Active@ KillDisk vs Overwrite

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.

Overwrite is a macOS utility for sanitizing external drives, USB sticks, and SD cards. Its Mac App Store edition deletes files and overwrites free space through the file system. Overwrite Elite can instead overwrite every block the Mac can address on an external drive, using 1-, 3-, 7-, or 35-pass protocols. Completed wipes produce a locally signed Certificate of Data Erasure; Elite certificates can be checked with a free standalone verifier. Elite also offers optional read-back after a multi-pass Full Disk wipe and prints measured coverage on the certificate. The utility is designed for external and removable media and cannot erase the internal boot drive. Both editions have no accounts, analytics, or crash reporting; Elite makes three disclosed connections, while the App Store edition uses Apple’s StoreKit. The free Preview plan lets users explore drives and app screens but does not include secure wiping or certificates. Annual Pro costs $12.99 per year, Lifetime Pro costs $24.99 once, and Overwrite Elite costs $99 once.