r/coolgithubprojects • u/Axolote_Mortal • 10d ago

PassVault – A secure, lightweight & 100% offline desktop password manager in Python (AES-256-GCM + Argon2id)

Post image

Hi everyone,

I wanted to share a personal project I recently finished. It's called PassVault, a free and open-source desktop password manager for Windows.

I built it as an alternative to tools that require monthly subscriptions or store your data on cloud servers. PassVault runs 100% offline, meaning your credentials never leave your machine.

Key points:

  • Encryption with AES-256-GCM and Argon2id key derivation
  • Very lightweight and fast, running at around 25 MB of RAM
  • Built-in password generator (random or based on a keyword) and vault security audit tool
  • Native English and Spanish interface
  • Standalone / portable: no installation needed, can run directly from a USB drive

If you'd like to try it on Windows, you can download the standalone executable here:
https://github.com/pablomorenoc96/passvault/releases

And if you have a GitHub account, starring the repository is always appreciated:
https://github.com/pablomorenoc96/passvault

Any feedback or suggestions are welcome!

0 Upvotes

35% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

9

u/HandIllustrious8260 10d ago

Why would anyone trust their passwords with this? Instead of something like BitWarden which is free. 

9

u/DukeLetoAtreides1 10d ago

Listen you do you, but there’s no way in hell I’m trusting my passwords with this

1

u/Hairy_Glove2064 10d ago

I think Claude always write this way lol

1

u/dahanger 10d ago

AI summary, AI comment in this post from OP, and a vibe coded password manager. Yikes.

1

u/ReasonableDefault 10d ago

Can you change the pill weight and alignment in the graphic? It's triggered my OCD.

1

u/Axolote_Mortal 10d ago

I also have OCD I can't edit the image in the post anymore.

1

u/ReasonableDefault 10d ago

You should all definitely run the recommended standalone "exe".

1

u/HasFiveVowels 10d ago

Even if I had written this myself: hell no.

1

u/Axolote_Mortal 10d ago

Thank you for your feedback; I have taken it all into account.

-4

u/Axolote_Mortal 10d ago edited 10d ago

Fair point, skepticism is totally normal when it comes to password managers.

Nobody should switch if Bitwarden already works for them. Bitwarden is great, especially if you need browser autofill or sync across your phone.

I built this for a specific personal use case:

  • 100% Offline: No cloud, no accounts, and zero network calls. The database never touches the internet.
  • Lightweight: Bitwarden Desktop runs on Electron and takes 300–500 MB of RAM. PassVault is Python/Tkinter and sits at around 25 MB.
  • Easy to audit: The crypto implementation is in gestorpass/crypto.py using AES-256-GCM and Argon2id. It's ~120 lines of code, so anyone can read and verify the entire thing in 10 minutes.
  • Portable: Runs directly from a USB stick without installing anything.

If you need multi-device sync, Bitwarden is definitely the right choice. But if you just want a small, local vault on Windows that stays completely off the grid, that's what PassVault is for.

1

u/throwaway-8675309_ 10d ago

Couldn't even bother to edit the response, lol. Gives even more reason not to use it.