I’ve been a long time fan of Roboform in fact I often recommended it to just about anyone I could tell about it. For those of you who don’t know both Roboform and Keepass are form fillers and password savers; they both save your user name and passwords in addition to your name, address, etc. Just one click with Roboform and it fills in your user name and password to log on to sites and another click fills in your name and address information when placing orders. For anyone who spends any amount of time online a form filler is a major time saver not to mention great for security as you can set random passwords and have the program remember them for you.
Now a little back story, I’d been becoming more and more frustrated with Roboform as I’ve bought more than a few licenses over the years but just last year when I bought a new laptop and desktop within a month of each other I bought two more licenses and started using them. Which is all fine and dandy until you reinstall Windows a few times and Roboform won’t activate which means with over 200 passcards stored I couldn’t use any of them. I’d have to email support and beg them for more activations, which they always obliged but it was still an unnecessary headache in my opinion.
For this reason when Foxmarks (now xMarks) started offering secure password sync along with it’s awesome bookmark sync’ing capabilities I started letting Firefox save all my IDs and passwords little by little.
Fast forward a little bit and I’m reading on Lifehacker about using Keepass and Dropbox as the ultimate password sync tool. As some of you know I use several computers and with those computers I often dual boot, so keeping all my passwords in sync is a great idea not to mention Roboform only works on Windows and with my new Mac plus me dual booting Linux on my other machines Roboform isn’t much help in that area.
Long story short, I decided to dive in the only problem is that there isn’t a direct Roboform to Keepass conversion path. I found one how to on lifehacker but it didn’t convert half my user IDs which was troubling a little Googling found this more involved python script that went off with out a hitch: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=7023471 .
Now that I’ve been using Keepass for a month or so now I really don’t miss anything about Roboform. Probably my biggest ‘loss’ in switching is that there’s no toolbar in Firefox or IE to fill and submit as there is with Roboform. However the gains are much more, I now have my passwords stored safely but available from any operating system and in conjunction with Dropbox my passwords are constantly synced and updated whenever I turn on my computer. You just cannot beat that.
The only thing I noticed that wasn’t immediately apparent is when you’re using Keepass on Linux and Mac in addition to Windows you’re going to want to download the ‘classic’ (1.x branch) of Keepass for Windows so the database is saved in the same format across machines.
#1 by Jaakko H. on April 8, 2009 - 5:13 pm
I, too, have — until more-or-less recently loved Roboform. Its convenience (when things work) is great. Microsoft Word of password management in a (good) way.
But there’s the other way and side, too, as Dan well notes that deserves highlighting.
I, too, have asked the RoboForm folks for additional activations a few times. And they have always provided. But the last three times that I’ve changed my main Roboform location (first to an external pocket-sized hard drive, then to a new computer, and most recently back to a memorycard – 16GB microSD is quite nice) I’ve really started to have enough. .. It’s wearing on the convenience in an unconfortable way + there’s always the thought in the back of my mind saying: What if they stop being nice?
And that’s the problem and dilemma of proprietary software and services. You’re _always_ at the mercy of the provider. Things may go well most of the time — but that they that they don’t…
Proprietary systems have you as a hostage, essentially.
I’ve also migrated (just today) to KeePass and use it with Dropbox as suggested. This is _great_. Especially since KeePass is able to import the “printed” HTML list from Roboform.
#2 by Dan on April 8, 2009 - 6:26 pm
Thank you Ommara and Jaakko for stopping by.
I really did like Roboform but more and more having my data stuck in a proprietary format bothered me. Roboform was really the only Window’s program holding me back from be platform agnostic, which in today’s day and age is really good to be. Most programs I use on a daily basis are open source and have ports for Windows, Linux, and OS X. KeePass seemed like the right choice and it turns out it was.
#3 by DjDennis on April 18, 2009 - 10:52 pm
mmm never really used it incase some trojan got in a system then its well what can I say
i’ll look at keepass and see what its all about first before I use it…
thanks Dan
#4 by Big Dan on April 19, 2009 - 8:18 pm
Well with KeePass the database is encrypted, unless the trojan specifically targets KeePass and sniffs out your master password there aren’t going to be any problems.
#5 by Jason Bunting on June 17, 2009 - 1:30 am
LOL – Ommara is a joke; all he is doing is trying to make a buck (or $17, as the case may be) off of some “report” that he supposedly thinks will save people all sorts of time. So, he put his comment here to drive people to his website, not because he cares about your post, per se…
#6 by Big Dan on June 17, 2009 - 4:25 am
Thanks Jason I normally catch crap like that. I’ve removed his comment.
