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
| Capability | PWF Auth | Keygen |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Start free, every feature open today | Paid cloud plans, or host it yourself |
| Hosting | Run for you, nothing to set up | Cloud, or your own server |
| Licence keys with an expiry | Days, months or lifetime | Through policies |
| Lock a key to machines | Up to 100 PCs per key; moves approved by you or self-service | Machine fingerprints |
| Live check-ins | Every 30 s; a ban closes the app | Machine heartbeats |
| Username and password accounts | With sign-up, keys added to accounts | Users |
| Updates for your app | Publish builds, make an update required | Releases and distribution |
| Client for your program | Ready SDKs: C#, VB.NET, Python, C++, plus a generator | REST API, SDKs for some languages |
| Resellers with their own portal | Credits, own prices, own portal | See its docs |
| Bot for your buyers | A Telegram bot per app | See 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
- Create your appMake an account, add your application and copy its secret
- 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
- Swap the clientReplace the Keygen API calls with
LoginAsync(key)andStartHeartbeat(), and close the app inSessionEnded. See Getting started. - 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