KeePassium vs KeeWeb
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | KeePassium | KeeWeb |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | ≈5-minute setup |
| Health score | 70 · Good | 64 · Good |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | Swift | HTML |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,697 | ★ 12,997 |
| First released | 2019 | 2015 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | LastPass, 1Password |
What are KeePassium and KeeWeb?
KeePassium
KeePassium is an open-source password manager for iOS and macOS that works with KeePass KDBX databases. It supports Face ID, Touch ID and AutoFill while keeping all data under user control.
- KDBX-compatible iOS and macOS app
- Face ID and Touch ID unlock
- Password AutoFill integration
- Hardware key support
KeeWeb
KeeWeb is a free, cross-platform password manager compatible with KeePass databases, usable in a browser or as a desktop app. It targets KeePass users who want web access to their vault. It is deployed via Docker or static hosting.
- Reads and writes KeePass files
- Browser and desktop versions
- No backend database needed
- Offline support
KeePassium vs KeeWeb: key differences
KeePassium is written in Swift, while KeeWeb is built with HTML. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for KeePassium versus MIT for KeeWeb. KeePassium is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for KeeWeb. KeeWeb is the more established project (first released 2015), while KeePassium arrived in 2019. KeeWeb has the considerably larger community, at 12,997 GitHub stars versus 1,697. KeeWeb lists first-class Docker deployment; KeePassium does not.
Why pick each one
Choose KeePassium if…
- Polished Apple-platform experience
- Open source
Watch out for
- Apple platforms only
- Premium tier for some features
Choose KeeWeb if…
- Works with KeePass files
- No server database
- Cross-platform
Watch out for
- Development has slowed
- No team features
Frequently asked questions
Is KeePassium or KeeWeb better?
Neither is universally better. KeeWeb has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are KeePassium and KeeWeb free and open-source?
Yes. KeePassium is licensed under GPL-3.0 and KeeWeb under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run KeePassium and KeeWeb with Docker?
KeePassium: check the project docs for container support. KeeWeb: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, KeePassium or KeeWeb?
KeePassium has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for KeeWeb. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.