Passbolt

Active

Country: Luxembourg (LU)
Founded: 2016
Developer: Passbolt S.A.
Pricing: Free (open-source)
Open source: Yes
Platforms: Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

Indexes

Password Managers

Overview

Passbolt is an open-source credential management platform designed for teams to securely store, share, and manage passwords and other sensitive credentials. Built with end-to-end encryption using a public-private key architecture, it enables organizations of any size to collaborate on credential sharing while maintaining security and compliance. The platform is particularly suited for IT teams and security-conscious organizations that require granular access controls, auditability, and sovereign data management.

Key Features

End-to-End Encryption - All credentials are encrypted using public-private key cryptography, ensuring data remains secure even if the server is compromised.
Team Credential Sharing - Granular sharing controls allow teams to securely distribute passwords and secrets with specific access permissions.
Browser Extension - Required for autofill, form completion, and ensuring end-to-end encryption integrity across supported browsers.
Multi-Factor Authentication - Supports biometric and multi-factor authentication options for enhanced account security.
Anti-Phishing Token - Users configure a custom color and letter combination to identify legitimate Passbolt dialogs and prevent phishing attacks.
Mobile Applications - Native iOS and Android apps provide secure access to credentials on mobile devices with feature parity to the web application.
Desktop Applications - Windows, macOS, and Linux desktop applications enable credential access without browser dependency.
Compliance and Auditability - Designed to meet EU data privacy regulations and provides audit trails for credential access and sharing.

Pricing

Plan	Price	Includes
Community (Self-Hosted)	Free	Open-source software, unlimited users, unlimited credentials, community support
Professional (Self-Hosted)	Contact for pricing	All Community features plus priority support and advanced administration tools
Enterprise (Self-Hosted)	Contact for pricing	All Professional features plus dedicated support, custom integrations, and compliance assistance

Platforms & Requirements

Passbolt runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux desktops via native applications, as well as on iOS and Android mobile devices. The web application is browser-based and works with Firefox, Chrome, Brave, and Edge, requiring installation of a browser extension for full functionality. A command-line interface is also available for advanced users. The application can be self-hosted on Debian, Ubuntu, and CentOS instances.

Integrations & Ecosystem

Browser autofill and form completion
Command-line interface access
Account kit import/export
Mobile-to-browser credential synchronization
Server configuration via passbolt.php
Private key transfer between devices

Alternatives

App	Difference
1Password	Commercial, cloud-hosted solution with broader consumer focus and more integrations, but lacks open-source transparency.
Bitwarden	Open-source alternative with freemium cloud hosting option, simpler setup, but less emphasis on team collaboration and granular sharing controls.
KeePass	Lightweight, fully offline password manager without built-in team sharing or cloud synchronization capabilities.
LastPass	Commercial cloud-based manager with extensive integrations and user base, but closed-source and subject to security concerns.

Reputation

Passbolt is recognized as a credible open-source solution for organizations prioritizing security, transparency, and compliance. Its end-to-end encryption architecture and Luxembourg-based operation under EU data protection regulations appeal to security-conscious enterprises. Strengths include full source code auditability, granular team sharing, and no proprietary lock-in. Criticisms include a steeper learning curve compared to consumer-focused alternatives, reliance on browser extensions for full functionality, and a smaller ecosystem of third-party integrations compared to commercial competitors.

Sources (9)