# dotenvx

10 Hacker News commenters recommended dotenvx and 1 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 5 of 13 months. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** Encrypts .env files so secrets can be committed to Git safely, with the private key supplied separately; critics say it does not help with team sharing.

## Why people recommend it

- Commit encrypted .env files safely (3 comments): "solves this by encrypting your .env file so you can even commit it safely" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46634980)) "for committing encrypted .env files" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46194716)) "You keep the .env file approach, the actual secrets are encrypted" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47137514))
- Easy for existing .env users (2 comments): "it builds on what's already there and makes it safer and easier to share configuration" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46309700)) "it's nice and easy for anyone already using `.env` files" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46195450))
- Secrets stay safe in attacks (2 comments): "So your secrets would be safe in this attack if using Dotenvx." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47856345)) "You keep the .env file approach, the actual secrets are encrypted" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47137514))

## What people warn about

- Doesn't help with team sharing (1 comments): "solves accidental file reads but doesn't help with team sharing" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47138932))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [fnox](https://hackerapproved.com/p/fnox.md): 20 recommend
- [Infisical](https://hackerapproved.com/p/infisical.md): 17 recommend
- [enveil](https://hackerapproved.com/p/enveil.md): 13 recommend
- [Varlock](https://hackerapproved.com/p/varlock.md): 8 recommend
- [git-crypt](https://hackerapproved.com/p/git-crypt.md): 8 recommend

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "dotenvx", https://hackerapproved.com/p/dotenvx/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).