

For instance, it allows for fully editable and searchable passwords that can be shared with trusted parties and the option to safely copy credentials to the clipboard. It is an open source solution that not only has an appealing user interface but also manages to include all the important features that commercial password managers have. Luxembourger Passbolt is a prime example of just how wrong that attitude is. There’s a common misconception that says that open source programs cannot match the feature set or quality of design of their commercial counterparts, but frankly that isn’t necessarily the case. Additionally, the database can be locked to the current Windows account as well, so it can only be opened by the person who created it. The program provides two-factor authentication and can be used with multiple keys to replace the password or use them alongside your master password for increased security. The software is extremely convenient since it is fully portable, doesn’t require installation and saves its database into a single file, making data transfer virtually hassle-free. KeePass possesses bank-level (AES-256) encryption with SHA-256 hashing, multiple database import and export options online and offline, a strong password generator, and fully customizable and searchable password groups.

The Best of the Best: Six Top Open Source Password Managers KeePassĭeveloped by Dominik Reichl in 2003, KeePass is a Windows-based password manager also available for macOS and Linux computers.

But by far the biggest advantage over regular password management tools is that open source solutions are free with the option to donate to the original developers. Users can patch errors into the code immediately, whereas patches for commercial software are released much slower, giving a significant head-start to hackers.Īdditionally, an open source password manager can be customized to your liking, even allowing the option to create plug-ins for solutions that normally would never be integrated into paid-for password managers (i.e. This might seem like a huge disadvantage at first but, actually, it is a feature where open source wins by a mile. But unlike traditional password managers open source programs can be improved by anyone using that very solution. As in the case of commercial solutions, the development of open source software is never truly finished.
