Tether Launches PearPass: A Fully Offline, Open-Source Password Manager With No Cloud

Tether is best known as the company behind USDT, the most widely used stablecoin in the crypto market. What few people expected, however, was its move into personal cybersecurity. Yet that’s exactly what just happened. Tether has officially launched PearPass, a free, open-source password manager that completely abandons cloud storage.

Unlike most mainstream password managers, PearPass works without any centralized server. Your credentials never leave your devices, making it one of the most privacy-focused password managers currently available. PearPass is compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, with browser extensions also available.

A Truly Decentralized Password Manager

At first glance, PearPass looks familiar. It offers all the core features users expect from a modern password manager:

• Login credentials
• Identity information
• Credit card details
• Wi-Fi passwords
• Passphrases
• Secure notes
• Custom items
• Built-in password generator
• Folder-based organization

If you’ve used Bitwarden, Proton Pass, or 1Password, you’ll feel right at home.

Where PearPass Is Different: No Cloud, Ever

The key distinction is storage architecture. Traditional password managers store encrypted vaults on their own servers. PearPass does not.

When you save a password on your PC, it stays locally on your drive. It is not uploaded to Tether, Holepunch, or any third-party server. If you want access on another device, PearPass synchronizes data directly between your devices using peer-to-peer (P2P) connections.

This synchronization is powered by Pear Runtime, a decentralized platform developed by Holepunch, a company backed by Tether.

There is:

• No central database
• No cloud vault
• No single point of failure

Encryption relies on Libsodium, a widely trusted cryptographic library, and the codebase has been independently audited by Secfault Security, a firm specializing in offensive security testing.

Easy Migration From Other Password Managers

Switching to PearPass doesn’t mean starting from scratch. The app supports importing vaults from:

• 1Password
• Bitwarden
• LastPass
• NordPass
• Proton Pass

Imports are handled via CSV or JSON files, making the transition relatively painless for existing users.

The Benefits of a Cloud-Free Password Manager

No Centralized Breach Risk

One of the biggest advantages of PearPass is its resistance to large-scale breaches. In 2022, attackers accessed millions of encrypted LastPass vaults by targeting the company’s infrastructure. While encryption limited damage, the vaults were still stolen.

With PearPass, that attack model simply doesn’t work. There is no central server to hack. An attacker would have to compromise your individual device directly.

Strong Privacy Guarantees

Your data never passes through Tether’s servers—or anyone else’s. Even Tether itself has zero access to your credentials. PearPass also works offline, meaning you can access your passwords without an internet connection, during travel, or in restricted environments.

The Trade-Offs: Total Control Means Total Responsibility

The same design that improves security also introduces limitations.

No Account Recovery

There is no “forgot password” option. If you lose your master password, your vault is gone permanently. Tether does not store recovery keys, backups, or reset options.

Manual Synchronization Matters

Since there’s no cloud backup, synchronization depends entirely on your devices. If you wipe your PC before syncing changes to your phone, those updates are lost.

Cloud-based password managers offer convenience through constant online availability. PearPass trades that convenience for maximum control and privacy. Users must actively manage backups and device syncs.

In short: PearPass gives you freedom—but also responsibility 😉

Where to Download PearPass

PearPass is available for free on its official website:

• Official site: pass.pears.com
• Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
• Browser extensions: Chrome and Microsoft Edge (via Chrome Web Store)
• Source code: Available on GitHub

Because it’s open source, anyone can inspect or audit the code.

Conclusion:

PearPass is not trying to replace every cloud-based password manager. Instead, it targets users who prioritize privacy, decentralization, and local control above convenience.

If you’re uncomfortable trusting your credentials to third-party servers—even encrypted ones—PearPass is a compelling alternative. Backed by open-source code, strong cryptography, and a serverless architecture, it offers a rare approach in a market dominated by cloud services.

Just remember: with PearPass, you are the only keyholder. For privacy-conscious users, that’s not a drawback—it’s the whole point.