gopass vs KeePassXC
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
KeePassXC
Cross-platform offline KeePass password manager
| Feature | gopass | KeePassXC |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 91 · Excellent | 94 · Excellent |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary, bare-metal, source | binary, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 7,220 | ★ 28,926 |
| First released | 2017 | 2017 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | LastPass, 1Password, Dashlane |
What are gopass and KeePassXC?
gopass
gopass is a feature-rich command-line password manager written in Go that is compatible with the standard Unix password store. It adds team features, multiple stores and improved tooling.
- pass-compatible encrypted store
- Multiple mounted stores
- Team and per-secret access control
- Browser and editor integrations
KeePassXC
KeePassXC is a free, cross-platform desktop password manager that stores credentials in a local, encrypted KeePass database. It targets individuals who want fully offline password storage. It runs natively on desktop platforms.
- Local encrypted KeePass database
- Browser integration extension
- TOTP and passkey support
- No cloud dependency
gopass vs KeePassXC: key differences
Gopass is written in Go, while KeePassXC is built with C++. Licensing differs — MIT for gopass versus GPL-3.0 for KeePassXC. Gopass is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 128 MB for KeePassXC. KeePassXC has the considerably larger community, at 28,926 GitHub stars versus 7,220.
Why pick each one
Choose gopass if…
- Great for teams using git
- Single static binary
Watch out for
- Still command-line focused
Choose KeePassXC if…
- Fully offline and private
- No subscription
- Mature and trusted
Watch out for
- Sync is your responsibility
- No native mobile app
Frequently asked questions
Is gopass or KeePassXC better?
KeePassXC is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider gopass if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are gopass and KeePassXC free and open-source?
Yes. gopass is licensed under MIT and KeePassXC under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run gopass and KeePassXC with Docker?
gopass: check the project docs for container support. KeePassXC: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, gopass or KeePassXC?
gopass has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for KeePassXC. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.