PyLocket is the modern, developer-first platform that wraps your Python desktop applications in strong anti-reverse-engineering protection and seamless license enforcement, all without changing a single line of your code.
Stop losing 30–40% of your revenue to crackers and script kiddies. Ship protected builds in minutes, not weeks.
# Recovered source from your_app.pyc # uncompyle6 version 3.9.0 import stripe from licensing import validate def check_license(key): """Your proprietary license logic, fully exposed.""" secret = "sk_live_abc123..." return stripe.Subscription.retrieve(key) def main(): # All your trade secrets, right here api_key = "AIzaSyD..." model = load_proprietary_model() return model.run()
# Attempting decompilation... Error: Unable to decompile. Bytecode format not recognized. SyntaxError: encrypted payload detected File: <encrypted_module_7f3a> Cannot reconstruct source. Anti-tamper signature mismatch. # All methods JIT-decrypted at runtime. # No plaintext bytecode on disk. Ever.
Tools like uncompyle6 and pycdc recover near-perfect source code from .pyc files instantly.
Auto-py-to-exe crackers and script kiddies strip your packaging in a coffee break.
Simple binary patches bypass your carefully coded license validation in minutes.
You see download numbers climbing on pirate sites while your sales plateau or decline.
Variable renaming and base64 encoding fool no one. They add friction for you, not for crackers.
Ship only a tiny cleartext bootstrap. The real payload stays encrypted on disk. Always.
Functions decrypt in memory only at call time, then re-encrypt or zero out. No plaintext lingers.
Anti-debug, anti-VM, dynamic API resolution, memory protections, compiled with full obfuscation by default.
Automatic license checks, device binding, offline grace periods, revocation. No source edits needed.
Windows, Linux, macOS (including Apple Silicon). Python 3.x supported.
Built for Real Developers, Not DRM Fantasy
We don't promise 'unbreakable' protection. Nothing is. We deliver real deterrence that makes piracy expensive, without killing your build workflow or crashing your users.
Encrypted payload on disk. Only a tiny cleartext bootstrap is visible.
Functions decrypt at call time, then re-encrypt or zero out immediately.
Anti-debug, anti-VM, dynamic API resolution, memory protections.
Transformed bytecode breaks all standard decompilers and unpackers.
Tamper detection via cryptographic signatures on every component.
Script kiddies hit encrypted wall, move on.
Effectiveness: MaximumAutomated tools become useless.
Effectiveness: MaximumWeeks/months of painful dynamic analysis.
Effectiveness: Very HighThat's the PyLocket difference: enough protection to make piracy expensive, without killing your build workflow or crashing your users.
Not just protection: a complete infrastructure for securing, licensing, and delivering your Python desktop apps.
Your entire application is encrypted at rest. Only a minimal cleartext bootstrap loader is shipped. The real code stays locked until runtime, making static analysis useless.
Individual functions are decrypted in memory only when called, then immediately re-encrypted or zeroed out. No complete plaintext ever exists in memory at once.
The runtime loader is a compiled native binary with anti-debug, anti-VM, dynamic API resolution, and memory protections. Compiled with full obfuscation by default.
License validation, device binding, offline grace periods, and revocation are handled automatically. No changes to your source code required. Ever.
Windows (x86, x64), Linux (x86, x64), macOS (x86_64, Apple Silicon). Build once, protect everywhere. Python 3.x supported. Multi-OS publishing guide →
Monitor activations, license usage, platform distribution, and protection status from a single dashboard. Know exactly how your app is being used.
Custom bytecode transformations break all standard decompilers and unpackers. Not just obfuscation — structural transformation that defeats automated tools.
Every component is cryptographically signed. Tamper with any file and the app refuses to run. Integrity verification happens at every layer.
Integrate with your payment provider. When a customer pays, their license is generated and delivered automatically. No manual steps, no delays.
From Code to Protected App in Minutes
Develop your Python application normally. No special imports, no SDK, no decorators. Your code stays 100% yours.
Point the PyLocket CLI at your project directory. It analyzes, encrypts, transforms, and packages everything automatically.
Receive platform-specific protected builds ready to distribute. Each build includes the hardened runtime loader and encrypted payload.
