Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

OpenSSL VS KeyStore Explorer

Compare OpenSSL VS KeyStore Explorer and see what are their differences

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OpenSSL logo OpenSSL

OpenSSL is a free and open source software cryptography library that implements both the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and the Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols, which are primarily used to provide secure communications between web browsers and …

KeyStore Explorer logo KeyStore Explorer

KeyStore Explorer is an open source GUI replacement for the Java command-line utilities keytool and jarsigner. KeyStore Explorer presents their functionality, and more, via an intuitive graphical user interface.
  • OpenSSL Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-14
  • KeyStore Explorer Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-03-20

OpenSSL features and specs

  • Open Source
    OpenSSL is open-source software, which means it is freely available and can be reviewed, modified, and improved by anyone.
  • Widely Used
    OpenSSL is one of the most widely used libraries for SSL and TLS protocols, ensuring high compatibility and support across different platforms and applications.
  • Comprehensive Documentation
    OpenSSL provides extensive documentation and resources that can help users understand and implement its features effectively.
  • Regular Updates
    The OpenSSL project is actively maintained, receiving regular updates and patches to address security vulnerabilities and improve functionality.
  • Community Support
    A large community of developers and users contribute to forums, mailing lists, and other discussion platforms, providing support and sharing knowledge.
  • Flexible and Powerful
    OpenSSL offers a wide range of cryptographic functions and protocols, making it a versatile tool for various security requirements.

Possible disadvantages of OpenSSL

  • Complexity
    OpenSSL can be complex to configure and use, particularly for beginners or those without a deep understanding of cryptographic principles.
  • Security Vulnerabilities
    Despite regular updates, OpenSSL has had several high-profile security vulnerabilities in the past, such as Heartbleed, which can have broad implications.
  • Performance Overhead
    Depending on the implementation and configuration, using OpenSSL can introduce performance overhead, impacting the speed and efficiency of applications.
  • Limited User-Friendly Tools
    While OpenSSL is powerful, it lacks user-friendly tools and interfaces, making it harder for less technical users to operate.
  • Documentation Quality
    Though comprehensive, some users find the OpenSSL documentation to be dense and difficult to navigate, which can make troubleshooting and implementation challenging.

KeyStore Explorer features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    KeyStore Explorer offers an intuitive and easy-to-use graphical user interface, which simplifies the process of managing keystores for users who may not be comfortable using command-line tools.
  • Multi-Platform Support
    It is a Java-based application, allowing it to run on various operating systems such as Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it accessible to a wider audience.
  • Comprehensive KeyStore Management
    The software supports a wide range of keystore types (JKS, PKCS12, BKS, etc.) and functionalities, including key pair generation, certificate importing, and exporting, providing flexibility for different needs.
  • Secure Encryption
    KeyStore Explorer uses strong encryption mechanisms to protect the keystores, ensuring that sensitive information remains secure.
  • Open Source
    Being open-source software, it allows developers to review, modify, and improve the code base, fostering community collaboration and transparency.

Possible disadvantages of KeyStore Explorer

  • Limited Automation
    While KeyStore Explorer offers a user-friendly GUI, it lacks command-line tools for automation, which might not be ideal for users looking to automate processes in their workflows.
  • No Direct Cloud Integration
    The application does not provide direct integration with cloud services, meaning users have to manually upload or manage cloud-stored certificates and keys.
  • Java Dependency
    As a Java-based application, it requires Java to be installed on the system, which could be an overhead for users not familiar or willing to manage Java dependencies.
  • Limited Support
    Being open source, users may face challenges in finding official support or timely updates, relying mostly on community forums and discussions for assistance.
  • Lagging Features
    Compared to some commercial alternatives, KeyStore Explorer may not always have the latest features or integrations, which might limit its applicability in certain advanced use cases.

Analysis of OpenSSL

Overall verdict

  • Yes, OpenSSL is generally considered a reliable and secure option for secure communications. However, like any software, it requires proper configuration and regular updates to maintain its security posture.

