---
id: djfernet
version: "0.8.1"
license: MIT
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: abandoned
---

# djfernet

License: permissive · Maintenance: abandoned · Downloads: 84.8K/mo

## What it is and what it does

djfernet is a Django extension that encrypts and decrypts model field values using Fernet symmetric encryption from the cryptography library. It wraps Django's BinaryField to transparently handle encryption at the ORM layer, so encrypted data is stored in your database while your application code reads and writes plaintext values.

The package targets Django 4.0 and later on Python 3, and has been tested with PostgreSQL, SQLite, and MySQL. It is a maintained fork of an earlier django-fernet-fields project. The project is currently abandoned—no releases since February 2022—so you should treat it as a reference implementation or candidate for forking rather than an actively supported dependency.

Use it for:

- Encrypt sensitive user data (passwords, tokens, PII) at rest in Django models while keeping application code simple
- Store encrypted credentials or API keys in a Django database without managing separate key vaults
- Comply with data protection regulations by encrypting specific model fields transparently
- Migrate from unencrypted to encrypted storage for existing Django applications using Fernet

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

Provides Fernet symmetric encryption for Django model fields, allowing you to store encrypted data in PostgreSQL, SQLite, MySQL, or other Django-compatible databases.

No. The package is abandoned (1643 days since last release) with no maintenance signals, and high install friction from source-only distribution. If you need Django field encryption, evaluate actively maintained alternatives or fork this project yourself if you understand the cryptography requirements and can commit to maintenance.

## Install

pip install djfernet
uv add djfernet
poetry add djfernet

## Installing djfernet

Before you install: High install friction due to source distribution only. Package is abandoned as of 1643 days since last release, with no maintenance activity or repository signals available. Consider whether you can commit to maintaining a fork if issues arise.

License in practice: MIT license permits commercial and private use with minimal restrictions, requiring only license and copyright notice retention.

Quickstart:

pip install djfernet

from djfernet import EncryptedCharField

class MyModel(models.Model):
    secret = EncryptedCharField()

Requires Django 4.0 or later and Python 3.8 or later; cryptography library must be available.

Verify before relying:

- Whether cryptography library is automatically installed as a dependency or must be manually added
- Current compatibility with Django versions beyond 4.0 given the 1643-day gap since last release
- Whether the package works reliably with modern Python 3.x versions despite no recent updates

## Package facts

- License: MIT (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: high
- Maintenance: abandoned
- Downloads: 84.8K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

django encrypted fields, fernet encryption django, django model field encryption, symmetric encryption django orm, encrypted database fields, django cryptography fields, fernet django models, django-orm, encryption, abandoned

[View on SkillFed](https://skillfed.io/packages/djfernet) · [View on PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/djfernet/)