Ship your protected app. Licenses are enforced automatically. Customers get a smooth experience. Pirates get nothing.
See how PyLocket stacks up against common Python protection approaches.
| Feature | PyLocket | PyArmor | Cython | DIY Obfuscation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole-app encryption | ✓ | ~ | ✗ | ✗ |
| JIT decryption | ✓ | ~ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Native runtime hardening | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Bytecode transformation | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ~ |
| Signed manifests | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero code changes | ✓ | ~ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Built-in licensing | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Cross-platform (6 targets) | ✓ | ~ | ~ | ~ |
| No percentage fees | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free tier (first 10 licenses)* | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
* First 10 licenses per published app are included free with the $9/yr Published App plan.
Hear from developers who are already protecting their Python apps with PyLocket.
"I was spending weeks trying to roll my own protection with PyInstaller and custom obfuscation. PyLocket replaced all of that with a single command. My app went from cracked-in-a-day to actually protected."
"The zero-code licensing is what sold me. I dreaded building a license system. PyLocket just handles it — device binding, offline grace, revocation. I focus on features now, not anti-piracy cat and mouse."
"We tested PyLocket against our internal red team. The JIT decryption and runtime hardening made dynamic analysis painful enough that our team lead called it 'not worth the effort.' That's exactly what we wanted to hear."
"$9 a year. That's it. I was paying more for my obfuscation tool that didn't even work. PyLocket is the best investment I've made for my shareware business."
"Cross-platform support was the dealbreaker for us. We ship on Windows, Linux, and macOS. PyLocket handles all six targets from a single protect command. The Apple Silicon support was the cherry on top."
No percentage fees. No surprises. Pay only when you publish.
+$4 per additional end-user license beyond the first 10 included.
You control your pricing, your distribution, and your customer relationships. We just make sure your code stays protected.
The reasons go beyond just protection.
Keep 100% of your revenue. We charge a flat $9/year per app, not a cut of your sales. Whether you make $100 or $100,000, our price stays the same.
One command to protect. No complex configuration, no build system rewrites, no learning curve. If you can run a CLI command, you can use PyLocket.
No decorators, no imports, no SDK. Your source code remains 100% standard Python. Protection is applied at the build layer, not the code layer.
We don't claim to be unbreakable. We make piracy expensive and inconvenient enough that casual pirates move on and professionals think twice.
Six platform targets from one protect command. Windows, Linux, macOS — including Apple Silicon. Your users get native performance everywhere.
Offline grace periods, reasonable device limits, no always-online requirements. Your legitimate customers never feel punished by your protection.
The only risk is continuing to ship unprotected.
We've been in your shoes. That's why PyLocket exists.
Deep expertise in reverse engineering, binary analysis, and anti-tamper techniques. We know what attackers do because we've studied their tools and methods.
We build in Python every day. PyLocket isn't a generic DRM bolted onto Python — it's engineered from the ground up for the Python ecosystem and its unique challenges.
We obsess over developer experience. Every feature is designed to be simple, predictable, and respectful of your workflow. If it adds friction, we cut it.
"We built PyLocket because we were tired of watching great Python apps get cracked within hours of release. The tools available were either too weak, too complicated, or too expensive. We wanted something that just works."Meet the full team →
Everything you need to know about protecting your Python apps.
pylocket protect ./your-app/. That's it. No configuration files, no build system changes, no learning curve.The clock is ticking from the moment you publish.
Within hours, your .pyc files are decompiled. Source code appears on paste sites and forums. Automated tools strip your PyInstaller bundle instantly.
Pirated versions with license checks patched out appear on download sites. Your potential customers find free alternatives to paying you.
Sales flatten despite growing interest. You're competing against free copies of your own software. The damage is done and difficult to reverse.
The average Python developer loses 30–40% of potential revenue to piracy. For an app generating $1,000/month, that's $3,600–$4,800 per year — lost to a problem that costs $9/year to address.
The protection is free to try. The cost of waiting is not.
Protect Once. Sell Forever.
Start Protecting Free →Free in development. $9/year when you publish. No percentage fees. Ever.