4 open source alternatives to Dashlane
Password manager with built-in VPN and dark-web monitoring. Here are the open source projects real teams use instead — ranked by fit, with honest pros and cons for each.
What people don't love about Dashlane
- Desktop apps replaced by web-only in 2022 — long-time users grumbled.
- VPN and monitoring bundle can feel upsell-heavy.
- Closed-source — you trust the vendor's claims.
Current Dashlane pricing (for reference): Premium $4.99/month; Friends & Family plans; Business $8/seat/month.
Quick comparison
| Alternative | Best for | License | Self-host | Hosted cloud? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bitwarden Open source password manager with free cloud and self-host options. |
A direct commercial-backed open source replacement with all the clients Dashlane ships. | GPL-3.0 / AGPL-3.0 | ★★☆☆☆ | Yes |
|
Vaultwarden Lightweight Bitwarden-compatible server in Rust. |
Running a Bitwarden-compatible server on a $5 VPS for personal or family use. | AGPL-3.0 | ★☆☆☆☆ | Self-host only |
|
Passbolt Team-first password manager designed for collaboration. |
Team-first workflows where sharing model and audit matter more than personal polish. | AGPL-3.0 | ★★★☆☆ | Yes |
|
KeePassXC Offline password database — KeePass-compatible. |
Die-hard local-first users who never wanted a cloud vault in the first place. | GPL-3.0 | ★☆☆☆☆ | Self-host only |
1. Bitwarden — A direct commercial-backed open source replacement with all the clients Dashlane ships.
Open source password manager with free cloud and self-host options.
Strengths
- Generous free tier on the hosted service.
- Strong open source credentials.
- Cross-platform clients and browser extensions.
Weaknesses
- Self-hosting the full stack is multi-container.
- Some polish features (password health, reports) are paid.
- Occasional syncing edge cases on mobile.
Bitwarden homepage · Source on GitHub · Dashlane vs Bitwarden →
2. Vaultwarden — Running a Bitwarden-compatible server on a $5 VPS for personal or family use.
Lightweight Bitwarden-compatible server in Rust.
Strengths
- Single container — runs on a Raspberry Pi.
- Fully compatible with all Bitwarden clients.
- Trivial backups.
Weaknesses
- Not officially supported by Bitwarden Inc.
- Paid Bitwarden features require self-bypass.
- Home-lab focus — not aimed at large teams.
Vaultwarden homepage · Source on GitHub · Dashlane vs Vaultwarden →
3. Passbolt — Team-first workflows where sharing model and audit matter more than personal polish.
Team-first password manager designed for collaboration.
Strengths
- Fine-grained sharing between users and groups.
- PGP-based end-to-end encryption model.
- Active audits and security roadmap.
Weaknesses
- Onboarding involves PGP key setup per user.
- Enterprise features (SSO, SCIM, audit log) are paid-tier.
- Smaller ecosystem than Bitwarden.
Passbolt homepage · Source on GitHub · Dashlane vs Passbolt →
4. KeePassXC — Die-hard local-first users who never wanted a cloud vault in the first place.
Offline password database — KeePass-compatible.
Strengths
- No server — just a single encrypted file you sync yourself.
- Fast and minimal resource usage.
- Strong browser integration.
Weaknesses
- No native mobile app (KeePassDX/Strongbox fill the gap).
- Sharing between users is manual.
- Sync is user's responsibility.
KeePassXC homepage · Source on GitHub · Dashlane vs KeePassXC →
Not what you're looking for?
Browse other tools in Password Managers, or check out open source projects by category on the full category index.
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