KeePassDX 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 | KeePassDX | pass-otp |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 91 · Excellent | 28 · At risk |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Kotlin | Shell |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 32 MB |
| Deployment | binary | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 7,355 | ★ 1,498 |
| First released | 2017 | 2017 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | Authy, 1Password |
What are KeePassDX and pass-otp?
KeePassDX
KeePassDX is a free and open-source password manager for Android that is compatible with KeePass KDBX databases. It offers a modern Material interface, biometric unlock and form auto-fill.
- KDBX-compatible Android client
- Biometric and fingerprint unlock
- Auto-fill service integration
- Material design interface
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
KeePassDX vs pass-otp: key differences
KeePassDX is written in Kotlin, while pass-otp is built with Shell. Pass-otp is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 64 MB for KeePassDX. KeePassDX has the considerably larger community, at 7,355 GitHub stars versus 1,498.
Why pick each one
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 KeePassDX or pass-otp better?
KeePassDX is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider pass-otp if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are KeePassDX and pass-otp free and open-source?
Yes. KeePassDX is licensed under GPL-3.0 and pass-otp under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run KeePassDX and pass-otp with Docker?
KeePassDX: check the project docs for container support. pass-otp: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, KeePassDX or pass-otp?
pass-otp has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 64 MB for KeePassDX. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.