KeePass vs One-Time Secret
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | KeePass | One-Time Secret |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | C# | Ruby |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | binary, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,000 | ★ 2,942 |
| First released | 2003 | 2012 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | 1Password, Doppler |
What are KeePass and One-Time Secret?
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
One-Time Secret
One-Time Secret is an open-source service for sharing passwords and other sensitive information through links that can only be viewed once. After the secret is read or expires, it is permanently deleted.
- Self-destructing secret links
- Optional passphrase protection
- Configurable expiration times
- Simple REST API
KeePass vs One-Time Secret: key differences
KeePass is written in C#, while One-Time Secret is built with Ruby. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for KeePass versus MIT for One-Time Secret. KeePass is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 256 MB for One-Time Secret. KeePass is the more established project (first released 2003), while One-Time Secret arrived in 2012. One-Time Secret has the considerably larger community, at 2,942 GitHub stars versus 1,000. One-Time Secret lists first-class Docker deployment; KeePass does not.
Why pick each one
Choose KeePass if…
- Completely offline and private
- Time-tested and audited
Watch out for
- Dated Windows-centric interface
Choose One-Time Secret if…
- Great for one-off credential sharing
- Easy to self-host
Watch out for
- Not a long-term vault
Frequently asked questions
Is KeePass or One-Time Secret better?
Neither is universally better. One-Time Secret has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are KeePass and One-Time Secret free and open-source?
Yes. KeePass is licensed under GPL-2.0 and One-Time Secret under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run KeePass and One-Time Secret with Docker?
KeePass: check the project docs for container support. One-Time Secret: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, KeePass or One-Time Secret?
KeePass has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for One-Time Secret. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.