PELock vs VMProtect

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.

VMProtect protects software code against reverse engineering, analysis and cracking. It transforms selected code so embedded virtual machines execute it using their own instruction set, without additional libraries or modules in the protected application. Protection options include virtualization, mutation, or mutation followed by virtualization, alongside controls such as packing, virtual files, debugger and virtualization-tool detection, memory protection and debug-information stripping. VMProtect supports x86, x86_64 and ARM64 binaries and.NET assemblies, with PE, Mach-O, ELF and.NET formats across Windows, macOS, Linux and Android. Its licensing system uses RSA-based asymmetric cryptography for serial number creation and verification; online trial activation can issue time-limited serials without storing anything on the user computer. Lite, Professional and Ultimate editions are available. A free trial is offered, but there is no free plan. Personal one-time licenses include Lite at $399, paid once, Professional at $599, paid once and Ultimate at $999, paid once; updates renewals are also listed for existing licenses.