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Find the champion open-source password managers to support your delicate accusation unafraid and easy accessible. Explore apical options for protecting your passwords.
- Best wide unfastened root password manager: Bitwarden
- Best for tiny teams: KeePass
- Best for bundled services: Proton Pass
- Best for larger teams: Passbolt
Password managers person developed into important tools for businesses to support each their passwords secure. They store institution credentials successful encrypted vaults, let for easier sharing wrong teams and tin beryllium accessed via aggregate devices.
While the benefits of password managers are undeniable, galore options disposable are proprietary. Proprietary bundle refers to applications that person codification designed and owned by a circumstantial company. Under this setup, the codification isn’t modifiable and tin lone beryllium accessed by the vendor itself.
SEE: Brute Force and Dictionary Attacks: A Guide for IT Leaders (TechRepublic Premium)
This is wherever unfastened root password managers travel in. Open root password managers marque their codification accessible to the public, allowing users to customize the bundle to suit their needs. Having publically disposable root codification besides means vulnerabilities tin beryllium much easy spotted and corrected.
If you privation to work much astir the benefits of unfastened root password managers, we person a large overview of its pros and cons here.
With that, I’ve created a database of the champion unfastened root password managers for teams and businesses.
Top unfastened root password managers for teams comparison
For a team-focused password manager, we privation to absorption connected features specified arsenic two-factor authentication options and supported platforms to marque it arsenic casual arsenic imaginable for squad members to usage the bundle without sacrificing security.
| Bitwarden | Cloud; self-host | Email, authenticator app, FIDO2 WebAuthn, Duo Security, SMS, information keys and YubiKey | Reliability and security | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Vivaldi, Opera, Brave, Edge, Tor Browser and DuckDuckGo for Mac | $4 per month, per user |
| KeePass | Local | Key record and linking to Windows account | Downloadable Plugins | Windows, macOS and Linux via Mono; third-party Android, iOS and Blackberry apps | Free |
| Proton Pass | Cloud | Authenticator apps, U2F oregon FIDO2 information key | Hide-my-email aliases | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Brave | $1.99 per month, per idiosyncratic (Pass Essentials) |
| Passbolt | Cloud; enactment to self-host | Authenticator apps, Duo and YubiKey | Granular entree rights and role-based controls | Windows, iOS, Android, Chrome, Brave, Opera, Firefox, Vivaldi, Edge and servers | Around $4.9 per month, per idiosyncratic (Business Plan) |
Bitwarden: Best wide unfastened root password manager
Image: Bitwarden
Bitwarden is simply a zero-knowledge password manager that tin accommodate businesses of immoderate size. Aside from having a password generator and autofill capabilities, it besides has team-based functionality specified arsenic idiosyncratic groups, lawsuit and audit logs and two-step logins via Duo.
Image: Luis Millares
Both its Teams and Enterprise plans besides let for unlimited sharing of password collections, allowing squad members to easy stock credentials amongst each other.
SEE: How Do Password Managers Work and Why Do You Need One? (TechRepublic)
I personally similar however Bitwarden provides escaped seven-day trials for some its Teams and Enterprise subscriptions, giving businesses the accidental to trial retired the bundle astatine zero cost.
Why we chose Bitwarden
I picked Bitwarden arsenic the champion wide unfastened root password manager for its precocious level premix of security, easiness of usage and reliability. It regularly undergoes autarkic information audits and has a sterling estimation among its existent users. Whether you person a large oregon tiny team, Bitwarden volition service you well.
Pricing
Bitwarden has subscriptions for Business and Personal users. For Business, Bitwarden has 3 plans: Teams, Enterprise and a customized option. Here’s an overview of the prices and differences:
- Bitwarden Teams: $4 per month, per user; includes unlimited sharing, idiosyncratic groups and API Access.
- Bitwarden Enterprise: $6 per month, per user; includes each Teams features and adds connected SCIM support, customized roles, policies, an enactment to self-host and passwordless SSO integration
Features
- Zero cognition encryption.
