ShredIt

ShredIt erases files, free space, and drives by overwriting data. It is available for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows, and can erase folders, deleted data, external drives, USB flash drives, and CD-RWs. Users can set an overwrite pattern and number of overwrites; optional standards include DoD 5220, DoE, NSA, and Gutmann. On Windows, DoD 5220 Clear is enabled by default.

Items can be dragged into the app or selected from a menu, and a progress bar displays the operation. Safety features include a confirmation before shredding, Safe Place, and Don’t Panic for free-space erasure or disk wiping. The maker offers a free trial, but its demo comparison says files and folders are deleted rather than shredded in the trial. ShredIt for Windows and ShredIt X for Mac each cost $24.95, paid once. The download page lists Windows v6.0.0 and ShredIt X v7.0.1. The maker provides manuals, FAQs, tutorials, and email support.

ShredIt supports configurable overwriting across individual files, free space, and drives. Note the trial’s difference from the full version and check the listed platform requirements before choosing an app.

ShredIt may suit people removing confidential files or erasing a computer or storage device before sale or recycling. It is available across desktop and mobile platforms, with removable-media support.

ShredIt is a file and drive erasure app for people clearing confidential data or preparing storage for disposal. Its wide target coverage and configurable overwrite controls make it a practical paid option, though the Windows defaults are proprietary and the trial does not shred.

Overview

ShredIt overwrites files and folders, deleted data, free space, internal and external drives, USB flash drives, and CD-RWs. That range supports both routine cleanup of confidential material and wiping a computer before sale or recycling. Removable media support is useful for people who need one tool for more than a computer’s main drive.

Users can choose an overwrite pattern and number of overwrites, with optional DoD 5220, DoE, NSA, and Gutmann standards. Windows uses DoD 5220 Clear by default, but the maker describes its default pattern and overwrite count as proprietary. Readers who want to inspect or choose a fully transparent default may prefer another tool or set the controls themselves.

Key features

Files can be added by drag and drop or selected from a menu, while a progress bar tracks the operation. Confirm before Shred and Safe Place are useful safeguards when an accidental wipe would be costly. Don’t Panic provides a free-space erase or disk-wiping feature for users who want a direct way to start that task.

The free trial deletes files and folders; only the full version shreds them. It can show the workflow, but it cannot demonstrate the paid version’s secure-erasure behavior.

Pricing

ShredIt is paid software with a free trial and no free plan. ShredIt for Windows costs $24.95, paid once and includes the Windows app. ShredIt X for Mac costs $24.95, paid once for a single Mac app. Both are one-time purchases, which suits buyers who want a standalone utility rather than a recurring subscription. The trial’s deletion-only behavior is a meaningful limit for anyone evaluating secure erasure before paying.

Platforms

ShredIt is offered for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows. The download page lists ShredIt X v7.0.1 and ShredIt for Windows v6.0.0. ShredIt X lists compatibility with Mac OS X 10.6–10.11 and macOS 10.13–10.15, and says it is compatible with macOS 11 and 12. Windows support is described as covering the latest Windows OS and reaching back to Windows 95. Buyers should check their device’s compatibility before choosing it, particularly Mac users on newer releases.

Who it's for

ShredIt suits people who regularly remove confidential files, need to clear free space, or want to wipe a computer or removable drive before passing it on. The configurable overwrite controls benefit users who want to select a pattern and pass count. It is a weaker fit for anyone who needs the trial itself to verify shredding, or who requires a current, clearly stated Mac compatibility range.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Covers files, deleted data, free space, hard drives, external drives, USB flash drives, and CD-RWs, making it useful across routine cleanup and device disposal.
• Pro: Configurable patterns and overwrite counts, plus optional named standards, give users control over erasure settings.
• Pro: Confirm before Shred and Safe Place provide safeguards against unintended deletion.
• Con: The trial deletes rather than shreds, so secure erasure cannot be assessed with the demo.
• Con: Windows’ default pattern and overwrite count are proprietary, limiting visibility into the out-of-box behavior.
• Con: The stated Mac compatibility stops at macOS 12, making newer Mac owners check carefully before buying.

Alternatives

For a free Android security app with manual dual-engine AI scans, anti-ransomware protection, and quarantine and restore, consider Protectstar Antivirus AI; its scope is antivirus protection rather than ShredIt’s broad drive-erasure workflow. ZERDAVA File Shredder is another paid option with a free trial for Android and Windows users.

Windows users looking for free software can consider Autoruns, Cairo Secure Eraser, Eraser, Free File Eraser, or OW Shredder. For permanent file deletion on Linux, consider Raider.

Browse more options in Secure File Shredding Software or Disk Wiping Software.

Verdict

Choose ShredIt if you need a paid utility for overwriting individual files, free space, drives, and removable media, with control over overwrite settings. Its broad coverage and safeguards are compelling for routine confidential-file removal and device disposal. Look elsewhere if you need a trial that demonstrates shredding or documented Mac support beyond macOS 12.