AliasVault vs Passbolt
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
Passbolt
Open-source password manager built for teams
| Feature | AliasVault | Passbolt |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 87 · Excellent | 91 · Excellent |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,140 | ★ 6,135 |
| First released | 2024 | 2017 |
| Replaces | 1Password, SimpleLogin | 1Password, LastPass |
What are AliasVault and Passbolt?
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
Passbolt
Passbolt is an open-source password manager designed for teams, built around end-to-end encryption and OpenPGP. It targets organizations sharing credentials securely. It is deployed via Docker or packages.
- OpenPGP-based encryption
- Team-oriented sharing and roles
- Browser extension and apps
- Audit logs
AliasVault vs Passbolt: key differences
AliasVault is written in TypeScript, while Passbolt is built with PHP. AliasVault is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Passbolt. Passbolt is the more established project (first released 2017), while AliasVault arrived in 2024.
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 Passbolt if…
- Built for team sharing
- Strong encryption model
- Good admin controls
Watch out for
- Setup is involved
- Some features in paid tiers
Frequently asked questions
Is AliasVault or Passbolt better?
Neither is universally better. Passbolt has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are AliasVault and Passbolt free and open-source?
Yes. AliasVault is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Passbolt under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run AliasVault and Passbolt with Docker?
AliasVault: yes. Passbolt: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, AliasVault or Passbolt?
AliasVault has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Passbolt. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.