- Free mentation with unlimited password storage.
- Unlimited password collections sharing.
- Self-host enactment and passwordless SSO for enterprises.
Pros
- Affordable subscription plans.
- Free seven-day trials for some Teams and Enterprise plans.
- Regularly completes autarkic information assessments.
Cons
- Auto-fill functionality tin beryllium better.
If you privation to larn more, you tin cheque retired my full Bitwarden reappraisal here.
KeePass: Best for tiny teams
Image: KeePass
KeePass is simply a fashionable prime for tech-savvy and privacy-focused users that prioritize customizability supra each else. It’s wholly escaped and utilizes its unfastened root quality done its ample suite of user-generated plugins. These plugins and extensions supply adjacent much features to KeePass’ basal functionality.
Image: KeePass / Luis Millares
KeePass is the lone offline password manager connected this list, making it a bully enactment for radical who aren’t keen connected having their passwords and different information stored connected the cloud. While its idiosyncratic interface isn’t the astir intuitive, it tin beryllium a almighty instrumentality for users who privation their password manager tailor-fit to their needs.
Image: Luis Millares
Why we chose KeePass
KeePass made the database arsenic an offline oregon local-machine based password absorption solution. I find this perfect for smaller teams that lone request to support way of a fewer users oregon businesses that don’t privation to trust connected the unreality to store their delicate data.
Features
- AES-256 encryption.
- Offline, locally-stored password manager.
- Downloadable user-generated plugins that adhd features.
- Auto-type functionality.
Pros
- Fully escaped password manager.
- Highly customizable via plugins library.
- Trusted option; operating since 2003.
Cons
- Requires method know-how.
- Interface is not beginner-friendly.
- Design is dated.
If you privation to larn more, you tin cheque retired my full KeePass reappraisal here.
Proton Pass: Best for bundled services
Image: Proton Pass
For businesses that privation a broad information solution, see Proton Pass. Proton Pass is simply a password manager from information vendor Proton, which besides offers encrypted mail, VPN and unreality retention services to customers. With this, Proton provides users and businesses an enactment to acquisition not lone a password manager but a bundle of different information services arsenic well.
SEE: Are Password Managers Safe to Use? (TechRepublic)
On its own, Proton Pass is simply a coagulated password manager. It’s end-to-end encrypted, has been independently audited and allows for unafraid sharing of institution credentials.
Image: Proton Pass authoritative page
I personally similar its unsocial hide-my-email aliases feature, which creates randomly-generated email addresses for your antithetic accounts, thereby protecting your main email address.
Why we chose Proton Pass
I picked Proton Pass due to the fact that it’s portion of Proton’s portfolio of information products. Businesses utilizing their different services similar ProtonMail and Proton VPN — oregon those looking to person an ecosystem of information services — should springiness Proton Pass a look.
Pricing
Proton Pass has 2 tiers: Individuals and Businesses. For individuals, we get Proton Free, Proton Plus and Proton Unlimited. Here’s a speedy overview of the idiosyncratic plans:
- Proton Free: Free; unlimited logins; 10 hide-my-email aliases vault sharing up to 3 people.
- Proton Pass Plus: $1.99 per period (annual); unlimited hide-my-email aliases; integrated 2FA authenticator; vault sharing up to 10 people.
- Proton Unlimited: $9.99 per month; each Proton Pass features and each premium Proton services (Proton Mail, Proton Calendar, Proton Drive, Proton VPN).
Meanwhile, its Business tier has 3 plans: Proton Pass Essentials, Business and Enterprise. Here’s a glimpse of the pricing and included features of each:
- Pass Essentials: $1.99 per month, per idiosyncratic (annual); unlimited logins; unlimited hide-my-email aliases; aggregate vaults and integrated 2FA authenticator.
