[Macworld]

Post your comments for AppShelf tracks software licenses here

[sportyguy209]

I'm sure this is a nifty little program, but, for me, the fewer "speciality" programs I have to keep track of the better.
I just use my Apple Address book and create an entry for the company name of the software. Then, in the notes area, I list the program, version, serial number, user name, whatever.
Then, if I need to look it up, I can search by company name or program name.

[leicaman]

I suspect Bento, and the ability to tie it into the Address book as sportyguy209 suggests would be a good alternative. But it looks handy. Me, I just use Filemaker Pro.

[stephenm]

I created a Numbers spreadsheet with app names and serial numbers that I store in an encrypted, password-protected disk image.

[folklore]

1Password can store software licenses, in the "wallet" category, and it syncs via MobileMe. Plus, I'm already using it for all my passwords anyway...

[kirkmc]

You can also make one or more notes in Keychain Access that are stored encrypted.

[JungleSports]

Nothing against this app, but I use LicenseKeeper and think it is the bomb!

[thom22]

sportyguy209 said "I just use my Apple Address book..."
That's a great idea -- they'll be synced and available from my iPod touch. I've been using a spreadsheet and just the other day I tried to access it on my iPod touch, but the app I use for transferring files from my Mac wouldn't enlarge the spreadsheet enough for me to see the numbers!

[FutureEchoes]

I use Pastor. Have done for years.

[whitedog]

It's probably not feasible, but what I'd really like is an app that can extract the license and other relevant information from the app itself when you add it to the list so I don't have to dig it up and enter it myself. After all, most apps contain that information somewhere.

[jbmth]

AppShelf 'looks' nice and I hate to discourage any of these small software companies. But I agree with the comment above -- the fewer specialty databases, the better.
I settled on the rather free-format EverNote. It's free, it has a web, a Mac, an iPhone, and a PC client. All are synced. Text in photos or screenshots is (and normal text) is all searchable. You can encrypt all or part of any message.

[Stormchild]

Yojimbo is a better "catch-all" scrapbook for serial numbers, notes, images, PDFs, and anything other random stuff you might like to store. It has powerful organization tools including keywords and "collections" (smart folders), plus privacy features such as the ability to encrypt individual items.