#7 by Ben on August 16, 2009 - 9:51 pm
Just to clarify, you ran into issues using professional keepass?
#8 by Big Dan on August 16, 2009 - 10:26 pm
I’ve had no issues using KeePass.
#9 by Andy Forsberg on September 8, 2009 - 9:20 pm
Great logic Dan! I’m glad I found this blog post, because I love KeePass and the only thing that annoyed me was that it wasn’t syncing with all my computers without manually using a thumb drive every time. It can be quite tedious, especially when I’m adding passwords on different computers randomly.
I’ve been using Mozy, but that’s not as convenient or as user-friendly as Dropbox is. It also takes forever to back anything up on. Mozy still has a better price however, $5/month for unlimited storage rather than $20/month for 100 gb cap. It seems like the best deal, not ideal situation is to use Mozy for backing up all your files and Dropbox only on the stuff that needs to be synced. In addition, refer many people to Dropbox so you get extra space for free!
Anyway, thanks for info.
Andy Forsberg
#10 by Big Dan on September 11, 2009 - 6:56 am
Hi Andy,
You can get 2 GB of Dropbox storage for free. That’s I’ve been using for the past month or so, works great when jumping between computers.
Thanks for stopping by.
-Dan
#11 by pinky on September 19, 2009 - 8:25 am
if you can trust keepass + dropbox, why not opt for lastpass? it has every thing that keepass + dropbox or roboform and more… for free..!
Only concern is the security
#12 by Xbob on September 22, 2009 - 5:45 am
Pinky, lastpass is still propritary, thus you can’t verify the security, and thus are no better than roboform.
#13 by Nicholas Blasgen on January 30, 2010 - 10:09 pm
Roboform now syncs online. Nice handy tool if you use multiple computers. But on the downside, I’m unable to re-activate my copy of it which is why I found your website.
#14 by Big Dan on January 30, 2010 - 10:36 pm
Hi Nicholas, thanks for stopping by. I didn’t realize that Roboform now syncs online. My biggest beef with Roboform is that it only works with relatively few browsers and only on Windows. If one day you decide to switch to a Mac or Linux you have to start with your passwords all over again.
As I linked in my original post Lifehacker has a nice write up on using Keepass and Dropbox to keep passwords in sync across all your computers. http://lifehacker.com/5063176/how-to-use-dropbox-as-the-ultimate-password-syncer
#15 by David Marks on March 7, 2010 - 1:02 pm
I’m in the process of dropping RoboForm as well. But mainly because it’s a convoluted application, even though I’ve loved it. There is a plugin toolbar for Keepass, but I couldn’t get it to work with IE8 and Windows 7. the install said the toolbar was incompatable with the OS or the browser.
#16 by Kevin on April 10, 2010 - 10:27 pm
Hey Dan,
Good post thanks for the heads up. I use Roboform a lot and haven’t had any problems YET. Based on your post though Iwill take some measures to make sure I am protected before I reinstall or upgrade my OS.
#17 by AaronLS on April 25, 2010 - 10:42 pm
Hey Dan,
I have tossed around the idea of moving away from Roboform. However, the one thing Roboform offers that I’m not sure how to implement with KeePass is the equivalent of the Roboform Online website. If I am somewhere and need a password, and do not have my thumbdrive with me or I do not want to “alarm” anyone by plugging in a thumb drive to their computer and running an application, I can still fallback to logging into Roboform Online through a web browser and getting the password I need. Any ideas if there’s anything like this for keepass?
Additionally I can use Roboform on my Android phone(which is supported through the Roboform website and bookmarklets app). DropBox and KeePass have android versions, I just wonder if I’ll get them to play as nicely together as they do on a desktop machine.
#18 by Big Dan on April 26, 2010 - 11:46 am
I’m not quite sure about using Keepass on a computer other then your own. My only idea here is that there is a portable version from the Keepass site. I’ve never used it though. Aside from that there is no comparable online service like there is with Roboform. If your really geeky and security conscious you might want to create a persistent Ubuntu install on a thumb drive with Keepass and your database installed on it. This way you can boot from that and not need to worry about any viruses/keyloggers on the computer you’re using.
