Stop Context
Switching.
Local-First Environment Variable Manager.
envyou is a local-first, encrypted environment variable manager for developers that stores your .env secrets and API keys only on your machine (AES-256-GCM), never in the cloud — and connects to Claude Desktop over MCP so AI can read and write environment variables only after you approve each request.
Stop jumping between your editor and terminal. Keep your .env always on top and copy it with one click.
No more heavy cloud config tools. envyou is a lightweight desktop app of just a few MB that stores every key locally, AES-256 encrypted. And it connects to Claude Desktop over MCP so AI can read and write your environment variables directly.
Why envyou
For developers tired of heavy, scattered workflows — we focused on the three things that matter.
Ultra lightweight
Built on Tauri (Rust), not Electron. A floating desktop app that uses only a few MB of memory and pops up instantly with a global hotkey.
⌨ Ctrl + Shift + ELocal, encrypted storage
Your API keys and DB passwords live only on your machine — one AES-256-GCM encrypted file, no cloud sync. When you approve Claude reading a value, only that value is shared with your AI provider.
🚫 No Cloud SyncClaude MCP integration
Connect to Claude Desktop over the Model Context Protocol. AI can read and write your variables directly — but every call pops a physical approval dialog you must accept.
$ envyou --mcpThis is why you need envyou
The daily .env grind — pasting, comparing environments, searching, wiring up AI — and how the app makes it vanish, shown on real screens.
envyou vs dotenv, 1Password, Doppler & Infisical
Different tools for different jobs. Cloud secrets platforms are great for teams; envyou is built for a single developer who wants secrets to stay encrypted on their own machine, with a one-time price and native Claude Desktop MCP support.
| Capability | envyou | dotenv | 1Password | Doppler | Infisical |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Local desktop env manager | Library + .env file format | Password / secrets manager | Cloud secrets platform | Open-source secrets platform |
| Where secrets live | Only on your machine | Plaintext .env file | Vendor cloud (E2E encrypted) | Vendor cloud | Cloud or self-hosted |
| Encrypted at rest | Yes — AES-256-GCM | No (plaintext) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cloud sync required | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes (or self-host) |
| Team collaboration | Single developer focus | Via your own repo/tooling | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Claude Desktop MCP | Native | No | No | No | No |
| Pricing model | Free + $59 one-time (lifetime) | Free / open source | Subscription | Free tier + subscription | Open source + paid tiers |
Comparison reflects the typical, publicly documented positioning of each tool as a category, not a feature-by-feature benchmark; capabilities and pricing of third-party products change over time. dotenv, 1Password, Doppler, and Infisical are trademarks of their respective owners.
Pricing — no subscription
Buy once, keep it forever. A single payment permanently unlocks every Pro feature.
Free
$0
Enough to get started.
- ✔ Up to 3 projects
- ✔ 10 variables per project
- ✔ Global hotkey · Always on Top
- ✔ Local AES-256 encryption
- ✔ One-click
.envcopy & paste - ✕ Custom themes · per-env colors
- ✕ Claude MCP integration
Pro
$59 / one-time, lifetime
No subscription. No extra fees.
- ✔ Create unlimited projects
- ✔ Register unlimited variables
- ✔ Custom themes · per-env colors
- ✔ Unlock Claude MCP permissions
- ✔ Master-key secure storage (Argon2id)
- ✔ Offline license activation
- ✔ All future updates free
- ✔ Priority email support
Download
Same app, two ways. Grab it free and start now, then unlock Pro inside the app whenever you want — one payment, yours for life.
Clicking a button downloads the installer directly. Windows isn't code-signed yet, so SmartScreen may warn — More info → Run anyway. macOS is coming soon.
Unlimited projects & variables, Claude MCP integration, custom colors, lifetime updates. After payment a license key is emailed to you; paste it into “Upgrade to Pro” in the same app and it unlocks instantly (offline activation).
★ Lifetime — $59Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from developers about how envyou stores secrets, what it costs, and how the Claude Desktop MCP integration works.
Is envyou free?
Does envyou send my secrets to the cloud?
How does the Claude Desktop MCP integration work?
claude mcp add). Claude launches envyou --mcp, which speaks JSON-RPC 2.0 MCP over STDIO and exposes list_projects, list_variable_names, read_env_variables (you name the exact variables), and write_env_variable. Reading a value or writing one triggers a native approval dialog on your machine — the value is only released after you approve, and writing is off until you opt in. If the dialog can't be shown or you don't answer in time, the request is denied.How is envyou different from dotenv, 1Password, Doppler, or Infisical?
dotenv is a library and a plaintext .env file format, not an encrypted manager with a UI. 1Password, Doppler, and Infisical are excellent cloud-based or team-oriented secrets platforms that typically sync secrets to a server and run on a subscription. envyou is a single-developer, local-first desktop app: secrets stay encrypted on your machine, there is no cloud sync, pricing is a one-time $59 lifetime (no subscription), and it integrates directly with Claude Desktop over MCP. See the comparison table for details.