KeePassium vs Passit
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | KeePassium | Passit |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Swift | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | binary | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,697 | ★ 200 |
| First released | 2019 | 2016 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | LastPass, 1Password |
What are KeePassium and Passit?
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
Passit
Passit is a self-hosted, open-source password manager with browser extensions. It encrypts credentials client-side before syncing them to your own Django-based server and supports group sharing.
- Client-side encrypted vault
- Browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox
- Group password sharing
- Self-hosted Django backend
KeePassium vs Passit: key differences
KeePassium is written in Swift, while Passit is built with Python. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for KeePassium versus AGPL-3.0 for Passit. KeePassium is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Passit. Passit is the more established project (first released 2016), while KeePassium arrived in 2019. KeePassium has the considerably larger community, at 1,697 GitHub stars versus 200. Passit 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 Passit if…
- Simple sharing model
- Open and auditable
Watch out for
- Limited recent development
Frequently asked questions
Is KeePassium or Passit better?
KeePassium is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Passit if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are KeePassium and Passit free and open-source?
Yes. KeePassium is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Passit under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run KeePassium and Passit with Docker?
KeePassium: check the project docs for container support. Passit: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, KeePassium or Passit?
KeePassium has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Passit. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.