Bitwarden vs KeePass
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Bitwarden
Open-source password manager you can self-host
VS
KeePass
Original free and open-source password manager
| Feature | Bitwarden | KeePass |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | C# | C# |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker | binary, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 19,782 | ★ 1,000 |
| First released | 2016 | 2003 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass, Dashlane | 1Password, LastPass |
Why pick each one
Frequently asked questions
Is Bitwarden or KeePass better?
Neither is universally better. Bitwarden has the larger community, while KeePass is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Bitwarden and KeePass free and open-source?
Yes. Bitwarden is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and KeePass under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Bitwarden and KeePass with Docker?
Bitwarden: yes. KeePass: check the project docs for container support.