FileVault is the built-in full-disk encryption feature in macOS. On Macs with Apple silicon or a T2 chip, data is encrypted by hardware by default; enabling FileVault adds a login-password gate that prevents decryption without your credentials.
FileVault
Official website support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/protect-data-on-your-mac-with-filevault-mh11785/mac
Our take
FileVault is the most seamless encryption option for Mac users: it is built in, costs nothing, and on Apple silicon hardware the underlying encryption is hardware-enforced at the storage controller level. Recovery can be tied to an iCloud account or a local recovery key, and the choice matters: iCloud recovery means Apple can technically assist law enforcement. Like BitLocker, it is closed-source, so the implementation cannot be independently verified. For most Mac owners it is the right default, but users with strong threat models should consider the iCloud recovery trade-off carefully and choose a local key instead.
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FileVault alternatives
VERNAM A free, fully client-side file encryptor that runs in your browser. Drop in any file, set or generate a passphrase, and it seals the result into its own .vrn format. Nothing is ever uploaded, and it works offline.
VeraCrypt It can create a virtual encrypted disk that works just like a regular disk but within a file. It can also encrypt a partition or the entire storage device with pre-boot…
Cryptomator Cryptomator encrypts your data quickly and easily. Afterwards you upload them protected to a cloud service.
7-Zip File archiver with a high compression ratio and built-in encryption functionality.
GnuPG GnuPG (GNU Privacy Guard) is the free, GPL-licensed implementation of the OpenPGP standard. A command-line tool for Linux, macOS, and Windows, it encrypts and signs files and email, and manages public-key directories.
Gpg4win Gpg4win is the official Windows installer for GnuPG, bundling the Kleopatra certificate manager and GpgOL for Outlook integration. It provides OpenPGP and S/MIME encryption for files and email on Windows.