Enigma Protector vs PELock
Enigma Protector
enigmaprotector.comPELock
pelock.comSide by side
| Figure | Enigma Protector | PELock |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $24/mo | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 13 | 2 |
| Spec score · Executable Packers | 9.2 (#1) | 7.7 (#11) |
| Spec score · Game DRM Software | 9.1 (#1) | 7.7 (#9) |
| Licensing | Its licensing system supports registration-key verification, hardware-bound licenses, and limits based on dates, launches, or usage duration. | Its license key manager can manage users and keys, generate and verify keys, and block illegally shared keys; the page says keys use RSA-2048. |
| Plugins | Licensed editions include plugin sources, while the demo omits plugin sources and suppresses some protection features. | Plugins can add compression algorithms, cracking tool detection, licensing checks, and loader functionality; listed compression plugins include LZMA and kkrunchy’s lz77. |
| Purpose | Enigma Protector is a licensing and protection system for Windows executable files, aimed at commercial software and shareware developers. | PELock protects 32-bit Windows applications against cracking, tampering, and reverse engineering, and includes a software licensing system. |
| Support | Support is provided by email and through the vendor forum, with the vendor advising users to update before reporting problems. | The maker offers lifetime email support and full access to the community forums with a full license. |
| System requirements | The maker states protected files can run on Windows versions from 95/98 through Windows 11. | The download page lists 512 MB RAM and 14 MB free disk space, and says the full version requires an internet connection. |
| Trial controls | Developers can restrict protected software by launch count, elapsed days, expiration date, run time and country. | Application trials can be limited by days, executions, expiration date, or minutes of use. |
| Windows compatibility | The maker says protected files can run on Windows versions from Windows 95 through Windows 11. | The maker lists support from Windows 95 through Windows 10 and Windows Server 2003 through 2012, and says the product has been tested on 32- and 64-bit Windows versions. |
Plans
Enigma Protector
- Online Activation Panel — Light$24 a month
- Online Activation Panel — Basic$34 a month
- Online Activation Panel — Premium$59 a month
- The Enigma Protector Professional 32-bit — Single Developer License$249, paid once
- The Enigma Protector Professional (32-bit version) — Single Developer License$249, paid once
- The Enigma Protector Professional 64-bit — Single Developer License$249, paid once
- The Enigma Protector Professional (64-bit version) — Single Developer License$249, paid once
- The Enigma Protector Professional 32-bit — Company License$499, paid once
- The Enigma Protector Professional (32-bit version) — Company License$499, paid once
- The Enigma Protector Professional 64-bit — Company License$499, paid once
In their own words
Enigma Protector
Enigma Protector is a licensing and protection system for developers distributing commercial software or shareware as Windows executable files. It supports most 32-bit and 64-bit executable formats, including EXE, DLL, OCX, BPL, and.NET files. Its code and data protection uses encryption and compression alongside obfuscation, mutation, and virtualization to make analysis and modification harder. Licensing can verify registration keys, bind licenses to hardware, or set limits by date, launch count, or usage duration. The Enigma API provides registration-key and trial-status checks and is described for use with languages including C++, Delphi, and Visual Basic. The Online Activation Panel can track orders and automate registration, activation, license-key generation, customer management, and subscriptions. Panel plans range from $24 a month for Light to $59 a month for Premium, with minimum initial payment covering six months. Protector Professional single-developer licenses are $249, paid once; company licenses are $499, paid once. A PHP/MySQL source-code edition for self-hosting costs $890, paid once for a single developer or $2,490, paid once for a company.
PELock
PELock protects compiled 32-bit Windows applications against cracking, tampering, and reverse engineering, while providing software licensing tools. It protects Portable Executable formats including EXE, SCR, DLL, OCX, CPL, BPL, DPL, ACM, and AX. Anti-debugging methods detect cracking tools and block their actions. The license key manager handles users and keys, generates and verifies RSA-2048 keys, and can block illegally shared keys. Trials can be limited by days, executions, an expiration date, or minutes of use. A virtual DLL binder combines an application and libraries into one EXE, loading those libraries in memory without writing them to disk. SDK examples cover C/C++, Delphi, Lazarus, FreePascal, PureBasic, PowerBASIC, D, and Assembler. Plugins can add compression, detection, licensing checks, and loader functions. The maker lists Windows support from Windows 95 through Windows 10 and Server 2003 through 2012, with 32- and 64-bit support. Pricing starts at 59 one-time; listed licenses cost 159.00 USD or $299, paid once.