Remember a time when we all used to have the same passwords? This was either ‘123456’ or simply the word ‘password’. Good passwords are crucial especially when sharing any of your sensitive or private information online.
The term ‘open-source’ simply means that the software is open to the public making it possible to modify or customize as desired. A password manager helps you create convenience by giving you a secure and easy way to manage your passwords. They provide complex passwords that you don’t have to go through the trouble of memorizing. You only need to remember one password to access all your saved passwords.
A 2017 study on the impact of managers on password strength and reuse, concluded that password managers do influence password use and reuse.
When selecting a password manager, you have to consider whether you want your password to be stored on your own devices or in the cloud.
Local Storage VS Cloud Storage
Local
When using local storage, your account details aren’t stored on someone else’s servers which means you have complete control of how your data is stored. This makes things harder for hackers to access your data. However, it doesn’t mean that you’re completely free from hackers because they can use malware to access your device. For this reason, be sure to install proper VPNs with antivirus.
Another disadvantage of local storage is your information can be compromised if your device gets lost or stolen.
Cloud
Cloud storage adds an extra layer of protection to your data because of the use of encryption algorithms. Only authorized users can have access to the data stored on the cloud.
With a cloud storage password manager, security isn’t your responsibility. You only need to make sure your passwords are strong and private. This is why it’s important to pick a company that utilizes strong encryption and has positive user reviews when opting for cloud password managers.
Finding the best password manager in a crowded market can be daunting. But don’t worry, we’re here to help. Below is a list of the top 5 open source password managers that utilize either local or cloud storage and their pros and cons.
- KeePass
Keepass open source password manager was created in 2003 by a developer called Dominik Reichl. Over the years, KeePass has gained worldwide recognition for its security strength and versatility. This can be seen through the many positive online reviews it has received from its many users.
KeePass is free and can be used on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS. One of its most impressive features is that it stores data locally on your device and doesn’t sync to a cloud like most password managers do. But just in case you wish to store it on the cloud, you can configure it to do so.
Some pros and cons of using KeePass include:
Pros
- It has multiple user keys.
- There’s no limit to the number of passwords you can create.
- It supports more than 45 languages.
- It’s open-source.
- It’s portable and no installation is required.
- Can export to TXT, CSV, HTML and XML files.
- Has strong security.
Cons
- Can be difficult to use if you’re not tech savvy.
- Unfriendly user interface.
- Doesn’t have live user support.
- Plugins are often required for built-in features.
- 1 Password
1 Password is a paid, easy-to-use, and feature-rich password manager that gives you maximum security for all your important login details. It was developed by AgileBits Inc. and provides users with a virtual vault that’s locked with a master password. An individual subscription costs $36 a year and you also get 1GB of extra storage with two-factor authentication. Although it doesn’t offer the self-host feature, it’s still highly secure as it’s never been hacked.
This password manager is compatible with Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android. Its compatibility with many browsers makes it a top choice for users worldwide. The 1 Password 8 for Mac was also recently released featuring newer designs and improved performance.
Some pros and cons of using 1 Password include:
Pros
- Easy to use.
- Has a watchtower for password auditing.
- Allows multiple tags for items in the vault.
- Has unlimited instant password syncing.
- Seamlessly integrates to most browsers.
- Offers individual and family plan subscriptions.
Cons
- Doesn’t offer a free version.
- No live chat support.
- Bitwarden
Bitwarden is another great open source manager that works on most browsers. It was created by developer Kyle Spearrin and released to the market on August 10th, 2016.
Bitwarden offers a free plan subscription –with no limits- and paid plan which comes with a lot more interesting features. It also has business plans for teams ($5 per month) and enterprises ($3 per user/per month). Bitwarden is easy to use and can work well for someone looking for a simple password manager.
With Bitwarden, you get an automated password fill-in tool. This means if you already saved login credentials for a specific website, you only need to click the icon and it will automatically fill in the login form.
Some pros and cons of Bitwarden include:
Pros
- Has a free version.
- The premium version is fairly affordable.
- It’s very secure.
- Has similar designs across platforms.
- Supports multifactor authentication
Cons
- The free version lacks interesting features.
- The user interface isn’t as smooth as other password managers.
- Passbolt
Passbolt is a very functional and free open-source password manager that guarantees its users complete privacy. Although it has an easy-to-use beginner friendly interface, it’s mostly used in enterprises as most of its features are suitable for teams.
With this password manager, you can self-host the program on your servers meaning you get maximum privacy. Another popular feature of this password manager is you can access your passwords remotely despite your physical location.
The downside with using Passbolt is your vault can become inaccessible if you lose the passphrase and for you to alter it, you need to know how to edit code.
Some pros and cons of Passbolt include:
Pros
- Offers a self-hosting option.
- It has anti-fishing checks.
- It has several collaborative features.
- It has asymmetric end-to-end encryption.
- It is highly secure.
- Allows exchange of passwords between devices and users.
Cons
- No desktop app or mobile apps.
- Encryption is browser-based.
- Psono
The Psono password manager is a free and open source manager that helps keep your private information safe and secure from hackers. It’s available on Linux, Mac, and Windows.
Psono is self-hosted and is a great choice for small enterprises; larger companies will need to pay a subscription based on the number of users. It allows you to host your login information on own server which means total control of your privacy.
It also has a password sharing and synching feature which allows seamless use across multiple devices.
Some pros and cons of Psono include:
Pros
- Easy to use.
- Works well in a team setting.
- Is self-hosted.
- Secures your data with several levels of encryptions.
- Provides a lot of customizable features and options.
- Helps to ensure only authorized people gain access to data.
- Allows both local and cloud storage.
Cons
- Larger companies need to pay based on the number of users.
Conclusion
Now that many users are working from home and outside their company’s intranet, it’s become crucial to have strong passwords. We’ve come a long way from memorizing long passwords so that we safeguard our data, to incorporating password managers into our devices.
Password managers have made it easy for users to enjoy privacy without the struggle of having to create and remember passwords.
If you’re looking for individual use, family use, or a team use password manager, then this article has narrowed down some of the best in the market and we hope that it helps you select one that’s perfect for your needs.