Free Text Encryption Tool - AES-256 Encrypt Text Online

Why Use Our Text Encryption Tool?

Our free text encryption tool uses AES-256, the same encryption standard used by governments, military organizations, and banks worldwide. Protect sensitive information, passwords, private messages, or any confidential text with industry-leading encryption.

Key Features

AES-256 Encryption: Military-grade encryption with 256-bit keys
Password-Based Encryption: Simple password protection with PBKDF2 key derivation
Custom Encryption Keys: Use your own 256-bit key for maximum control
Multiple Modes: Choose between GCM (authenticated) and CBC (standard) modes
Flexible Output: Export encrypted data as Base64 or Hexadecimal
Password Strength Indicator: Visual feedback on password security
Random Key Generation: Generate cryptographically secure random keys
Download Encrypted Data: Save encrypted output with all necessary metadata
100% Client-Side: All encryption happens locally - your data never leaves your device

Common Use Cases

1. Secure Password Storage

Encrypt passwords, API keys, or access tokens before storing them in notes or documents. Even if your files are compromised, encrypted data remains secure.

2. Private Message Protection

Encrypt sensitive messages before sending them through unsecured channels. Share the password separately to ensure only the intended recipient can read the message.

3. Confidential Notes

Protect personal notes, journal entries, or confidential information. Store encrypted versions in cloud storage without privacy concerns.

4. Data Protection

Encrypt sensitive business data, financial information, or personal identification numbers before storing or transmitting them.

5. Security Testing

Test encryption and decryption workflows in your applications. Verify that your systems can handle encrypted data correctly.

How to Encrypt Text

Password-Based Encryption

Enter or paste the text you want to encrypt
Choose your encryption mode (GCM recommended for authenticated encryption)
Enter a strong password (check the strength indicator)
Select output format (Base64 or Hex)
Click "Encrypt Text"
Save the encrypted output, IV, salt, and your password securely

Custom Key Encryption

Enable "Use Custom Encryption Key"
Either enter your own 64-character hex key or click "Generate" for a random key
Enter your text and select encryption settings
Click "Encrypt Text"
Save the encrypted output, IV, and your encryption key

Understanding Encryption Components

Encrypted Text

The actual encrypted data. This is your original text transformed into an unreadable format. Without the correct password/key and IV, it cannot be decrypted.

Initialization Vector (IV)

A random value used to ensure that encrypting the same text twice produces different ciphertext. The IV is not secret - you can store it alongside your encrypted data. It's required for decryption.

Salt (Password-Based Only)

Used in password-based encryption to prevent rainbow table attacks. The salt is combined with your password to derive the encryption key. Like the IV, it's not secret but required for decryption.

Encryption Key

The secret key used to encrypt your data. With password-based encryption, this is derived from your password. With custom key encryption, this is your 256-bit key. This MUST be kept secret.

Encryption Modes Explained

AES-256-GCM (Recommended)

Galois/Counter Mode provides both encryption and authentication. It automatically detects if encrypted data has been tampered with. This is the recommended mode for most use cases as it provides stronger security guarantees.

Authenticated encryption (detects tampering)
Modern and widely supported
Faster than CBC on modern hardware
Best for: General purpose encryption

AES-256-CBC

Cipher Block Chaining is a traditional encryption mode that's been used for decades. It's reliable and well-tested, but doesn't include built-in authentication.

Classic, well-established mode
Compatible with older systems
Requires separate authentication for data integrity
Best for: Legacy system compatibility

Output Formats

Base64 Format

Encodes encrypted data using Base64 encoding (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, /). This format is more compact and commonly used for storing binary data in text format. Ideal for JSON, XML, or database storage.

Hexadecimal Format

Encodes encrypted data as hexadecimal (0-9, a-f). This format is longer but easier to read and debug. Each byte becomes two hex characters. Commonly used in cryptographic applications and debugging.

Password Security Best Practices

Strong Password Tips

Use at least 12 characters (16+ recommended)
Mix uppercase and lowercase letters
Include numbers and special characters
Avoid dictionary words and common patterns
Use a unique password for each encryption
Consider using a password manager to generate and store strong passwords

Weak Password Examples (Avoid)

Password123
Your name or birthday
Common words (love, admin, welcome)
Sequential numbers (12345678)
Keyboard patterns (qwerty, asdfgh)

Security & Privacy

Your security and privacy are our top priorities:

100% Client-Side: All encryption happens in your browser using the Web Crypto API
No Server Upload: Your text, passwords, and keys never leave your device
No Logging: We don't collect, store, or log any of your data
No Analytics on Sensitive Data: We don't track what you encrypt
Open Standards: Uses standard AES-256 encryption - decrypt anywhere
Secure Random: Uses cryptographically secure random number generation

Technical Details

Encryption Specifications

Algorithm: AES (Advanced Encryption Standard)
Key Size: 256 bits
Modes: GCM (Galois/Counter Mode), CBC (Cipher Block Chaining)
IV Size: 128 bits (CBC), 96 bits (GCM)
Key Derivation: PBKDF2 (Password-Based Key Derivation Function 2)
KDF Hash: SHA-256
KDF Iterations: 100,000
Salt Size: 128 bits
Implementation: Web Crypto API (SubtleCrypto)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is AES-256 encryption secure?

Yes. AES-256 is one of the most secure encryption standards available. It's approved by the NSA for protecting classified information up to TOP SECRET level. With a 256-bit key, there are 2^256 possible keys - an astronomically large number that makes brute force attacks computationally infeasible.

Can I decrypt this data later?

Yes, as long as you have the encrypted text, IV, salt (for password-based), and your password or encryption key. You'll need a decryption tool that supports AES-256 with the same mode (GCM or CBC) you used for encryption.

What's the difference between password-based and custom key encryption?

Password-based encryption derives a 256-bit key from your password using PBKDF2. This is convenient but security depends on password strength. Custom key encryption uses a directly provided 256-bit key, offering maximum security if you can securely generate and store the key.

Should I use GCM or CBC mode?

GCM is recommended for most use cases as it provides authenticated encryption (detects tampering). Use CBC only if you need compatibility with older systems that don't support GCM.

Can I encrypt large files?

This tool is designed for text encryption. For file encryption, upgrade to our premium version which supports encrypting documents, images, and other files of any size.

What if I forget my password?

If you lose your password or encryption key, the data cannot be recovered. This is a fundamental property of strong encryption - there's no "backdoor" or recovery mechanism. Always store your passwords and keys securely.

Is the IV secret?

No, the IV (Initialization Vector) is not secret and can be stored alongside your encrypted data. However, it must be provided during decryption. The security comes from keeping your password or encryption key secret, not the IV.

Can I use this for commercial purposes?

Yes, our free text encryption tool can be used for commercial purposes. For advanced features like file encryption and custom algorithms, consider upgrading to our premium version.

Premium Features

Upgrade to premium for advanced encryption capabilities:

RSA Encryption

Asymmetric encryption with public/private key pairs. Perfect for secure key exchange and digital signatures.

File Encryption

Encrypt entire files including documents, images, videos, and archives. Supports files of any size with progress tracking.

Custom Algorithms

Access to additional encryption algorithms including ChaCha20-Poly1305, Blowfish, and more. Configure advanced parameters for specialized use cases.

Start Encrypting Your Text Now

Protect your sensitive information with military-grade AES-256 encryption. Free, fast, and completely private - all processing happens in your browser. No registration required.

Text Encryption Tool

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