KeePassium vs Passbolt
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Passbolt
Open-source password manager built for teams
| Feature | KeePassium | Passbolt |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 70 · Good | 91 · Excellent |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Swift | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | binary | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,697 | ★ 6,136 |
| First released | 2019 | 2017 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | 1Password, LastPass |
What are KeePassium and Passbolt?
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
Passbolt
Passbolt is an open-source password manager designed for teams, built around end-to-end encryption and OpenPGP. It targets organizations sharing credentials securely. It is deployed via Docker or packages.
- OpenPGP-based encryption
- Team-oriented sharing and roles
- Browser extension and apps
- Audit logs
KeePassium vs Passbolt: key differences
KeePassium is written in Swift, while Passbolt is built with PHP. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for KeePassium versus AGPL-3.0 for Passbolt. KeePassium is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Passbolt. Passbolt is the more established project (first released 2017), while KeePassium arrived in 2019. Passbolt has the considerably larger community, at 6,136 GitHub stars versus 1,697. Passbolt 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 Passbolt if…
- Built for team sharing
- Strong encryption model
- Good admin controls
Watch out for
- Setup is involved
- Some features in paid tiers
Frequently asked questions
Is KeePassium or Passbolt better?
Neither is universally better. Passbolt has the larger community, while KeePassium is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are KeePassium and Passbolt free and open-source?
Yes. KeePassium is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Passbolt under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run KeePassium and Passbolt with Docker?
KeePassium: check the project docs for container support. Passbolt: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, KeePassium or Passbolt?
KeePassium has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Passbolt. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.