 49.95 one-time | — | — |
| 19 | SecureRecovery | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 20 | SysTools File Shredder | 5.1 | No | — | No | 29 one-time | Yes | Yes |
| 21 | ZERDAVA File Shredder | 5.1 | No | $2.17/mo | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 22 | Kernel File Shredder | 5.0 | No | $2.42/mo | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 23 | Moo0 File Shredder | 5.0 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 24 | ShredIt | 4.9 | No | — | No | 24.95 one-time | — | — |
| 25 | O&O SafeErase | 4.8 | No | — | No | 29.95 one-time | — | — |
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 secure file shredding software is ranked first on Freedom251?
Cairo Secure Eraser is ranked #1 of 26 with a score of 6.4. Eraser is second and Free File Eraser third.
How many of these have a free plan?
11 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Protectstar Antivirus AI has the lowest first paid tier we found: €0.75/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.