Overview
AdaLite is an open-source, client-side Cardano web wallet developed by Vacuumlabs1. It runs entirely in the browser, letting users send and receive ADA, manage native tokens, and delegate to stake pools without installing desktop software or browser extensions. Private keys never leave the user's machine, and Vacuumlabs operates no custody backend for the wallet.
AdaLite was built in 2018 as one of the first light wallets on Cardano, originally created to address performance limitations of the full-node Daedalus client2. It has since become a reference implementation for browser-based, non-custodial Cardano access and remains in active development under continuous version releases.
Key Features
- Fully open source. The complete codebase is published on GitHub under the Vacuumlabs organization, allowing public audit and community contributions3.
- Client-side only. Mnemonics and private keys are processed entirely in the browser; no key material is transmitted to AdaLite servers.
- Three access methods. Users can access a wallet via a mnemonic phrase (12, 15, 24, or 27 words), an encrypted JSON key file, or a connected hardware device.
- Broad hardware wallet support. Compatible with Trezor Model T, Safe 3, and Safe 5; Ledger Nano S, S Plus, and X; and BitBox02.
- Native ADA staking. Delegate ADA to any Cardano stake pool directly from the wallet interface while retaining custody.
- Anti-phishing safeguards. Prominent in-app warnings instruct users to bookmark the official URL and avoid lookalike domains, addressing a known attack surface for browser-based wallets.
What to Expect
AdaLite is intentionally minimal. The interface is a single-page application focused on the core wallet primitives: balances, send and receive, transaction history, and stake delegation. There is no in-wallet DEX, no NFT gallery, and no DApp browser built into the wallet. Users seeking those features are directed to NuFi, Vacuumlabs' feature-rich successor wallet, via a promotional banner on the AdaLite homepage.
The trade-off is simplicity and a small attack surface. Onboarding takes seconds for hardware wallet users and avoids the multi-gigabyte sync required by full-node clients like Daedalus. Mnemonic users can restore an existing wallet or generate a new one in the browser, with key material kept in memory rather than written to disk. The send flow displays transaction fees and confirmation status clearly, and the staking tab presents pool selection alongside reward history for the connected account.
Documentation lives on the GitHub Wiki rather than a dedicated docs portal, which keeps maintenance overhead low but means users occasionally cross-reference community resources for advanced workflows. Support is community-driven through the project's Telegram channel and GitHub issues. AdaLite has maintained a clean public security record since launch and continues to ship regular version updates through its open release process4. For users who value an audited, narrowly scoped tool over a feature-rich wallet suite, AdaLite remains one of the most direct ways to interact with Cardano from a browser.
