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Alternate File Shredder

alternate-tools.com

Free plan Open source Windows
Visit alternate-tools.com
Spec score 8.6 #5 of 27 in File Shredder Software

What it is

Alternate File Shredder is a free Windows program for permanently deleting files and folders. It can also overwrite a drive’s free space to reduce the chance of recovering files that were previously deleted. For overwrite patterns, users can choose a specific value, random values, or file content. It does not wipe entire drives or schedule shredding tasks. The maker describes the program as freeware and open source. Its listed systems are Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10, 11, and Server;.NET Framework 2.0 is required, and the page says it has been included with Windows since Vista. The maker lists 20 languages, including English, German, Spanish, French, Chinese, and Japanese. The listed version is 3.100, dated 13.02.2026, and the freeware plan costs nothing. The maker warns that users run the program at their own risk and should take care when selecting files to delete. A contact form is available for messages.

Spec sheet

What it does
The utility permanently deletes files and folders and can overwrite unused drive space to block recovery of previously deleted data.Read 14 Oct 2026 · alternate-tools.com
Activity log
Softpedia says users can inspect logged activity information after shredding operations.Read 14 Oct 2026 · softpedia.com
Adware and telemetry statement
The maker says its programs do not install adware, alter browser settings, phone home automatically or inspect private user data.Read 14 Oct 2026 · alternate-tools.com
Current listed version
The page lists version 3.100, dated 13.02.2026.Read 2 Oct 2026 · alternate-tools.com
Current version
The official page lists version 3.100, dated 13 February 2026, with a 2,460.05 KB file size.Read 14 Oct 2026 · alternate-tools.com
Deletion confirmations
Softpedia reports an option to turn off deletion confirmation prompts.Read 14 Oct 2026 · softpedia.com
Distribution rights
The maker says its programs may be copied and shared freely but may not be sold or rented.Read 14 Oct 2026 · alternate-tools.com
Drag-and-drop
Softpedia describes adding files and folders to the task list by dragging them into the main window.Read 14 Oct 2026 · softpedia.com
File and folder deletion
The program permanently deletes files and folders so they cannot be recovered.Read 2 Oct 2026 · alternate-tools.com
File-name shredding
Softpedia reports that the application can overwrite file names as well as file contents.Read 14 Oct 2026 · softpedia.com
Free space wiping
It can overwrite a drive’s free space to prevent recovery of previously deleted files.Read 2 Oct 2026 · alternate-tools.com
Independent changelog detail
Softpedia lists custom color support as a version 3.100 change.Read 14 Oct 2026 · softpedia.com
Independent performance praise
Softpedia’s reviewer reports no freezes, crashes or error messages and says CPU and memory use stayed low during testing.Read 14 Oct 2026 · softpedia.com
Independent recovery test
In Digital Citizen’s test, Recuva detected the 120 test files but could not recover any usable content after shredding.Read 14 Oct 2026 · digitalcitizen.life
Independent review praise
Softpedia rates the application’s tested feature set as powerful and easy to use for securely deleting files and folders.Read 14 Oct 2026 · softpedia.com
Independent usability praise
Digital Citizen characterizes the interface as simple and friendly for deleting individual files and complete folders.Read 14 Oct 2026 · digitalcitizen.life
Languages
The maker lists 20 included languages, spanning English, German, Spanish, French, Chinese, Japanese and 14 others.Read 14 Oct 2026 · alternate-tools.com
Limit: erasure algorithms
Digital Citizen reports that the tested version offered only random-data overwriting, although users could choose the number of passes.Read 14 Oct 2026 · digitalcitizen.life
MajorGeeks description
MajorGeeks describes repeated overwriting and free-space wiping as intended to prevent recovery of deleted files.Read 14 Oct 2026 · majorgeeks.com
MajorGeeks downloads
MajorGeeks lists 93,956 downloads for the version 3.070 entry it hosts.Read 14 Oct 2026 · majorgeeks.com
Maker legal identity
The imprint identifies the site owner as Christensen at Waechtersbacher Strasse 22, 63505 Langenselbold, Germany.Read 14 Oct 2026 · alternate-tools.com
Maker location
The imprint lists the site operator as Christensen at Waechtersbacher Str. 22, 63505 Langenselbold.Read 2 Oct 2026 · alternate-tools.com
Maker scope
The home page says Alternate Tools publishes alternative utility programs mainly for Windows as freeware or open source.Read 14 Oct 2026 · alternate-tools.com
Open source
The maker describes the program as freeware and open source.Read 2 Oct 2026 · alternate-tools.com
Overwrite choices
Users can overwrite with a chosen fixed value, random values or the contents of a file used as a template.Read 14 Oct 2026 · alternate-tools.com
Overwrite passes
The program provides options controlling how many times data is overwritten.Read 14 Oct 2026 · alternate-tools.com
Rating on MajorGeeks
4 out of 5 from 50 votesRead 14 Oct 2026 · majorgeeks.com
Rating on Softpedia
3.8 out of 5 from 51 votesRead 14 Oct 2026 · softpedia.com
Release change
The official changelog for version 3.100 says options were extended.Read 14 Oct 2026 · alternate-tools.com
Right-click integration
Digital Citizen reports that installation can add a “Send to File Shredder” command to the Windows context menu.Read 14 Oct 2026 · digitalcitizen.life
Runtime requirement
The program requires .NET Framework 2.0, which the maker says is included in Windows from Vista onward.Read 14 Oct 2026 · alternate-tools.com
Safety note
The maker says users run the program at their own risk and should carefully consider which files to delete.Read 2 Oct 2026 · alternate-tools.com
Safety warning
The product page warns that users operate the shredder at their own risk and should carefully verify which files they select.Read 14 Oct 2026 · alternate-tools.com
Support contact
The maker provides a contact page with a form for sending a message.Read 2 Oct 2026 · alternate-tools.com
Supported operating systems
The official product page lists Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10, 11 and Windows Server.Read 14 Oct 2026 · alternate-tools.com
Supported systems
The page lists Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10, 11, and Server as supported operating systems.Read 2 Oct 2026 · alternate-tools.com
System requirement
The program requires the .NET Framework 2.0, which the page says is included in Windows since Vista.Read 2 Oct 2026 · alternate-tools.com
Website privacy
The maker’s privacy notice says website traffic logs include requested files, timestamps, browser and operating-system details, referrer, IP address and provider.Read 14 Oct 2026 · alternate-tools.com
Website security
The privacy notice says transmissions are encrypted with SSL, while acknowledging that internet communications can still have vulnerabilities.Read 14 Oct 2026 · alternate-tools.com
Write-protection handling
Softpedia says the program can be configured to ignore write protection when that capability is available.Read 14 Oct 2026 · softpedia.com

Plans and prices

Freeware Free Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10, 11 and Server · .NET Framework 2.0 · 2.4 MB download Read 14 Oct 2026 · alternate-tools.com

Every Alternate File Shredder plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Deletes files and folders permanently.
  • Can overwrite free drive space.
  • Offers specific, random, or file-content overwrite patterns.
  • Listed as open source freeware.
  • Includes 20 languages.

Limits

  • Does not wipe entire drives.
  • Does not schedule shredding.
  • Requires .NET Framework 2.0.
  • The maker says users run it at their own risk.

Who it suits

It suits Windows users who need to permanently delete selected files or folders, or overwrite free drive space. It requires .NET Framework 2.0.

Verdict

Alternate File Shredder covers file, folder, and free-space wiping, with several overwrite choices and a broad Windows system list. It is not a whole-drive wiper or a scheduled shredding tool, so choose files carefully.

Where Specifiction places it

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