KeePass vs pass-tomb
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-tomb |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | binary, bare-metal | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,000 | ★ 437 |
| First released | 2003 | 2017 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | 1Password, KeePass |
What are KeePass and pass-tomb?
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-tomb
pass-tomb is an open-source extension for the standard Unix password manager that keeps the password store inside an encrypted Tomb container. It hides the directory structure of secrets when the store is locked.
- Encrypted Tomb container
- Hides store structure
- Integrates with pass
- Command-line workflow
KeePass vs pass-tomb: key differences
KeePass is written in C#, while pass-tomb is built with Shell. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for KeePass versus GPL-3.0 for pass-tomb. KeePass is the more established project (first released 2003), while pass-tomb arrived in 2017. KeePass has the considerably larger community, at 1,000 GitHub stars versus 437.
Why pick each one
Choose KeePass if…
- Completely offline and private
- Time-tested and audited
Watch out for
- Dated Windows-centric interface
Choose pass-tomb if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Written in Shell
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is KeePass or pass-tomb better?
KeePass is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider pass-tomb if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are KeePass and pass-tomb free and open-source?
Yes. KeePass is licensed under GPL-2.0 and pass-tomb under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run KeePass and pass-tomb with Docker?
KeePass: check the project docs for container support. pass-tomb: check the project docs for container support.