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Head-to-head · Executable Packers

UPX vs StarForce Crypto

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 2 checks side by side
Higher score UPX #2 in Executable Packers 8.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 1 features Visit UPX
StarForce Crypto #3 in Executable Packers 8.7/10 Pricing on request · 30-day trial Free trial✓ 1 of 1 features Try StarForce Crypto

UPX leads on 1 check, StarForce Crypto on 1, and 0 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 2 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreUPX · 8.9/10
  • Free planonly UPX
  • Free trialonly StarForce Crypto
  • Most featuresStarForce Crypto · 1 of 1

UPX scores higher on our rubric for executable packers: 8.9 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #3.

UPX offers free plan; StarForce Crypto doesn't. StarForce Crypto offers protection features; UPX doesn't. On architecture support, UPX gives you Multi-architecture where StarForce Crypto offers 32/64-bit.

UPX is the better fit for free cross-platform compression. StarForce Crypto is the better fit for mature Windows PE and .NET protection.

  • UPX fits best

    Free cross-platform compression

  • StarForce Crypto fits best

    Mature Windows PE and .NET protection

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Side by side

Feature UPX 8.9/10 Visit ↗ StarForce Crypto 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.9 8.7
Ranking #2 in Executable Packers #3 in Executable Packers
Best for Free cross-platform compression Mature Windows PE and .NET protection
Pricing model Free Paid
Starting price Free plan Pricing on request · 30-day trial
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial — 30 days
Deployment Desktop Cloud, Desktop
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Windows
Support Docs Email
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features UPX 0/1 · StarForce Crypto 1/1
Protection features — ✓ (best)
Specs
Supported platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Windows
Binary formats PE, ELF, Mach-O, COFF, DOS/COM, DOS/EXE, DOS/SYS, Atari/TOS PE EXE, PE DLL, .NET EXE, .NET DLL
Compression levels Advanced Not checked yet
Architecture support Multi-architecture 32/64-bit
License model Perpetual Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Supports Windows, macOS, Linux, and multiple executable formats
  • Offers compression levels 1–9, --best, and multiple methods
  • Includes decompression, integrity checks, checksums, and size reporting
  • Protects native-code and managed-code PE applications
  • Combines obfuscation, anti-debugging and anti-VM defenses
  • Supports encrypted containers and digital-signature integrity checks
Cons
  • Command-line operation may require technical familiarity
  • Provides no verified protection features
  • Compressed commercial distribution has special license conditions
  • Supports Windows applications rather than multiple operating systems
  • Product pricing requires contact with sales
  • No free plan is offered
Our verdict

UPX is a free, portable, open-source command-line packer for compressing executable programs, DLLs, libraries, and other supported binaries. It supports Windows, macOS, and Linux, with coverage for formats including PE, ELF, Mach-O, COFF,…

Read the review →

StarForce Crypto is a Windows application protection product for developers distributing native-code or managed-code software through physical media or the internet. It protects PE executable files, including EXE and DLL formats, across…

Read the review →
  1. UPXExecutable Packers 8.9Free plan
  2. StarForce CryptoExecutable Packers 8.7Pricing on request · 30-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • UPX — where it wins

    • Supports Windows, macOS, Linux, and multiple executable formats
    • Offers compression levels 1–9, --best, and multiple methods
    • Includes decompression, integrity checks, checksums, and size reporting

    Where it doesn't

    • Command-line operation may require technical familiarity
    • Provides no verified protection features
    • Compressed commercial distribution has special license conditions

  • StarForce Crypto — where it wins

    • Protects native-code and managed-code PE applications
    • Combines obfuscation, anti-debugging and anti-VM defenses
    • Supports encrypted containers and digital-signature integrity checks

    Where it doesn't

    • Supports Windows applications rather than multiple operating systems
    • Product pricing requires contact with sales
    • No free plan is offered
  • UPX8.9/10 · Free plan

    A free, cross-platform packer with broad format support and detailed compression controls.

    Visit UPXFull verdict →
  • StarForce Crypto8.7/10 · Pricing on request · 30-day trial

    A mature Windows packer for native and managed-code protection with configurable defenses.

    Try StarForce CryptoFull verdict →

More comparisons

All executable packers comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update