KeePass vs pass-otp
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | KeePass | pass-otp |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | C# | Shell |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 32 MB |
| Deployment | binary, bare-metal | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,000 | ★ 1,498 |
| First released | 2003 | 2017 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | Authy, 1Password |
What are KeePass and pass-otp?
KeePass
KeePass is a free, open-source password manager that stores credentials in a strongly encrypted local database. It is the original KeePass implementation that spawned an entire ecosystem of compatible clients.
- Strongly encrypted local database
- Portable, no installation required
- Extensive plugin ecosystem
- KDBX format used industry-wide
pass-otp
pass-otp is an open-source extension that adds TOTP one-time-password support to the standard Unix password manager. It generates two-factor codes directly from secrets stored in the pass tree.
- TOTP code generation
- Integrates with pass
- Offline two-factor
- Command-line based
KeePass vs pass-otp: key differences
KeePass is written in C#, while pass-otp is built with Shell. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for KeePass versus GPL-3.0 for pass-otp. Pass-otp is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 64 MB for KeePass. KeePass is the more established project (first released 2003), while pass-otp arrived in 2017.
Why pick each one
Choose KeePass if…
- Completely offline and private
- Time-tested and audited
Watch out for
- Dated Windows-centric interface
Choose pass-otp if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Active community (1.5k GitHub stars)
- Written in Shell
- Tiny footprint — runs in 32 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is KeePass or pass-otp better?
Neither is universally better. pass-otp has the larger community, while KeePass is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are KeePass and pass-otp free and open-source?
Yes. KeePass is licensed under GPL-2.0 and pass-otp under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run KeePass and pass-otp with Docker?
KeePass: check the project docs for container support. pass-otp: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, KeePass or pass-otp?
pass-otp has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 64 MB for KeePass. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.