The Cryptomator Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Cryptomator in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Cryptomator
The Insider’s Guide
Open-source encryption for the files you keep in any cloud
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among file storage and sync services, read from Cryptomator’s own pages.
Made by Skymatic · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Cryptomator’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Cryptomator’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 27 of the 45 other file storage and sync services we grade
Cryptomator encrypts files in vaults before they reach a cloud storage service, so it adds protection to storage you already use rather than hosting files itself. The desktop app is free for personal use, and the mobile apps are separate purchases. Cryptomator Hub is the team edition, either managed by the vendor or self-hosted.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Cryptomator, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You make a vault and point it at a cloud folder before it does anything.
- 1
Best for encrypting files before they go to your own cloud
Cryptomator is free open-source encryption for the files you keep in any cloud, with unlimited vaults on desktop.
- 2
Paid plans start at $12 a month for each person
As its pricing page puts it: $12.00 per seat / month, billed yearly (Cryptomator Hub Standard).
- 3
There is a free plan
Individual: free for personal use on desktop, unlimited vaults, community support. Hub Community is free for 5 seats, self-hosted.
- 4
It runs on 5 platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android.
- 5
Vaults in any cloud
Vaults sit inside the folder of a cloud storage service you already use, and the files are encrypted before they sync.
- 6
Desktop and mobile apps
Apps run on Windows 10 and later, macOS 11 and later, Linux, Android 8 and later, and iOS 14 and later.
- 7
Open-source code
The project is published on GitHub and the pricing page calls the individual app open source and free forever.
- 8
A 2.6 GPA, above 27 of 45
That is against the other file storage and sync services we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
Nothing Cryptomator does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 3 things listed below take a company.
Cryptomator at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $12.00 per seat / month, billed yearly (Cryptomator Hub Standard)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 30-day free trial of Cryptomator Hub Standard
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Skymatic
- Category
- File Storage & Sync
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
- Store rating
- 4.4 on the App Store, 451 ratings
The report card
Best for encrypting files before they go to your own cloud
Cryptomator is free open-source encryption for the files you keep in any cloud, with unlimited vaults on desktop. It stores nothing itself, so you still need a cloud account, and full access on each phone is a separate EUR 29.99 purchase.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | The desktop program is free for personal use and anyone can download it. Phones are extra at EUR 29.99 each, which is still under a year of the category's middle subscription. |
| Free plan and trial | B | Individual use on desktop is free with unlimited vaults and community support. Phones, dark mode and Hub are paid. |
| Features | D | It encrypts and nothing else: no storage, no sync, so it is useless without a cloud account from another product. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. You make a vault and point it at a cloud folder before it does anything. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android apps are listed, but only 1 integration and no web app. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Cryptomator is for
- Fits if you already have a cloud drive and want your files encrypted before they reach it
- Works for people who would rather pay once than rent more storage
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want storage, as you still have to bring your own cloud account
- Pricey if you want it on both phones: full access is EUR 29.99 on Android and EUR 29.99 on iOS
- Tight if you're a business: Hub Standard is $12 a seat billed yearly with a 3-seat minimum
- Watch out: Hub Enterprise starts at EUR 10,000 a year for at least 50 seats, and desktop dark mode is a paid upgrade
Good to know
Good for
- People who want to encrypt files in Dropbox, Google Drive or similar
- Teams that must control who opens encrypted vaults
- Self-hosters who want a free 5-seat team edition
Worth knowing
- It does not store files itself; you still need a cloud storage account.
- Full access on Android and iOS is a separate purchase of EUR 29.99 each, and the desktop dark mode is a paid upgrade.
- Hub Standard is billed per seat excluding VAT, with a 3-seat minimum.
- Hub Enterprise starts at EUR 10,000 per year for at least 50 seats.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$12
A month to start, for each person. There is a free plan too
Cryptomator has a free plan. Paid plans start at $12.00 per seat / month, billed yearly (Cryptomator Hub Standard).
The desktop program is free for personal use and anyone can download it.
Individual
$0
Desktop app, unlimited vaults, any cloud storage, community support. Mobile apps are one-time purchases of EUR 29.99 each.
Hub Community
$0
Free, open source and self-hosted, with 5 seats for small teams.
Hub Standard
$12.00
per seat / month, billed yearly, excl. VAT
Managed or self-hosted, 3 seats and up, with user and group management, audit logs, mobile apps and email support.
Hub Enterprise
From EUR 10,000
per year, from 50 seats, excl. VAT
Everything in Standard plus emergency access, training, a dedicated account manager and priority email support.
The free plan
Individual: free for personal use on desktop, unlimited vaults, community support. Hub Community is free for 5 seats, self-hosted.
Trying it first
30-day free trial of Cryptomator Hub Standard
Read from cryptomator.org on Nov 12, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
Save 20% with yearly Hub billing
The pricing page shows a 20% saving when Cryptomator Hub is billed yearly instead of monthly.
Stated on cryptomator.org
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
5
Places it runs: macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android
Open-source encryption for the files you keep in any cloud. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, self-hostable, one-time purchase.
