KeePassXC alternatives

Looking for an alternative tool to replace KeePassXC? During the review of KeePassXC we looked at other open source tools. Based on their category, tags, and text, these are the ones that have the best match.

Top 3

  1. Buttercup for desktop (cross-platform password manager)
  2. KeePassX (password manager)
  3. Passmgr (password manager)

These tools are ranked as the best alternatives to KeePassXC.

Alternatives (by score)

100

Buttercup for desktop

Introduction

The typical users have at least a multitude of ten when it comes to passwords. Ensuring that every website has a unique password and remembering, is almost impossible. Passwords managers like Buttercup help with the generation and secure storage of these secrets. It is freely available and open source, making it a good alternative for commercial options.

Project details

Buttercup for desktop is written in Node.js.

Strengths and weaknesses

  • + More than 10 contributors
  • + More than 1000 GitHub stars
  • + The source code of this software is available

    Typical usage

    • Password management

    Buttercup for desktop review

    63

    KeePassX

    Introduction

    The database is encrypted with AES (alias Rijndael) or Twofish encryption algorithm using a 256-bit key. KeePassX uses a database format that is compatible with KeePass Password Safe.

    Project details

    KeePassX is written in C++.

    Strengths and weaknesses

    • + The source code of this software is available
    • + Well-known tool
    • - Full name of author is unknown

    Typical usage

    • Secure storage

    KeePassX review

    60

    Passmgr

    Introduction

    Passmgr is a simple portable password manager written in Go. It helps with storing secrets, like passwords and API keys.

    Project details

    64

    TeamVault

    Introduction

    Storing passwords within a team security can be a challenging task. TeamVault is a password manager with the goal to be easy to use, flexible, and adhering to several security principles. These include a solid base for the data encryption, support for folders, and role-based access control (RBAC).

    Project details

    TeamVault is written in Python.

    Strengths and weaknesses

    • + The source code of this software is available
    • - No releases on GitHub available

    Typical usage

    • Password management
    • Secrets management

    TeamVault review

    48

    pass (password-store)

    Introduction

    The pass utility is also known as password-store. It uses GPG and Unix directories to store passwords and others secrets.

    Project details

    60

    pass-rotate

    Introduction

    This tool makes it easier to rotate your passwords one at a time or in bulk. For example, when security events or as a routine to do a regular rotation of passwords.

    Project details

    pass-rotate is written in Python.

    Strengths and weaknesses

    • + The source code of this software is available

      Typical usage

      • Password management

      pass-rotate review

      74

      pick

      Introduction

      Tools like pick are used to store passwords and secrets safely.

      Project details

      pick is written in Golang.

      Strengths and weaknesses

      • + Very low number of dependencies
      • + The source code of this software is available

        Typical usage

        • Data security
        • Secure storage

        pick review

        74

        Confidant

        Introduction

        Most applications with a connection to a database or other software component, need some form of authentication. Often the related credentials are stored in a configuration file. A secret manager like Confidant will provide an alternative, by storing the details in a database. Only applications that need to access the secrets are allowed to obtain them. Often system administrators are denied access to them.

        Project details

        Confidant is written in Python.

        Strengths and weaknesses

        • + More than 1000 GitHub stars
        • + The source code of this software is available
        • + Supported by a large company

          Typical usage

          • Secrets management
          • Secure storage

          Confidant review

          56

          John the Ripper

          Introduction

          John the Ripper is a mature password cracker to find weak or known passwords. It works on Linux and other flavors of Unix and Microsoft Windows.

          Project details

          60

          LaZagne

          Introduction

          The LaZagne tool can be a good addition to the toolkit of pentesters or forensic specialists to recover sensitive details from systems. For a pentester, this typically means that limited access has been gained. By trying to find passwords from local applications, the step to other applications or privilege level might be possible. For example, a password that is shared among multiple services, or even finding an administrator password.

          Project details

          LaZagne is written in Python.

