Active@ KillDisk vs east-tec Eraser

Active@ KillDisk permanently erases data from HDDs, SSDs, NVMe disks, USB drives and other storage media. It is available for Windows, Linux and macOS, with bootable media for Windows PE, Linux and console environments. The product lists more than 25 sanitization standards, including NIST 800-88 and DoD 5220.22-M. The freeware edition uses only the One Pass Zeros method, allows two parallel erases and lacks batch scripting and post-erase verification. Paid editions list erase verification, resuming interrupted erases, PDF certificates and XML reports; professional editions also list batch scripting that can run without user interaction. Some editions include low-level ATA Secure Erase for SSDs. The comparison also lists remote monitoring and HTTP process control through a Web Service, plus export of operation journals to external databases. Personal Professional costs $64.95, paid once; Personal Suite costs $79.95, paid once. Commercial and site licenses have separate listed prices. The maker describes the tool for home users, businesses, IT departments, recyclers, refurbishers, government and healthcare organizations, among others.

east-tec Eraser is Windows software for erasing files with selectable methods, verification, and erasure reports. Listed methods include DoD 5220.22-M, GOST P50739-95, VSITR, the Bruce Schneier Algorithm, and the Peter Gutmann method. Verification provides a way to check the operation, while reports provide a record of the erasure. The Eraser Plan costs $39.95 a year, billed per year, and includes one year of free updates and support. A 15-day trial is available, but there is no free plan. The product is therefore a paid Windows tool with an annual plan and a file-focused scope. Users can choose among the named algorithms and review the resulting verification and report information.