It encrypts and nothing else: no storage, no sync, so it is useless without a cloud account from another product.
- Vaults in any cloud
- Vaults sit inside the folder of a cloud storage service you already use, and the files are encrypted before they sync.
- Desktop and mobile apps
- Apps run on Windows 10 and later, macOS 11 and later, Linux, Android 8 and later, and iOS 14 and later.
- Open-source code
- The project is published on GitHub and the pricing page calls the individual app open source and free forever.
- Team management with Hub
- Cryptomator Hub adds user and group management and audit logs, and runs as a managed service or on your own infrastructure.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
- Microsoft Teams
Cryptomator is made by Skymatic.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
27/45
Other file storage and sync services it is graded above
Cryptomator's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 27 of the 45 other file storage and sync services we grade, and level with 6.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 38 of 45) and worst on features (D, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $12 a month for each person, against a middle price of $6.32 for the category: 33 of the 37 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. 28 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 46 file storage and sync services we grade, cut by the letter each got. Cryptomator’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 38 of 45
- BFree plan and trialAbove 34 of 45
- DFeaturesAbove 0 of 45
- CEase of useAbove 9 of 45
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 12 of 45
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 40 file storage and sync services. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Cryptomator is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Nothing Cryptomator does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 3 things listed below take a company.
It costs $144 a year. Cryptomator is open source, so there is a third way: take its code and run it yourself.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- It is priced for each person, which means accounts and billing for a team.
- What a company asks for before it lets staff use something: audit logs.
What this rests on. Cryptomator’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Proton Drive, Nordlocker, Tresorit, Sync.com and Filen
The 5 tools Cryptomator is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
Proton Drive
Free plan · from $3.99/mo
End-to-end encrypted cloud storage from the maker of Proton Mail.
- Only Cryptomator lists a Linux app.
- Only Proton Drive lists a web app.
- Cryptomator is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 2.0GPA
Nordlocker
Free plan · from $29.99/mo
End-to-end encrypted cloud storage from the makers of NordVPN.
- Only Cryptomator lists macOS and Linux apps.
- Only Nordlocker lists a web app.
- Cryptomator is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 2.4GPA
Tresorit
Free plan · from $4.75/mo
End-to-end encrypted file storage and sharing for businesses.
- Only Tresorit lists a web app.
- Cryptomator is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Cryptomator can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.4GPA
Sync.com
Free plan · from $6/mo
End-to-end encrypted cloud storage and file sharing for teams.
- Only Cryptomator lists a Linux app.
- Only Sync.com lists a web app.
- Cryptomator is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 3.4GPA
Filen
Free plan · from €11.99/yr
End-to-end encrypted cloud storage from Germany with open source apps.
- Only Filen lists a web app.
- Cryptomator is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Cryptomator can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Cryptomator free?
Cryptomator has a free plan. Individual: free for personal use on desktop, unlimited vaults, community support.
How much does Cryptomator cost?
Cryptomator lists 4 plans. Individual: $0.
What platforms does Cryptomator work on?
Cryptomator is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android.
Does Cryptomator offer any discounts?
Cryptomator publicly lists the following: Save 20% with yearly Hub billing.
How is Cryptomator rated?
Cryptomator's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.4 out of 5 from 451 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Is Cryptomator open source?
Yes. Cryptomator is open source, according to its own site.
What does Cryptomator integrate with?
Cryptomator's listing names Microsoft Teams. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Does Cryptomator have a free trial?
Yes. 30-day free trial of Cryptomator Hub Standard.
Who makes Cryptomator?
Cryptomator is made by Skymatic.
What are the alternatives to Cryptomator?
The closest alternatives to Cryptomator in our directory are Proton Drive, Nordlocker, Tresorit, Sync.com and Filen.
How does Cryptomator compare with other file storage and sync services?
Cryptomator's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 27 of the 45 other file storage and sync services we grade, and level with 6.
Is Cryptomator good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Cryptomator A for value for money. Its paid plans start at $12 a month for each person, against a middle price of $6.32 for the category: 33 of the 37 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Cryptomator?
Nothing Cryptomator does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 3 things listed below take a company.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Cryptomator’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Cryptomator's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Skymatic. Prices change, so check cryptomator.org before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Cryptomator, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/cryptomator
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Cryptomator: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/cryptomator
Know someone choosing between file storage and sync services?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/cryptomator/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded file storage and sync services after Cryptomator, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- File Storage & Sync Insider's GuideEvery one of the 46 file storage and sync services we grade, compared
- Google Drive Insider's GuideCloud storage tied to Google Docs, Gmail and Photos3.6 GPA
- Filen Insider's GuideEnd-to-end encrypted cloud storage from Germany with open source apps3.4 GPA
- Microsoft OneDrive Insider's GuideMicrosoft's cloud storage, bundled with Microsoft 365 plans3.4 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Cryptomator’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Cryptomator is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Skymatic. Prices and plans change: check cryptomator.org before you buy.