Comparison

The Keygen alternative

Licence keys, machine locking and a kill switch for the desktop programs you sell, with ready SDKs, a panel for you and your resellers, and nothing to host or pay for

  • Start free
  • Nothing to host
  • Ready desktop SDKs
  • Bring your keys

What PWF Auth is

A licence server made for desktop programs. You make keys in the panel, your program signs in with the key the customer typed, the key locks to that PC, and every running copy checks in every 30 seconds. Ban, pause or end a key and the app closes on its next check-in. The SDK handles the encryption, the machine id and the heartbeat, so you add a few lines instead of building the licence logic yourself

Seven lines in your app

C# with the PWFAuth NuGet package. Python (pwfauth), C++ work the same way, and the SDK generator writes a client for VB.NET, JavaScript, Java, Kotlin, Android, PHP and Dart

var client = new PwfClient(AppSecret);
client.SessionEnded += (s, e) => Application.Exit();   // banned, paused, expired: the app closes

PwfResponse login = await client.LoginAsync(licenseKey);
if (!login.Success) { ShowError(login.Message); return; }

client.StartHeartbeat();                                // checks in every 30 seconds

PWF Auth vs Keygen

CapabilityPWF AuthKeygen
PriceStart free, every feature open todayPaid cloud plans, or host it yourself
HostingRun for you, nothing to set upCloud, or your own server
Licence keys with an expiryDays, months or lifetimeThrough policies
Lock a key to machinesUp to 100 PCs per key; moves approved by you or self-serviceMachine fingerprints
Live check-insEvery 30 s; a ban closes the appMachine heartbeats
Username and password accountsWith sign-up, keys added to accountsUsers
Updates for your appPublish builds, make an update requiredReleases and distribution
Client for your programReady SDKs: C#, VB.NET, Python, C++, plus a generatorREST API, SDKs for some languages
Resellers with their own portalCredits, own prices, own portalSee its docs
Bot for your buyersA Telegram bot per appSee its docs

PWF Auth's column is what it does today. Keygen's column is limited to widely known, public facts as of October 2026; plans and features change, so check Keygen's own site for its current offer. Keygen is a trademark of its owner; PWF Auth is not affiliated with it

Why developers pick PWF Auth

  • Every feature open todayKeys, customer accounts, resellers, updates, texts and the Telegram bot are open to every account today. Paid plans will come later, and you will hear about them well in advance
  • Nothing to hostNo server, database or certificates to look after. PWF Auth runs behind Cloudflare with daily encrypted backups and two-step sign-in for every account
  • Made for desktop appsNuGet PWFAuth for C# and VB.NET, pwfauth on PyPI and a C++ client do the encryption, the machine id and the heartbeat. The SDK generator covers JavaScript, Java, Kotlin, Android, PHP and Dart
  • A kill switch that closes the appEvery copy checks in every 30 seconds. Ban a key and the app closes on that PC with your own message, without you writing that logic
  • Resellers with their own portalGive resellers credits and their own prices; they make keys in their own portal, and you see every sale
  • Change the app without a releaseThe texts and links your app shows (per app or per key) and its announcement slides come from the panel

Moving over from Keygen

Your customers keep the keys they bought. Most apps move in an afternoon

  1. Create your appMake an account, add your application and copy its secret
  2. Bring your keysIn Licences → Import, paste the keys your customers already have, one per line, in any format. Pick their length and how many PCs each may use; each key starts on its next sign-in
  3. Swap the clientReplace the Keygen API calls with LoginAsync(key) and StartHeartbeat(), and close the app in SessionEnded. See Getting started.
  4. Ship the updatePublish the new build in Updates and make it required, so older builds ask for it

Keygen alternative: questions

How much does PWF Auth cost?

Nothing to start. Licence keys, customer accounts, resellers, updates, texts and slides and the Telegram bot are open to every account today. Paid plans will come later, and you will hear about them well in advance

Do I have to host anything?

No. PWF Auth runs the server, the database and the backups. You only add the SDK to your program

Can my customers keep their keys?

Yes. Import them in Licences, one per line, in any format. Each key gets the length and number of PCs you choose and locks to the PC that signs in with it next

Which languages does PWF Auth support?

C# and VB.NET with the PWFAuth NuGet package, Python with the pwfauth package and C++ with its client. The SDK generator in the panel writes a ready client for JavaScript, Java, Kotlin, Android, PHP and Dart too

What happens when I ban a key while the app is open?

The app checks in every 30 seconds. The next check-in is refused, the SDK raises the session-ended event and your app closes with your message

Can one key run on several machines?

Only if you allow it: a key locks to the first PC and you can allow up to 100 per key. A customer who changes PC asks for a reset from your app, and you approve it or let it happen on its own

What if my customer loses internet?

The app keeps running through three missed check-ins and closes after that, so a short drop does not interrupt anyone

Try it with your app today

Start free: your first app and its keys in a few minutes. Questions? Ask us on Telegram

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