It won’t be wrong to say that managing passwords on your own could be a tad tricky, especially if you’re frequently registering on new websites. Although your web browser’s built-in password manager could do the trick, your passwords could still come into jeopardy in case you log in to your main account from another computer and forget to log out. If you also happen to agree, then password managing applications are just the thing for you.
On the internet, you can easily find a plethora of password managers. However, trusting their makers with your most private information could be a bit of a gamble. Apart from security concerns, a significant number of such applications also require users to pay a certain amount of money in exchange for their services. If you look further than these mainstream options, you will also find open-source software that might not be that famous but still provides users with a sense of security and doesn’t cost a single penny. Assuming that we have you sold, let’s cut to the chase and have a look at the best open-source password managers out there.
Best Open Source Password Managers
1. Bitwarden
Bitwarden
This open-source software right here might be the answer to all of your password management needs. Apart from being an online service, Bitwarden can also be installed on systems running on Windows, macOS, and Linux. There is also a Bitwarden mobile application that you can find on Google Play Store and iOS App Store. However, what truly makes this password manager worthy of being at the top of our list is the fact that it allows users to even self-host your instance, in case you don’t trust the company’s servers enough.
Coming to its features, Bitwarden provides end-to-end encryption of your passwords and private information and allows organizations to have better control over their workers’ passwords. Plus, the software also offers an API that can be integrated with your organization’s tools. With Bitwarden, you can also get to know if you’re using any weak, reused passwords and see different login details, all thanks to event logs. All-in-all, Bitwarden is a safe choice if your priority is keeping your passwords safe and secure without investing any financial resources.
2. Padloc
padloc
If, for some reason, Bitwarden couldn’t cut for you, then maybe you should have a look at Padloc. As of now, this open-source password manager is not only available on Windows, macOS, and Linux-based systems, but also has mobile applications for both Apple and Android phones. Other than that, there are also browser extensions that you can get on Firefox and Google Chrome, and support for ChromeOS-based devices is coming soon as well.
With the help of Padloc, users can not only save all their passwords quickly, all thanks to its simple UI, but also organize them into several categories. Another great thing about it is the fact that all the data is stored in its cloud so that you can access and manage your passwords with any of your connected devices. Plus, the software can also create highly-secured passwords for you. With that being said, one bummer would be that Padloc doesn’t allow self-hosting, so you’d have to trust the company’s clouds with your data. Another downside is that its free version only works for a maximum of 50 passwords, credit cards, and other items and only two connected devices. If that’s an issue, you can try opting for its Family plan that only costs $0.99 per user/month.
3. KeePassXC
KeePassX password manager
This software is a fork of the popular open-source password manager known as KeePass. However, what makes KeePassXC different is the fact that it is genuinely cross-platform in that it can run on Windows, macOS, and Linux, which isn’t the case with KeePass. And, unlike KeePass, this project also gets updated quite frequently.
Coming to its features, KeePassXC allows users to work with KDBX format databases and also generates safe-and-secure passwords for them. Apart from that, you can even search for entries as groups organize them. Another exciting thing about KeePassXC is that it integrates with browsers such as the likes of Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and even Tor-Browser. What gives KeePassXC an edge over other open-source password managers is the fact that it has no paid version, so you’ll be getting all of its basic and advanced without paying a penny.
4. Passbolt
Passbolt Password Manager
Before we tell you more about this software, we’d first like to make it clear that Passbolt is only available on Linux-based systems, so Windows and Mac users would be better off sticking with other options on this list.
Now, Passbolt is an entirely free, open-source password manager that takes pride in self-hosting, so you need not worry about having to give all your info to third-party clouds. Moreover, it’s an even better option for individuals working in teams in that they could manage and share passwords. Passbolt also comes in the form of browser extensions and CLI, which could be handy in case you want to make the most out of the password manager. Apart from that, the free version of Passbolt allows unlimited users, and there’s no catch either. However, the paid version of the software has a lot more in store for teams and businesses whose budget could handle a few bucks monthly.
5. QtPass
pass Password Manager
Pass sells itself as ‘the standard Unix password manager,’ but one shouldn’t mistake it for being unavailable on other operating systems. All thanks to the efforts of its community, pass has enough extensions out there which let users not only run it Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, and macOS but also access their passwords with the help of browser extensions (for Chrome and Firefox) and mobile apps (for Android and iOS).
This open-source software stores your passwords in GIT repositories (which can either be on GitLab or your PC). However, although pass is essentially a CLI application, there is a cross-platform GUI extension available for it as well, so users don’t have to get into GIT that much. Moreover, if you’ve previously been using other password managers such as KeePass or 1password, it is also possible to migrate their passwords to your new pass repository. There is no paid version of this software either, so you won’t have to worry about missing out on any features.
Conclusion
Although there isn’t an abundance of password management apps in the open-source world, there are still enough options out there for you to quickly get by. Plus, the best thing about such software is that you won’t have to give your private information in the hands of third-party clouds, which could appear a bit shady. Lastly, our readers can also contribute to this list of best open-source password managers by letting us know of any other options in the comments down below.
