AliasVault vs pass-tomb
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
AliasVault
End-to-end encrypted password and email alias manager
VS
pass-tomb
Encrypted storage extension for the pass manager
| Feature | AliasVault | pass-tomb |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 87 · Excellent | 46 · Fair |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Shell |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,141 | ★ 437 |
| First released | 2024 | 2017 |
| Replaces | 1Password, SimpleLogin | 1Password, KeePass |
What are AliasVault and pass-tomb?
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
pass-tomb
pass-tomb is an open-source extension for the standard Unix password manager that keeps the password store inside an encrypted Tomb container. It hides the directory structure of secrets when the store is locked.
- Encrypted Tomb container
- Hides store structure
- Integrates with pass
- Command-line workflow
AliasVault vs pass-tomb: key differences
AliasVault is written in TypeScript, while pass-tomb is built with Shell. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for AliasVault versus GPL-3.0 for pass-tomb. Pass-tomb is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 512 MB for AliasVault. Pass-tomb is the more established project (first released 2017), while AliasVault arrived in 2024. AliasVault has the considerably larger community, at 3,141 GitHub stars versus 437. AliasVault lists first-class Docker deployment; pass-tomb does not.
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 pass-tomb if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Written in Shell
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is AliasVault or pass-tomb better?
AliasVault is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider pass-tomb if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are AliasVault and pass-tomb free and open-source?
Yes. AliasVault is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and pass-tomb under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run AliasVault and pass-tomb with Docker?
AliasVault: yes. pass-tomb: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, AliasVault or pass-tomb?
pass-tomb has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for AliasVault. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.