gopass vs KeeWeb
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | gopass | KeeWeb |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | ≈5-minute setup |
| Health score | 91 · Excellent | 64 · Good |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | Go | HTML |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 7,220 | ★ 12,997 |
| First released | 2017 | 2015 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | LastPass, 1Password |
What are gopass and KeeWeb?
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
KeeWeb
KeeWeb is a free, cross-platform password manager compatible with KeePass databases, usable in a browser or as a desktop app. It targets KeePass users who want web access to their vault. It is deployed via Docker or static hosting.
- Reads and writes KeePass files
- Browser and desktop versions
- No backend database needed
- Offline support
gopass vs KeeWeb: key differences
Gopass is written in Go, while KeeWeb is built with HTML. Gopass is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 128 MB for KeeWeb. KeeWeb is the more established project (first released 2015), while gopass arrived in 2017. KeeWeb lists first-class Docker deployment; gopass does not.
Why pick each one
Choose gopass if…
- Great for teams using git
- Single static binary
Watch out for
- Still command-line focused
Choose KeeWeb if…
- Works with KeePass files
- No server database
- Cross-platform
Watch out for
- Development has slowed
- No team features
Frequently asked questions
Is gopass or KeeWeb better?
KeeWeb 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 KeeWeb free and open-source?
Yes. gopass is licensed under MIT and KeeWeb under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run gopass and KeeWeb with Docker?
gopass: check the project docs for container support. KeeWeb: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, gopass or KeeWeb?
gopass has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for KeeWeb. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.