AliasVault vs KeeWeb
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | AliasVault | KeeWeb |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | ≈5-minute setup |
| Health score | 87 · Excellent | 64 · Good |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | TypeScript | HTML |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,141 | ★ 12,997 |
| First released | 2024 | 2015 |
| Replaces | 1Password, SimpleLogin | LastPass, 1Password |
What are AliasVault and KeeWeb?
AliasVault
AliasVault is a self-hosted, end-to-end encrypted password manager that also generates private email aliases to protect your real address. It combines credential storage with built-in alias mailboxes so you can sign up for services without exposing personal data.
- Zero-knowledge encrypted vault
- Built-in private email aliases
- Browser extensions
- Docker-based self-hosting
KeeWeb
KeeWeb is a free, cross-platform password manager compatible with KeePass databases, usable in a browser or as a desktop app. It targets KeePass users who want web access to their vault. It is deployed via Docker or static hosting.
- Reads and writes KeePass files
- Browser and desktop versions
- No backend database needed
- Offline support
AliasVault vs KeeWeb: key differences
AliasVault is written in TypeScript, while KeeWeb is built with HTML. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for AliasVault versus MIT for KeeWeb. KeeWeb is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for AliasVault. KeeWeb is the more established project (first released 2015), while AliasVault arrived in 2024. KeeWeb has the considerably larger community, at 12,997 GitHub stars versus 3,141.
Why pick each one
Choose AliasVault if…
- Combines vault and alias mail
- Strong encryption model
Watch out for
- Young project
- Requires running mail components
Choose KeeWeb if…
- Works with KeePass files
- No server database
- Cross-platform
Watch out for
- Development has slowed
- No team features
Frequently asked questions
Is AliasVault or KeeWeb better?
KeeWeb is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider AliasVault if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are AliasVault and KeeWeb free and open-source?
Yes. AliasVault is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and KeeWeb under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run AliasVault and KeeWeb with Docker?
AliasVault: yes. KeeWeb: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, AliasVault or KeeWeb?
KeeWeb has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for AliasVault. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.