- Pass Business: $2.99 per month, per idiosyncratic (annual); necessitate 2FA for organization; Proton Sentinel programme that provides specialized information support.
- Enterprise: Contact Proton for pricing; customized diagnostic set; bundle with different Proton services.
Features
- GDPR-compliant.
- AES-256 encryption.
- End-to-end encrypted note-taking.
- Email aliases make unsocial emails to fell the main address.
Pros
- User information protected by beardown Swiss privateness laws.
- Multiple program options for antithetic customers.
- Can beryllium purchased alongside different Proton products.
Cons
- SSO integration for Pass Business inactive successful the works.
While we person yet to afloat reappraisal Proton Pass, we person covered their VPN solution — Proton VPN. You tin cheque retired my full Proton VPN reappraisal here.
Passbolt: Best for larger teams
Image: Passbolt
Passbolt is an end-to-end encrypted password manager that’s designed to grip password absorption for larger groups. Its bundle emphasizes collaboration done features similar real-time password sharing, traceability and nested permissions for shared passwords.
It besides has enterprise-focused capabilities built-in connected its paid plans, similar SSO integration, lawsuit logs and relationship betterment options. In presumption of security, I admit Passbolt’s transparency and committedness to connection with its idiosyncratic base. On its site, they supply casual entree to audit reports and information achromatic papers astir its product.
Image: Passbolt authoritative YouTube channel
Why we chose Passbolt
I chose Passbolt for its management-focused features that could payment larger businesses oregon teams. In particular, it offers tags management, granular entree rights and role-based entree power crossed its plans.
Passbolt besides provides the enactment for businesses to either store their passwords connected the Passbolt Cloud oregon to self-host. To me, having this prime makes Passbolt a viable enactment for antithetic types of businesses with varying needs.
Pricing
Passbolt has 3 tiers: Community, Business and Enterprise. Here’s a speedy rundown of their prices and features:
- Community: Free (unlimited users); password sharing and groups management; champion for teams transitioning from spreadsheets and different password managers.
- Business: $49 per period for 10 users (up to 250 users); includes tags management, LDAP provisioning and SSO integration.
- Enterprise: Customized pricing; each Business features and precocious availability consulting; catastrophe betterment consulting and customized features development.
Features
- Role-based entree control.
- Users and groups management.
- Passwords absorption and sharing.
- Community program is escaped for unlimited users.
Pros
- Independently audited password manager.
- Bug bounty for those who privation to audit Passbolt code.
- Option to self-host oregon store connected the cloud.
Cons
- May not beryllium suited for smaller teams oregon businesses.
- May necessitate method expertise to maximize.
How bash I take the champion unfastened root password manager for my business?
Choosing the champion unfastened root password manager volition mostly beryllium connected your business’ operation and needs.
In presumption of structure, smaller teams won’t request arsenic galore team-based features similar granular entree controls. In this case, you tin look into offline password managers oregon cloud-based solutions that person simpler but much intuitive applications.
For larger businesses, you whitethorn privation to put successful a password manager that includes absorption features that tin grip hundreds of accounts and users. With thousands of credentials to sift through, having features similar role-based entree oregon tags absorption tin prevention your concern a batch of clip and money.
Finally, see outgo successful accordance with the features your concern really needs. If you’re looking for lone a password manager, a mid-tier subscription volition bash the trick. But if you privation a broad solution, password managers bundled with different information bundle are worthy looking into.
Review methodology
For this database of the champion unfastened root password managers, I prioritized looking astatine products with the champion equilibrium of password absorption features, pricing and real-world value. In particular, I looked astatine however each merchandise mentioned could payment a circumstantial benignant of concern oregon usage case.
In presumption of features, each the password managers supra supply a steadfast acceptable of subscription options, viable two-factor authentication methods and enactment for a wide scope of platforms.
While I had real-world acquisition with immoderate of my picks above, I utilized idiosyncratic testimonials and third-party reviews to supplement my investigation of the options I person yet to trial for myself.
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