All comparisons

[ KL / COMPARE / EFTLAB ]

KeyLab vs EFTLab

EFTLab is the established commercial vendor of payment-testing software (BP-Tools, the BP-Sim simulators). KeyLab covers the everyday cryptographic toolkit and HSM simulation side of that work — in the browser, free.

Summary

EFTLab is an Australian company that has built payment-testing software for over a decade. Its best-known product, BP-Tools, became the de-facto desktop workbench for payment cryptography — key blocks, PIN operations, EMV, ISO 8583 — and the wider portfolio includes the BP-Sim family of simulators for host and HSM testing. The software is Windows-based. BP-Tools was freeware for years but is no longer publicly downloadable; EFTLab now sells EFTtools (Multi-Purpose Cryptographic Calculator plus HSM Commander) for a one-time USD 999, with the full EFTsim suite quoted on request.

KeyLab overlaps with the part of that portfolio most engineers touch daily: 51 cryptographic tools, free on the web (PIN blocks, DUKPT, TR-31/TR-34, ARQC/ARPC, ISO 8583, Brazilian SPB/PIX, post-quantum), plus a Thales payShield 10K simulator — all running client-side in the browser, no install. The KeyLab Desktop app adds offline use and a bench that sends commands to a real payShield over TCP port 1500.

EFTLab remains the deeper choice for shops that need its full breadth — decades of accumulated command coverage, card-scheme test tooling, and vendor support contracts. KeyLab is the zero-friction choice: open a browser tab, run the operation, share the link. Many teams will simply use both; if your question is specifically about BP-Tools, see our tool-by-tool comparison at /compare/bptools.

Feature Comparison

FeatureKeyLabEFTLab
How you get itOpen the site, or download the desktop appContact EFTLab — no public download
PriceFree on the web; desktop: sign in with a free accountEFTtools: USD 999 one-time; EFTsim suite: quote only
PlatformBrowser + Desktop (Mac/Windows/Linux)Windows desktop
Install requiredNo (browser) or optional desktopYes (installer + license key)
Cryptographic toolkit51 tools, client-sideBP-Tools suite (comprehensive)
HSM simulationThales payShield 10K, 37 host commands, in-browserBP-Sim family (commercial)
Talks to a real HSMYes — desktop bench, payShield over TCP :1500Within its commercial product line
Brazilian SPB / PIXYes (STR, SPI, DICT)No
Post-Quantum (ML-KEM, ML-DSA)YesNo
AI assistantYes (50 free credits/mo)No
Account / licensingFree account to operate — the same account signs you in on the web and the desktopPer-seat commercial license
Vendor support contractsNo (community + email)Yes

When KeyLab fits

  • •You want to run a PIN Block, DUKPT, TR-31, or ARQC check right now, with nothing to install or buy.
  • •You need an HSM simulator for learning, development, or certification prep without procuring licenses.
  • •You work across Mac, Linux, and Windows, or rotate between machines.
  • •You need Brazilian PIX/SPB or post-quantum tools, which the EFTLab suite does not cover.
  • •You want a bench that talks to your own payShield from the desktop.

When EFTLab fits

  • •Your team already runs on BP-Tools / BP-Sim and has workflows built around them.
  • •You need breadth beyond cryptographic tooling — EFTLab's portfolio around host and scheme testing goes further than KeyLab does today.
  • •You require vendor-backed support contracts and a single accountable supplier.
  • •Windows-only desktop software fits your IT policy better than a browser tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is EFTLab?▾
EFTLab is an Australian software company specialising in payment-testing tools. Its best-known product is BP-Tools, a Windows workbench for payment cryptography used across the industry since the early 2010s; the portfolio also includes the BP-Sim simulator family. BP-Tools is no longer publicly downloadable — EFTLab asks you to get in touch. Its commercial EFTtools bundle is a one-time USD 999, and the full EFTsim suite is quoted on request.
Is there a free alternative to EFTLab's BP-Tools?▾
Yes — KeyLab. It covers the everyday operations BP-Tools is used for (PIN blocks, DUKPT, TR-31/TR-34 key blocks, ARQC/ARPC, ISO 8583 parsing, Thales payShield command simulation) as free browser tools, plus areas the EFTLab suite does not reach, like Brazilian SPB/PIX and post-quantum cryptography. See the detailed tool-by-tool comparison on our BP-Tools page.
Does KeyLab simulate HSMs like BP-Sim does?▾
KeyLab ships a Thales payShield 10K simulator implementing 37 host commands (key generation and import, PIN translation, MAC, PVV, ARQC/ARPC, key blocks), validated against real payShield traces — and it runs in the browser. The KeyLab Desktop bench can also send commands to a real payShield over TCP port 1500. BP-Sim is a commercial product line with broader coverage across simulator types.
Wasn't BP-Tools free?▾
It was freeware for many years, which is a big part of why it became the industry default. That free download is gone — the SourceForge project stopped publishing builds and EFTLab now asks you to contact the company. KeyLab keeps the everyday toolkit and the HSM simulator open in the browser, for free.
Does KeyLab send my keys or PINs to a server?▾
No. All cryptographic operations run client-side in your browser or in the desktop app. Keys, PINs, and PANs never leave your device; only anonymous usage analytics (and AI-assistant prompts, if you use it) reach KeyLab servers.