KeePass vs Spectre
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | KeePass | Spectre |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | C# | C |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | binary, bare-metal | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,000 | ★ 200 |
| First released | 2003 | 2012 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | 1Password, LastPass |
What are KeePass and Spectre?
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
Spectre
Spectre, the successor to Master Password, is an open-source stateless password manager. It derives strong, unique passwords from your name and a master password rather than storing them in a vault.
- Deterministic password derivation
- No vault to store or sync
- Cross-platform clients
- Works fully offline
KeePass vs Spectre: key differences
KeePass is written in C#, while Spectre is built with C. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for KeePass versus GPL-3.0 for Spectre. KeePass is the more established project (first released 2003), while Spectre arrived in 2012. KeePass has the considerably larger community, at 1,000 GitHub stars versus 200.
Why pick each one
Choose KeePass if…
- Completely offline and private
- Time-tested and audited
Watch out for
- Dated Windows-centric interface
Choose Spectre if…
- Nothing to back up
- Stateless by design
Watch out for
- Niche project
- Hard to change individual passwords
Frequently asked questions
Is KeePass or Spectre better?
KeePass is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Spectre if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are KeePass and Spectre free and open-source?
Yes. KeePass is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Spectre under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run KeePass and Spectre with Docker?
KeePass: check the project docs for container support. Spectre: check the project docs for container support.