Google turned up this for Keepass on the Android: http://www.androlib.com/android.application.com-android-keepass-qtw.aspx . I don’t have a Droid device so I cannot test but Google around for reviews and you should be okay. I’m satisfied with iKeepass on my iPod touch although it’s a bit of a headache to get a new database loaded. You should be okay on Android though as the device is a lot more open and you probably share files between apps. If you can load the database on your phone you won’t have to worry about the online aspect of Roboform from computers other then your own since you can just view the password on your phone and type it in.
If you do move along to Keepass remember to use the older (1.x .kbd) database for maximum comparability. Keypass 2.0 (.kbdx) databases seem to only be supported on Windows. I use the kbd files just fine, in fact I’m not sure what the .kbdx database offers or can offer over the first version.
#19 by AaronLS on April 26, 2010 - 12:50 pm
Good point regarding loggers. They would actually have to log the clipboard, but it is definitely something to be aware of.
There are indeed Keepass portable apps for thumb drives(http://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/keepass_portable is one example), and Keepass for android. There is also a Dropbox client for Android.
Right now I use Roboform2Go on my thumbdrive, but I don’t like to run it on other people’s computers because the whole process of plugging in a thumb drive, running an executable, and on top of that if they have to themselves log into something it starts asking about saving passwords… well any part of that process can be alarming to someone. The might not say anything, but if they are suspicious, and then later they happen to get an account stolen/hacked then they might blame me. So I avoid using the portable app on other’s computers.
Additionally, sometimes I am without my thumbdrive.
So in these two situations I used the roboform online website as the backup plan.
I suppose now that I have an Android phone, it can be my new backup plan, and I will simply use dropbox and keepass for android. I will test these out together after I get my passwords migrated over and followup on how well they work on android. Maybe a week or two from now.
I actually anticipate the experience with Dropbox/Keepass on Android being better than RoboForm on Android, because it seems Roboform on android doesn’t sync the login database to the phone. Instead you actually login to the Roboform online website and javascript bookmarklets do the job of form filling. This means if I am at someone else’s computer, but do not have cellular/wifi service, then I can’t access my Roboform passwords. So I think in this scenario Keepass will actually be better as it will have the database stored locally.
.-= AaronLS´s last blog ..Why are SSD’s so expensive? =-.
#20 by al3nas on December 12, 2010 - 9:14 pm
Hmm – I am Roboform user (for last 5 years) and never had a problem of activating it. And I change computers frequently (though I try to uninstall RoboForm before I sell old computer).
Now RoboForm released version 7, so they require everyone to pay. So I thought I will try KeePass.
Seems like it is very far from being able to replace RoboForm.
Does KeePass has form saving functionality (very important)?
I hate entering passwords in sing-up form and then trying to duplicate all of that in KeePass…
Does it have plug-in for Chrome?
Seems like I will have to buy upgrade to version 7, as it really works in every situation.
Regarding sync – people on Windows could also sync with Windows Live Mesh (especially easy with RoboForm).
#21 by Big Dan on December 13, 2010 - 10:15 am
KeyPass doesn’t have form saving functionality but there are other browser extensions that do. I’m not sure if there is a Chrome extension.
You might want to check out LastPass it offers similar functionality to Roboform.
#22 by Debra D. on January 2, 2011 - 8:49 pm
Can someone please help me to export my passwords from Roboform to Keepass??
Please advise, thanks.
Debra
#23 by Big Dan on January 2, 2011 - 8:59 pm
Debra you might want to check out Lastpass (www.lastpass.com) it has a direct import from Roboform and is integrated right in the browser.
#24 by Steve D on March 16, 2011 - 3:33 am
Looked at a lot of them. Coming to the same conclusion. Need to have data on both Mac, PC, iPhone etc. Tired of Roboform’s constant licensing requirements, I would gladly pay 20 bucks every now and then, but it hold’s your passwords hostage and is getting overpriced. Had eWallet from Illium, same problem. Lastpass’s business model bothers me as well. Only thing is the .NET requirement for v2 of Keepass. V1 is fine and doesn’t have to have .NET.
#25 by Big Dan on March 16, 2011 - 12:34 pm
I’ve switched from KeePass to Lastpass for a couple months now. I couldn’t be happier.
#26 by falsie on November 9, 2011 - 10:12 pm
Hold on, big fella! Your switch to Lastpass is mentioned almost as an afterthought. What caused the switcheroo? I have Roboform fatigue and would appreciate your comparison of KeePass vs. Lastpass.
