KeePass vs Passbolt
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
KeePass
Original free and open-source password manager
VS
Passbolt
Open-source password manager built for teams
| Feature | KeePass | Passbolt |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | C# | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | binary, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,000 | ★ 6,056 |
| First released | 2003 | 2017 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | 1Password, LastPass |
Why pick each one
Choose Passbolt if…
- Built for team sharing
- Strong encryption model
- Good admin controls
Frequently asked questions
Is KeePass or Passbolt better?
Neither is universally better. Passbolt 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 Passbolt free and open-source?
Yes. KeePass is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Passbolt under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run KeePass and Passbolt with Docker?
KeePass: check the project docs for container support. Passbolt: yes.