Password managers
Slinky vs Bitwarden
Bitwarden is an open-source password manager you can use on any device or host yourself. For keys, it has a separate product, Bitwarden Secrets Manager, with projects, machine accounts and bws run. Slinky keeps keys, .env variables and backup codes in one Mac app, with no account or server.
Choose Bitwarden if
- You want an open-source password manager on every device.
- You want to host it yourself.
- Your team needs machine accounts for CI and servers (Secrets Manager).
- You need Windows or Linux.
Choose Slinky if
- You want keys, .env variables and backup codes in one place, without a second product.
- You’d rather have no account and no server.
- You want AI agents to see names only.
- You want backup codes that cross themselves off.
Side by side
| Slinky | Bitwarden | |
|---|---|---|
| Made for API keys and tokens | Yes | Partly: In Secrets Manager |
| A project’s .env, per environment | Yes | Partly: Projects in Secrets Manager |
| Starts your app with its variables | Yes: slinky run | Yes: bws run |
| AI agents see names, not values | Yes | No: Its MCP server can return values |
| Backup codes that cross themselves off | Yes | No |
| Where your secrets are kept | An encrypted file on your Mac | Their cloud, or your own server |
| Works without an account | Yes | No |
| Share with your team | Yes: Encrypted files, no server | Yes: Organizations |
| Opens with Touch ID | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes: MIT | Partly: Password Manager |
| Price | Free | Premium $19.80 a year. Secrets Manager free for 2 people |
| Runs on | Mac, Apple silicon | Mac, Windows, Linux, phones, web |
Yes Partly No As of October 2026, from bitwarden.com. Features and prices change.
Questions
Is Bitwarden Secrets Manager open source?
Bitwarden’s password manager apps are open source (GPL and AGPL). The bws command and SDK that Secrets Manager uses are under Bitwarden’s own SDK license, so it’s better described as source-available.
Can I import from Bitwarden?
Yes. Export a CSV from Bitwarden, custom fields included, and import it into Slinky. Slinky picks out keys, tokens and codes and leaves passwords behind.
Is Slinky free?
Yes. Slinky is free and open source under the MIT License, made by Testament Made, LLC. It runs on Apple silicon Macs with macOS 15 Sequoia or later.
More comparisons
Slinky vs 1Password
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Slinky vs Apple Passwords
Use Apple Passwords for sign-ins, and Slinky for keys and backup codes.
Slinky vs Doppler
A hosted secrets manager for teams, or keys that stay on your Mac.
Slinky vs Infisical
An open-source secrets platform you host, or a Mac app with no server.
Slinky vs HashiCorp Vault
Secrets infrastructure for organisations, or a Mac app for your own keys.
Slinky vs .env files
Plain text in the project folder, or encrypted and out of it.
All comparisons
Every tool side by side, in one table.