Open Source Secrets Management Tools -- Akeyless Alternatives

Best Open Source Secrets Management Tools in 2026

Open source secrets management tools give you full control over your secrets infrastructure. Self-host on your own infrastructure, audit every line of code, and avoid vendor lock-in. These tools are ideal for organizations that prioritize transparency, customization, and cost control.

Our Recommendations

1

HashiCorp Vault

Free (OSS) / Enterprise from $0.03/hr

The industry standard with the largest plugin ecosystem and community support. Best for teams that need maximum flexibility and have DevOps expertise to manage the deployment.

2

Infisical

Free (self-hosted) / Cloud from $6/user/month

The most modern open source option with a developer-friendly UI and end-to-end encryption. Best for teams wanting open source with a managed-service feel.

3

CyberArk Conjur

Open source (Community) / Enterprise pricing on request

Enterprise-grade open source with policy-as-code and deep CI/CD integration. Best for large organizations with complex compliance requirements.

Detailed Tool Profiles

HashiCorp Vault

Open Source
4.7

Industry-standard open-source secrets management platform

Pricing

Free (OSS) / Enterprise from $0.03/hr

Best For

Teams needing flexible, self-hosted secrets management with extensive plugin ecosystem

Key Features
Dynamic secrets generationData encryption as a serviceIdentity-based access controlSecret leasing and revocation+4 more
Pros
  • +Massive community and ecosystem
  • +Highly extensible with plugins
  • +Strong enterprise features
Cons
  • Steep learning curve
  • Complex to operate at scale
  • Requires dedicated infrastructure
Open SourceCloudSelf-Hosted

Infisical

Open Source
4.5

Open-source end-to-end encrypted secrets management for teams

Pricing

Free (self-hosted) / Cloud from $6/user/month

Best For

Teams wanting open-source with a modern developer experience

Key Features
End-to-end encryptionAutomatic secret rotationEnvironment-based managementNative CI/CD integrations+4 more
Pros
  • +Open-source and transparent
  • +Modern UI and developer experience
  • +Self-host or cloud option
Cons
  • Newer platform, less proven at scale
  • Fewer integrations than Vault
  • Enterprise features still maturing
Open SourceCloudSelf-Hosted

CyberArk Conjur

Enterprise
4.2

Enterprise privileged access and secrets management platform

Pricing

Open source (Community) / Enterprise pricing on request

Best For

Large enterprises with complex compliance and PAM requirements

Key Features
Policy-as-code access controlMachine identity managementCI/CD pipeline integrationKubernetes secrets injection+4 more
Pros
  • +Enterprise-grade security
  • +Open-source community edition
  • +Strong compliance support
Cons
  • Complex setup and configuration
  • Enterprise pricing can be high
  • Steeper learning curve
Open SourceCloudSelf-Hosted

Akeyless Alternatives Feature Comparison

Compare all 3 Akeyless alternatives side-by-side across pricing, deployment, and key capabilities.

Feature
HashiCorp Vault
4.7/5
Infisical
4.5/5
CyberArk Conjur
4.2/5
Pricing ModelOpen Source + EnterprisePer-userEnterprise license
Open Source+++
Cloud-Hosted+++
Self-Hosted+++
Best ForTeams needing flexible, self-hosted secrets management with extensive plugin ecosystemTeams wanting open-source with a modern developer experienceLarge enterprises with complex compliance and PAM requirements
Key Features
  • Dynamic secrets generation
  • Data encryption as a service
  • Identity-based access control
  • Secret leasing and revocation
  • End-to-end encryption
  • Automatic secret rotation
  • Environment-based management
  • Native CI/CD integrations
  • Policy-as-code access control
  • Machine identity management
  • CI/CD pipeline integration
  • Kubernetes secrets injection
WebsiteVisitVisitVisit

Open Source Secrets Management Tools FAQ

What is open source secrets management?

Open source secrets management refers to tools whose source code is publicly available and freely modifiable. These tools let you store, access, and rotate secrets like API keys, passwords, and certificates while maintaining full control over the infrastructure and code. Popular examples include HashiCorp Vault, Infisical, and CyberArk Conjur.

Is open source secrets management secure enough for production?

Yes. Open source secrets management tools like HashiCorp Vault are used in production by thousands of organizations including major enterprises and government agencies. The open source model actually enhances security through community code review, rapid vulnerability discovery, and transparent security practices. Many open source tools also offer enterprise editions with additional security features.

What are the advantages of open source over SaaS secrets management?

Key advantages include: no vendor lock-in, full code auditability, self-hosting on your own infrastructure for data sovereignty, zero license costs for community editions, and the ability to customize and extend the tool. The tradeoff is that you need operational expertise to deploy and maintain the infrastructure.

How does HashiCorp Vault compare to Infisical?

HashiCorp Vault is the established leader with 10+ years of maturity, the largest plugin ecosystem, and broad enterprise adoption. Infisical is newer but offers a more modern developer experience, end-to-end encryption by default, and easier setup. Vault is better for complex, large-scale deployments; Infisical is better for teams wanting a quick-start open source solution.

Related Guides