GpgFrontend

A modern, cross-platform OpenPGP tool with a unique dual-engine core: switch freely between the battle-tested GnuPG and a modern, memory-safe Rust rPGP backend. It makes encryption, signing, and key management easier and more trustworthy in everyday privacy workflows.

Key Features

• Easy: Encrypt and sign your texts, files and more in just a few clicks.
• Cross-platform: Native support for Windows, macOS and Linux.
• Profiles: Keep separate sets of keys and settings, and switch between them.
• Portable: Run from a USB drive, or carry a profile in one encrypted file.
• Dual-engine: Switch freely between the mature GnuPG and the Rust rPGP backend.
• Future-proof: Explore OpenPGP v6 (RFC 9580) and post-quantum OpenPGP (RFC 9980).
• Memory-safe: Sensitive data is guarded in secure memory while in use.
• Privacy-focused: Everything runs locally, with no telemetry or tracking.

If you like GpgFrontend, you can give it a ⭐ on GitHub as donation. :)

Table of Contents

• GpgFrontend
  • Table of Contents
  • User Manual
  • Release Channels
  • Supported Languages
  • Modules
  • Contributing & Bug Reports
    • For Developers
  • Project's Logo
  • Mission and Origins
  • Project Maintainer
  • LICENSES

User Manual

For detailed instructions on installation, usage, and troubleshooting, please refer to the User Manual. The User Manual is the primary and most up-to-date resource for all users who want to use GpgFrontend. It provides guidance on basic concepts, common workflows, and recommended practices for using GpgFrontend effectively.

The source code for the user manual is maintained in this repository.

Release Channels

• v2.2.x (Stable, recommended): The current stable series and the recommended choice for daily use. It introduces the dual-engine core, adding the Rust rPGP backend for OpenPGP v6 (RFC 9580) and post-quantum OpenPGP (RFC 9980) alongside GnuPG, which remains the default and most interoperable backend. rPGP-related features continue to evolve over time.

• v2.1.x (Legacy): The previous GnuPG-only stable series. It remains in maintenance mode, focusing on bug fixes and security updates, with no new major features or breaking changes planned. Choose this if you need a pure GnuPG build or are not ready to adopt the multi-engine 2.2 line.

Supported Languages

GpgFrontend currently supports an array of languages including:

• English
• Chinese (Simplified/Traditional)
• French
• German
• Italian
• Spanish
• Russian
• Polish
• Turkish

And these translations are contributed by our community: SHOW

If you find an error in any of the translations or need to add a new one, we welcome you to join our translation work.

Modules

GpgFrontend can be extended with modules, so you only enable the features you need. Modules ship as signed packages and are verified before they load. A module can only use the features it declares, and third-party modules run only after you approve their publisher. Modules can add their own menus, tabs, views and settings pages.

To write your own module, start from the Module Repository and the SDK reference.

Contributing & Bug Reports

Contributions, bug reports, and suggestions are welcome. You can open an issue or submit PRs if you prefer to use GitHub. For anonymous users, Git patches can be delivered by mail. If you don't have a GitHub account or prefer not to register, you are welcome to communicate with me via email.

Contributing Guide

For Developers

Although GpgFrontend's UI looks simple, its architecture is not trivial, especially for developers unfamiliar with C++, Qt, asynchronous workflows, and multithreading. An AI-assisted Wiki is available based on source-code analysis. It can be helpful for navigation and high-level understanding, but it may not be fully accurate in all implementation details. Please use it together with the source code rather than as a replacement for it.

For setting up the development environment, please refer to the Development Environment Setup Guide.

Project's Logo

Mission and Origins

GpgFrontend inherits the codebase from the discontinued but easy-to-use gpg4usb. As described in my blog post "The Past and Present of GpgFrontend: My Journey with an Open-Source Encryption Tool", the project began with a simple question:

"What if everyone could have a small, reliable, and secure 'crypto machine'. A tool that makes encryption as tangible and trustworthy as turning a key in a lock?"

Project Maintainer

@Saturneric

You can refer to HERE for my contact details.

LICENSES

GpgFrontend itself is licensed under the GPLv3.