gopass vs LessPass
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | gopass | LessPass |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 91 · Excellent | 88 · Excellent |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 7,220 | ★ 6,065 |
| First released | 2017 | 2016 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | 1Password, LastPass |
What are gopass and LessPass?
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
LessPass
LessPass is an open-source password manager that generates unique passwords deterministically from a master password and site details. Because nothing is stored, there is no vault to sync or back up.
- Deterministic password generation
- No vault to store or sync
- Browser extensions and mobile apps
- Optional self-hosted profile sync
gopass vs LessPass: key differences
Gopass is written in Go, while LessPass is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — MIT for gopass versus GPL-3.0 for LessPass. Gopass is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 128 MB for LessPass. LessPass 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 LessPass if…
- Nothing to back up
- Works fully offline
Watch out for
- Hard to change a single password
- Profiles must be remembered
Frequently asked questions
Is gopass or LessPass better?
Neither is universally better. gopass has the larger community, while LessPass is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are gopass and LessPass free and open-source?
Yes. gopass is licensed under MIT and LessPass under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run gopass and LessPass with Docker?
gopass: check the project docs for container support. LessPass: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, gopass or LessPass?
gopass has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for LessPass. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.