Active@ KillDisk vs XErase
Active@ KillDisk
killdisk.comXErase
enterprisedataerasure.comSide by side
| Figure | Active@ KillDisk | XErase |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 22 | 1 |
| Spec score · Disk Wiping Software | 9.3 (#1) | 7.7 (#18) |
| Spec score · Data Destruction Software | 9.3 (#1) | 7.6 (#9) |
| Spec score · Data Erasure Software | 9.3 (#1) | 7.6 (#10) |
| Automation | Professional editions list batch mode scripting that can run without user interaction. | PXE deployment can capture system and physical condition information, run burn-in tests, inject drivers and automate re-imaging and application installation. |
| Headquarters | Mississauga, Ontario, Canada | Uxbridge, Massachusetts, United States |
| Intended users | The maker identifies home users, businesses, IT departments, ITAD providers, electronics recyclers, refurbishers, government organizations, healthcare providers, and large enterprises as audiences. | The maker describes its solutions for data centers, engineering labs, and manufacturing floors. |
| Purpose | Active@ KillDisk permanently erases data from HDDs, SSDs, NVMe disks, USB drives, and other storage media. | XErase sanitizes connected drives using erasure methods defined by standards including NIST and DoD. |
| Reporting | Paid editions support PDF certificates and XML reports, with customizable reports and options to encrypt or digitally sign PDF certificates. | Reports and labels can be generated for completed or partial erasures and customized for customer requirements. |
| Support | Technical support is available through a ticket, and the maker lists phone support at +1 (877) 403-8082 and +1 (905) 812-8434. | Customers can submit support requests for XErase and upload debug logs, device logs and diagnostic ZIP files. |
Plans
Active@ KillDisk
- Personal Professional$64.95, paid once
- Personal Suite$79.95, paid once
- Personal Ultimate$119.95, paid once
- Corporate Professional$84.95, paid once
- Corporate Suite$109.95, paid once
- Corporate Ultimate$149.95, paid once
- Site Professional$1,999, paid once
- Site Suite$2,299, paid once
- Site Ultimate$3,999, paid once
- FreewareFree
In their own words
Active@ KillDisk
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.
XErase
XErase automates secure erasure for individual drives, enclosures and storage arrays. It supports Windows installation, PXE network boot, USB boot and stand-alone erasure stations. Stand-alone deployment offers more than 35 erasure and validation options, including NIST verification support; users can also create methods during use and configure methods based on NIST and DoD approaches. Erasure reports are tamper-proof and available in PDF, XML, CSV and TXT formats. In PXE and USB deployments, one server can remotely control hundreds of systems. PXE workflows can collect system and physical-condition information, run burn-in tests, inject drivers, and automate re-imaging and application installation. Per-device logs stay on the erasure station or PXE server; XErase does not provide a customer-data database. ERP connections include Makor, Razor and CycleLution, and database integration may require additional licensing. XErase requires Windows 10 or Windows Server, an x64 Intel or AMD processor and 8 GB of memory. Pricing is on request; an annual subscription is described, and a free-trial request form is available.