KeePassium 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 | KeePassium | pass-otp |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 70 · Good | 28 · At risk |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Swift | Shell |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 32 MB |
| Deployment | binary | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,697 | ★ 1,498 |
| First released | 2019 | 2017 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | Authy, 1Password |
What are KeePassium and pass-otp?
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
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
KeePassium vs pass-otp: key differences
KeePassium is written in Swift, while pass-otp is built with Shell. Pass-otp is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 64 MB for KeePassium. Pass-otp is the more established project (first released 2017), while KeePassium arrived in 2019.
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 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 KeePassium or pass-otp better?
KeePassium 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 KeePassium and pass-otp free and open-source?
Yes. KeePassium 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 KeePassium and pass-otp with Docker?
KeePassium: check the project docs for container support. pass-otp: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, KeePassium or pass-otp?
pass-otp has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 64 MB for KeePassium. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.