Why this product is good

  • OpenSSL is an open-source cryptographic library widely used for implementing secure communications over networks using the SSL and TLS protocols. It is considered good because of its extensive feature set, constant updates, and widespread adoption across different platforms. The project benefits from a large community of contributors who regularly update and patch the software, ensuring it stays secure and robust.

Recommended for

  • Web servers requiring SSL/TLS support for secure HTTP (HTTPS) connections
  • Developers needing cryptographic functions for applications
  • Embedded systems requiring small footprint security solutions
  • Network applications that require secure data transmission

OpenSSL videos

Das Kommando "enc" in OpenSSL

More videos:

  • Review - OpenSSL and FIPS... They Are Back Together!
  • Review - OpenSSL After Heartbleed by Rich Salz & Tim Hudson, OpenSSL

KeyStore Explorer videos

Keystore Explorer Quick Overview

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to Prepare Keystore Explorer in PaperCut

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to OpenSSL and KeyStore Explorer)
Development Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Digital Signage
0 0%
100% 100
Javascript UI Libraries
100 100%
0% 0
Content Management System

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, KeyStore Explorer should be more popular than OpenSSL. It has been mentiond 15 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

OpenSSL mentions (2)

  • Why does Baserow need my personal data so I can run open source?
    Baserow uses open source like https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenSSL and can use it without handing over data to openssl.org. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Creating private key help
    Noob here; I'm looking at openssl.org Two commands are listed; "openssl-genrsa" and "openssl genrsa" (No hyphen). Source: over 3 years ago

KeyStore Explorer mentions (15)

  • If OpenSSL Were a GUI
    Actually, the silly example has way better discoverability than most CLI software, especially if every option had tooltips illustrating what it's for in more detail. For an actually good example of adjacent software, have a look at Keystore Explorer: https://keystore-explorer.org/ I do manage my own CA for some development servers with it, way less of a headache than trying to remember a bunch of arbitrary... - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Webtop – Alpine,Ubuntu,Fedora,and Arch containers containing full desktop envs
    Honestly, the most approachable way will be to use something like Keystore Explorer: https://keystore-explorer.org/ Alternatively, this guide focuses on Apache2 configuration but also goes through the certs https://www.openlogic.com/blog/mutual-authentication-using-apache-and-web-client (it’s a little dated though) Here’s also something a bit more recent for Nginx https://darshit.dev/posts/two-way-ssl-nginx/. - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • A sensible Java key management tool for normal people
    What about https://keystore-explorer.org/ ? My experience with that tool has been good though I don't know if it covers all the corner cases discussed. - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • Caddy 2.8
    > I still have nightmares about trying to set up SSL with nginx and my own self-managed certificates. For anyone who needs to run their own CA (which I'm now doing for my homelab), I've found that using GUI software like KeyStore explorer is a sufficiently easy and lazy way of doing that, which actually works well, both for securing regular sites, as well as doing mTLS: https://keystore-explorer.org/ > Shoutout to... - Source: Hacker News / 12 months ago
  • make csr file from cert.pem
    Yes, that's clear but you need the private key to create a CSR. I'm guessing since you are using a Java app you should either have a JKS (old fashioned) or a P12 (pkcs12) keystore, one of those should contain the private key, you can use keystore explorer to extract the data. Https://keystore-explorer.org/. Source: about 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing OpenSSL and KeyStore Explorer, you can also consider the following products

jQuery - The Write Less, Do More, JavaScript Library.

TinyCA - TinyCA is a simple graphical userinterface written in Perl/Gtk to manage a small CA (Certification...

React Native - A framework for building native apps with React

OptiSigns - OptiSigns Digital Signage is a platform that helps users to make any screen a digital sign for information or advertisement.

Babel - Babel is a compiler for writing next generation JavaScript.

Marlin - Marlin is a new GTK3-based file manager for Linux, pretty slick and fast.