git-crypt vs HashiCorp Vault
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?
git-crypt
Transparent file encryption for secrets stored in git
VS
HashiCorp Vault
Secrets management and data protection for infrastructure
| Feature | git-crypt | HashiCorp Vault |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | BUSL-1.1 |
| Language | C++ | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, kubernetes, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 9,837 | ★ 36,086 |
| First released | 2013 | 2015 |
| Replaces | HashiCorp Vault, AWS Secrets Manager | AWS Secrets Manager, Azure Key Vault |
Why pick each one
Choose HashiCorp Vault if…
- Industry standard for secrets
- Powerful policy engine
Frequently asked questions
Is git-crypt or HashiCorp Vault better?
Neither is universally better. HashiCorp Vault has the larger community, while git-crypt is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are git-crypt and HashiCorp Vault free and open-source?
Yes. git-crypt is licensed under GPL-3.0 and HashiCorp Vault under BUSL-1.1. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run git-crypt and HashiCorp Vault with Docker?
git-crypt: check the project docs for container support. HashiCorp Vault: yes.