          Strengths and weaknesses

          • + More than 10 contributors
          • + More than 3000 GitHub stars
          • + The source code of this software is available

            Typical usage

            • Data extraction
            • Information gathering
            • Password discovery
            • Password recovery

            LaZagne review

            60

            PassGen

            Introduction

            PassGen is a tool to help with password dictionary attacks to guess a password. It does not perform the attack but creates the related database.

            Project details

            PassGen is written in Python.

            Strengths and weaknesses

            • + The source code of this software is available

              Typical usage

              • Password discovery
              • Password strength testing
              • Security assessment

              PassGen review

              85

              THC Hydra (thc-hydra)

              Introduction

              THC Hydra is a brute-force cracking tool for remote authentication services. It supports many protocols, including telnet, FTP, LDAP, SSH, SNMP, and others.

              Project details

              THC Hydra is written in C.

              Strengths and weaknesses

              • + More than 25 contributors
              • + More than 1000 GitHub stars
              • + Project is mature (10+ years)
              • + The source code of this software is available

                Typical usage

                • Penetration testing
                • Security assessment

                THC Hydra review

                78

                hashcat

                Introduction

                Hashcat can be used to discover lost passwords, or as part of a security assignment. For example, it could be trying to crack a password from a password file that was obtained during a penetration test.

                Project details

                hashcat is written in C.

                Strengths and weaknesses

                • + More than 25 contributors
                • + More than 4000 GitHub stars
                • + The source code of this software is available
                • + Well-known tool

                  Typical usage

                  • Password discovery

                  hashcat review

                  56

                  mimipenguin

                  Introduction

                  The tool requires root permissions to work.

                  Project details

                  mimipenguin is written in Python, shell script.

                  Strengths and weaknesses

                  • + The source code of this software is available
                  • - No releases on GitHub available
                  • - Full name of author is unknown

                  Typical usage

                  • Information gathering
                  • Security assessment

                  mimipenguin review

                  64

                  mimipy

                  Introduction

                  The mimipy tool is based on the work of mimipenguin and ported to Python. It can extract passwords from memory or overwrite them to prevent capture.

                  Project details

                  mimipy is written in Python.

                  Strengths and weaknesses

                  • + The source code of this software is available

                    Typical usage

                    • Data extraction
                    • Information gathering
                    • Security assessment

                    mimipy review

                    60

                    not24get

                    Introduction

                    API: pwdCheckModule object in ppolicy.
                    Executable: "check password script" in Samba suite (not24get_check)

                    This module is a wrapper around libpasswdqc, the library that powers the pam_passwdqc module.

                    Project details

                    not24get is written in C.

                    Strengths and weaknesses

                    • + The source code of this software is available

                      Typical usage

                      • Password strength testing

                      not24get review

                      78

                      KeeWeb

                      Introduction

                      Password managers help to store sensitive data. This may include passwords, secret questions with their answers, or other private information.

                      Project details

                      KeeWeb is written in JavaScript.

                      Strengths and weaknesses

                      • + More than 25 contributors
                      • + More than 6000 GitHub stars
                      • + Many releases available
                      • + The source code of this software is available
                      • - Full name of author is unknown

                      Typical usage

                      • Password management

                      KeeWeb review

                      97

                      Vault

                      Introduction

                      Vault is a secret management tool created by HashiCorp. It allows storing secrets, such as key/value pairs, AWS IAM/STS credentials, SQL/NoSQL databases, X.509 certificates, SSH credentials, and other sensitive details. These secrets are typically used by software components and scripts. The benefit of using a secret management tool is that they no longer need to be stored in configuration files. Main features include leasing, key revocation, key rolling, and auditing.

                      Project details

                      Vault is written in Golang.

                      Strengths and weaknesses

                      • + More than 500 contributors
                      • + More than 9000 stars
                      • + The source code of this software is available

                        Typical usage

                        • Password management
                        • Secrets management
                        • Secure storage

                        Vault review

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