A dead-simple cross-platform desktop app and CLI for encrypting and decrypting files and folders using a password.
Deadbolt is a desktop application and command-line tool that provides simple file and folder encryption using a password. It solves the problem of securely protecting sensitive data on personal computers without requiring complex cryptographic knowledge, using strong, standards-based algorithms like AES-256-GCM and Argon2id.
Individuals and developers who need a straightforward, cross-platform solution for encrypting personal files, documents, or backups on their laptops or desktops.
Developers choose Deadbolt for its extreme simplicity, strong security foundations reviewed by ex-Facebook security engineers, and seamless operation across all major desktop operating systems with both GUI and CLI options.
Dead-simple file encryption for any OS
Open-Awesome is built by the community, for the community. Submit a project, suggest an awesome list, or help improve the catalog on GitHub.
Offers native installers for macOS, Windows, and Linux including AppImage and Flatpak, making encryption accessible on any desktop without technical setup.
Provides a graphical desktop app for casual users and a CLI tool for scripting, as shown in the quickstart with npm install and command examples.
Uses AES-256-GCM and Argon2id with RFC 9106 parameters, and has been reviewed by ex-Facebook security engineers for reliability.
Maintains support for decrypting older PBKDF2-based files, easing transition while encouraging re-encryption for improved security.
The GUI is built on Electron, which can be resource-heavy and slower to start compared to native applications, especially on lower-end hardware.
Lacks advanced capabilities like hardware key support, multi-factor authentication, or cloud integration, relying solely on passwords which can be a single point of failure.
Auto-updates are not supported on Linux, as stated in the README, and flatpak installation requires manual steps, reducing convenience for non-technical users.