When comparing BitLocker vs CipherShed, the Slant community recommends BitLocker for most people. In the question“What are the best file encryption tools?” BitLocker is ranked 12th while CipherShed is ranked 18th. The most important reason people chose BitLocker is:
It offers the best integration, ease of use and support with Ultimate and Enterprise editions of Microsoft's Windows Vista and Windows 7, and with the Pro and Enterprise editions of Windows 8.
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Native Windows support
It offers the best integration, ease of use and support with Ultimate and Enterprise editions of Microsoft's Windows Vista and Windows 7, and with the Pro and Enterprise editions of Windows 8.
Pro Volume-based encryption
BitLocker allows encrypting an entire volume including the OS.
Pro Multiple authentication methods
You can use a combination of methods consisting of Trusted Platform Module, PIN, and a passphrase on a USB thumb stick.
Pro Built on top of TrueCrypt
CipherShed is built on top of the famous and now abandoned TrueCrypt and it comes with a lot of things that TrueCrypt had.
Pro Completely free
CipherShed is completely free and open source.
Pro Cross-platform
Available on Windows, OS X and Linux
Cons
Con Proprietary
No public audits possible.
Microsoft could want or be legally required to puts backdoors without users knowledge.
Con Not available on Windows home versions
Con Difficult to enhance key derivation
Since CipherShed decided to keep the TrueCrypt compatibility, and stick with that format they also have to stick with TrueCrypt's key derivation which was released in 2004 and understandably does not offer the same security that it did when first released.