KeePassium vs Passky Server
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | KeePassium | Passky Server |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 70 · Good | 32 · At risk |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Swift | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,697 | ★ 244 |
| First released | 2019 | 2021 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | LastPass, Bitwarden |
What are KeePassium and Passky Server?
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
Passky Server
Passky is a simple and lightweight self-hostable password manager. The server component provides an encrypted backend that syncs with Passky web, desktop and mobile clients.
- Encrypted password sync server
- Lightweight PHP backend
- Web, desktop and mobile clients
- Two-factor authentication support
KeePassium vs Passky Server: key differences
KeePassium is written in Swift, while Passky Server is built with PHP. KeePassium is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Passky Server. KeePassium is the more established project (first released 2019), while Passky Server arrived in 2021. KeePassium has the considerably larger community, at 1,697 GitHub stars versus 244. Passky Server 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 Passky Server if…
- Very easy to set up
- Minimal footprint
Watch out for
- Smaller community and ecosystem
Frequently asked questions
Is KeePassium or Passky Server better?
Neither is universally better. KeePassium has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are KeePassium and Passky Server free and open-source?
Yes. KeePassium is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Passky Server under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run KeePassium and Passky Server with Docker?
KeePassium: check the project docs for container support. Passky Server: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, KeePassium or Passky Server?
KeePassium has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Passky Server. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.