boltenv vs dotenv-vault
boltenv vs dotenv-vault: zero-knowledge encryption vs VAULT_TOKEN.
dotenv-vault made .env syncing mainstream with its DOTENV_KEY approach. boltenv goes further: client-side AES-256-GCM encryption (your key, not theirs), GitHub-based access control, and three-way merge for concurrent pushes. If you're already on dotenv-vault, migration is a single push command.
Choose boltenv when…
- ✓You want true zero-knowledge encryption (your key, not dotenv-vault's)
- ✓Your team is on GitHub and you want access control to mirror repo membership
- ✓You need version history with rollback
- ✓You push to the same environment from multiple machines and need conflict resolution
- ✓You want automatic environment detection from git branch
- ✓You want a cleaner CLI: push / pull instead of push / pull / keys
Choose dotenv-vault when…
- ·You need DOTENV_KEY to work with Vercel, Heroku, Render native integrations
- ·You're an individual developer with no team (dotenv-vault has a generous free tier)
- ·You need the dotenv-vault VS Code extension for GUI-based editing
- ·You already have a workflow built around DOTENV_KEY in your app startup
Feature comparison
| Feature | boltenv | dotenv-vault |
|---|---|---|
| Encryption | ✓AES-256-GCM (client-side) | AES-256-GCM (server holds keys) |
| Key ownership | ✓You own the key | dotenv-vault holds the key |
| Access control | ✓GitHub repo permissions | DOTENV_KEY token sharing |
| Version history | 50 versions (Team) | Unlimited (paid) |
| Branch-based environments | ✓Auto-detected from git branch | Manual environment selection |
| Conflict resolution | ✓Three-way merge | No merge |
| CI/CD setup | 3 env vars | DOTENV_KEY only |
| Access revocation | ✓Remove from GitHub repo | Rotate DOTENV_KEY (manual) |
| Setup time | ✓60 seconds | 2–5 minutes |
| Web dashboard | None | Yes |
| Open source CLI | Yes | Yes |
| Free tier | 3 users, 5 repos | Unlimited individual use |
Encryption
boltenv
AES-256-GCM (client-side)
dotenv-vault
AES-256-GCM (server holds keys)
Key ownership
boltenv
You own the key
dotenv-vault
dotenv-vault holds the key
Access control
boltenv
GitHub repo permissions
dotenv-vault
DOTENV_KEY token sharing
Version history
boltenv
50 versions (Team)
dotenv-vault
Unlimited (paid)
Branch-based environments
boltenv
Auto-detected from git branch
dotenv-vault
Manual environment selection
Conflict resolution
boltenv
Three-way merge
dotenv-vault
No merge
CI/CD setup
boltenv
3 env vars
dotenv-vault
DOTENV_KEY only
Access revocation
boltenv
Remove from GitHub repo
dotenv-vault
Rotate DOTENV_KEY (manual)
Setup time
boltenv
60 seconds
dotenv-vault
2–5 minutes
Web dashboard
boltenv
None
dotenv-vault
Yes
Open source CLI
boltenv
Yes
dotenv-vault
Yes
Free tier
boltenv
3 users, 5 repos
dotenv-vault
Unlimited individual use
Pricing
boltenv
$0–$8/user/mo
dotenv-vault is free for individual use. Teams start at $13/user/month. boltenv free supports 3 users; Team is $8/user ($6/user annual).
dotenv-vault
$0–$13/user/mo
dotenv-vault is free for individual use. Teams start at $13/user/month. boltenv free supports 3 users; Team is $8/user ($6/user annual).
Migration
Migrate from dotenv-vault to boltenv.
- 01
Pull your current .env using dotenv-vault (npx dotenv-vault pull).
- 02
Install boltenv and log in with your GitHub account.
- 03
Push the .env to boltenv — it generates a local encryption key automatically.
- 04
Share the key with teammates. They import it and pull.
- 05
Remove DOTENV_KEY from your CI/CD and replace with boltenv env vars.
# Pull your current env from dotenv-vault npx dotenv-vault pull # Install boltenv npm install -g @boltenv.dev/cli boltenv login # Push to boltenv (key generated locally, never transmitted) boltenv push # Share access with teammates boltenv key export # In CI/CD, replace: # DOTENV_KEY=dotenv://:key_xxxx@dotenv.org/vault/.env.vault?environment=production # With: # BOLTENV_TOKEN=ghp_xxxx # BOLTENV_KEY=dGhpcyBpcyBhIDMyIGJ5dGUga2V5... # BOLTENV_REPO=myorg/myapp
Verdict
dotenv-vault is a great starting point for individual developers. But as your team grows, you hit its limits: server-side key ownership, manual access revocation, and no conflict resolution. boltenv was designed for teams from day one — zero-knowledge encryption, automatic GitHub-based access control, and three-way merge. If you're a team of 2 or more people, boltenv is the upgrade.