Clipperz 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.
| Feature | Clipperz | pass-tomb |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 15 · At risk | 46 · Fair |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | Shell |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 750 | ★ 437 |
| First released | 2006 | 2017 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | 1Password, KeePass |
What are Clipperz and pass-tomb?
Clipperz
Clipperz is an open-source, zero-knowledge web password manager. All encryption happens in the browser before data reaches the server, so the host never sees plaintext credentials.
- Zero-knowledge browser encryption
- No plaintext ever sent to server
- Direct login links to sites
- Exportable encrypted data
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
Clipperz vs pass-tomb: key differences
Clipperz is written in JavaScript, while pass-tomb is built with Shell. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Clipperz versus GPL-3.0 for pass-tomb. Pass-tomb is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Clipperz. Clipperz is the more established project (first released 2006), while pass-tomb arrived in 2017.
Why pick each one
Choose Clipperz if…
- True zero-knowledge design
- Runs in any browser
Watch out for
- Project is largely dormant
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 Clipperz or pass-tomb better?
Clipperz 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 Clipperz and pass-tomb free and open-source?
Yes. Clipperz 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 Clipperz and pass-tomb with Docker?
Clipperz: check the project docs for container support. pass-tomb: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Clipperz or pass-tomb?
pass-tomb has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Clipperz. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.