Replit Security Checklist: 15-Item Guide Before Deploying

TL;DR

Replit makes deployment easy, but production apps need security review. This 15-item checklist covers secrets management, visibility settings, authentication, and database security. 4 critical items must be fixed before launch, 7 important items within the first week, and 4 recommended items when you can.

Quick Checklist (5 Critical Items)

Use Replit Secrets for all credentialsClick the lock icon - never put API keys in code files

Search for hardcoded secretsLook for sk_, pk_, api_key, password, secret in your code

Review Repl visibility settingsPublic Repls expose your code - set to Private if needed

Test protected routes without loginTry accessing protected endpoints directly

Verify server-side auth checksEvery API endpoint should verify the user

Secrets Management 4

Use Replit Secrets for all credentialsClick the lock icon in sidebar to add secrets. Never put API keys in code files. How to configure environment variables

Search for hardcoded secretsSearch your code for: sk_, pk_, api_key, password, secret, token. How to secure API keys

Verify secrets are not in version historyIf you previously committed secrets, they're in history. Rotate those credentials. How to rotate exposed secrets

Check .replit and replit.nix filesThese config files should not contain any sensitive values. How to secure config files

Visibility & Access 3

Review Repl visibility settingsPublic Repls expose your code. Set to Private if code contains business logic. How to configure Replit visibility

Check forking permissionsIf public, anyone can fork your Repl. Verify this is acceptable. How to manage fork settings

Review team member accessIf using Teams, verify only appropriate members have edit access. How to manage team access

Authentication & Authorization 4

Implement proper authenticationUse Replit Auth or a proper auth library. Avoid roll-your-own auth. How to implement authentication

Test protected routesTry accessing protected endpoints directly without logging in. How to test protected routes

Verify server-side auth checksEvery API endpoint should verify the user, not just the frontend. How to implement server-side auth

Check session handlingSessions should expire. Logout should invalidate tokens. How to configure sessions

Database & Storage 4

Secure Replit Database accessIf using Replit DB, verify access is restricted appropriately. How to secure Replit Database

Check external database securityIf using Supabase, Neon, or other DBs, verify RLS and connection security. How to set up database security

Test data isolationCan User A access User B's data by manipulating requests? How to test data isolation

Validate all user inputsCheck that user inputs are validated before database operations. How to validate on server

Replit-Specific Security Considerations

Replit's ease of use can lead to security oversights. The most common issue is putting API keys directly in code instead of using Replit Secrets. Since public Repls show your code to everyone, this exposes credentials instantly.

Replit Deployments provide a production URL, but your code in the workspace may still be visible depending on settings. Always verify your visibility configuration before accepting real users or processing sensitive data.

Is Replit secure for production apps?

Replit can host production apps securely if configured correctly. Use Replit Secrets for credentials, ensure your Repl visibility is set appropriately, implement proper authentication, and follow this security checklist. Many successful apps run on Replit's infrastructure.

How do I store secrets in Replit?

Use Replit Secrets (the lock icon in the sidebar). Add your API keys and credentials there. Access them in code via environment variables like process.env.SECRET_NAME in Node.js or os.environ.get('SECRET_NAME') in Python. Never hardcode secrets in source files.

Can people see my Replit code?

It depends on your visibility settings. Public Repls show code to everyone. Private Repls hide your code. Check your Repl settings to verify. Note that Replit Secrets are never exposed, even in public Repls.

TL;DR

Quick Checklist (5 Critical Items)

Secrets Management 4

Visibility & Access 3

Authentication & Authorization 4

Database & Storage 4

Replit-Specific Security Considerations

Is Replit secure for production apps?

How do I store secrets in Replit?

Can people see my Replit code?

Related Articles

Replit Security Guide

How to Use Environment Variables

API Security Checklist

Automate Your Security Review

Replit Security Checklist: 15-Item Guide Before Deploying