Secret managers for teams
Slinky vs HashiCorp Vault
HashiCorp Vault is infrastructure: a server for an organisation’s secrets, with dynamic database credentials, certificates and many ways to sign in. It’s more than most people need for their own keys. Slinky is an app, not a server.
Choose HashiCorp Vault if
- You run infrastructure that needs dynamic credentials, certificates or encryption as a service.
- You have people to run and secure a Vault cluster, or you pay for HCP Vault.
- Many services and machines need secrets with detailed policies.
Choose Slinky if
- You want your own keys safe on your Mac today, with nothing to run.
- You want your app started with its variables after Touch ID.
- You also keep backup codes and recovery keys.
Side by side
| Slinky | HashiCorp Vault | |
|---|---|---|
| Made for API keys and tokens | Yes | Yes |
| A project’s .env, per environment | Yes | Partly: Paths you set up |
| Starts your app with its variables | Yes: slinky run | Partly: With Vault Agent or envconsul |
| AI agents see names, not values | Yes | No: Its MCP server can return secrets |
| Backup codes that cross themselves off | Yes | No |
| Where your secrets are kept | An encrypted file on your Mac | Your servers, or HCP |
| Works without an account | Yes | No |
| Share with your team | Yes: Encrypted files, no server | Yes: With policies |
| Opens with Touch ID | Yes | No |
| Open source | Yes: MIT | Partly: Source-available (BSL) |
| Price | Free | Community edition free. HCP Vault paid by use |
| Runs on | Mac, Apple silicon | Servers, on any system |
Yes Partly No As of October 2026, from developer.hashicorp.com. Features and prices change.
Questions
Is Vault open source?
Since version 1.15 (2023), Vault is under the Business Source License, now from IBM. OpenBao is a fork under the open-source MPL 2.0, run by the Linux Foundation.
What about Vault’s dev mode on my laptop?
vault server -dev keeps everything in memory and starts unsealed with a root token. HashiCorp says never to run it in production, and everything is gone when it stops.
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
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Slinky vs 1Password
A full password manager with developer tools, or a free Mac app just for keys.
Slinky vs Apple Passwords
Use Apple Passwords for sign-ins, and Slinky for keys and backup codes.
Slinky vs Bitwarden
An open-source password manager and a Secrets Manager for teams, or one Mac app.
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.