#27 by Big Dan on November 9, 2011 - 11:41 pm
With Keepass vs. Lastpass there isn’t a whole lot of comparison to be done; Lastpass is primarily browser based where Keepass is app based. I prefer Lastpass over Keepass because a vast majority of my password entering is done in the browser. Keepass’s browser extensions never worked properly for me and I had to manually copy/paste passwords into the browser with Lastpass it’s done automatically.
I’ll type up a full comparison when I get a little more time.
#28 by falsie on December 29, 2011 - 10:09 pm
I know the holidays suck up a lot of time, but I’d still like to see the comparison. Thanks.
#29 by Big Dan on December 30, 2011 - 11:37 am
Falsie, I’m sorry the holidays got away with me. Look for a comparison right after the New Year.
#30 by Phil Rabichow on July 17, 2011 - 6:22 pm
I haven’t tried KeePass yet, but I’m wondering how it compares with the old version of RoboForm (version 6…the new one-7- requires that you pay again). 4 things I like about RoboForm:
1. It has a SafeNotes function. i.e. you can keep answers to challenge questions (which I always seem to forget).
2. It has automatic logons for each site you specify AND you can have sites that fillin everything automatically, but don’t log on. This is handy if you have a site that requires the same information before you ask a question, but the question will change (of course).
3. You can specify how many fields trigger the fillin from an identity.
4. It automatically offers to save new log ons.
Do you know if KeePass does all of these things?
Thanks,
Phil
#31 by Sergey Chou on July 29, 2011 - 6:17 pm
2. It is possible with plugin “KeeFox” for firefox.
4. KeeFox does it for you.
#32 by tm19 on August 9, 2011 - 2:42 pm
Importing Roboform Logins into KeePass 2.16 went so-so, except I’m really having to help KeePass with the URLs.
Have you come up with a solution for Roboform Identities? Roboform was good about filling in order forms at e-commerce sites, and those fields would come from an Identity. How do you gain the same functionality with KeePass?
This is frustrating for me, because it’s all very well to fill in a username and password for a given URL, but I really want something that will fill in all those fiddly bits — cc numbers, cc type, ccv code, shipping address vs. billing address, etc. Ideas?
#33 by ck on October 26, 2011 - 3:33 pm
Using simplevault.sf.net here: a tiny but very handy PHP application which you can put on your own webspace, preferably over SSL and protected with a htaccess password. Open Source and available to all operating systems with a webbrowser. Mobile devices get a nice view on the password store too.
#34 by RFAN on November 15, 2011 - 3:25 pm
I still use roboform for all my device(pc, android phone and mac) with everywhere account and its unbeaten coz all of its feature will NOT come with any other app like keepass.
#35 by john730 on December 18, 2011 - 11:26 pm
Hi, Dan! My trial expired and i just got the paid version of Roboform and now i cannot activate this thing. Great! I thought it’s just me, but now after reading this post i see that i am not the only one having this issue. Well i guess i’m going to call PayPal to cancel the transaction. Thank you Dan for the info.
John.
john730´s last [type] ..How to Get Laptops with SSD
#36 by Tom Sellers on December 28, 2011 - 11:32 pm
I notice DropBox is popular, but I find I prefer to use my Amazon S3 Cloud Drive for the same purpose. Then on the Android side I use FolderSync to sync my S3 Keepass folder with Keepass Droid and all is well. So the point being in addition to DropBox S3 is also a viable Cloud option that is often overlooked.
#37 by Jonathan K. on January 11, 2012 - 7:45 pm
Will you post the comparison already?
#38 by Big Dan on January 12, 2012 - 7:40 am
Been busy with client work. Will post as soon as I have time to write it.
#39 by Big Dan on January 15, 2012 - 10:01 am
Howdy Folks,
Here is the Lastpass post: http://bigdan.us/computers/why-i-moved-from-keypass-to-lastpass.html
#40 by James on January 16, 2012 - 10:25 am
I feel ripped off. I paid lifetime a about 2 years ago. I thought lifetime mean forever, apparently it was for the lifetime of the version. If switch back to your old version and have a lifetime licence it will still work, however the “enhancements” for browser snap in and such will not, but you really don’t need them. Next time they ask for money, I’ll go with something else like keepass.
#41 by Big Dan on January 16, 2012 - 1:12 pm
James, I felt the same way with Roboform. Lastpass is 100% free for desktop use with a pittance upsell for mobile use.