KeePassium vs One-Time Secret
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | KeePassium | One-Time Secret |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 70 · Good | 87 · Excellent |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | Swift | Ruby |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | binary | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,697 | ★ 2,942 |
| First released | 2019 | 2012 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | 1Password, Doppler |
What are KeePassium and One-Time Secret?
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
One-Time Secret
One-Time Secret is an open-source service for sharing passwords and other sensitive information through links that can only be viewed once. After the secret is read or expires, it is permanently deleted.
- Self-destructing secret links
- Optional passphrase protection
- Configurable expiration times
- Simple REST API
KeePassium vs One-Time Secret: key differences
KeePassium is written in Swift, while One-Time Secret is built with Ruby. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for KeePassium versus MIT for One-Time Secret. KeePassium is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 256 MB for One-Time Secret. One-Time Secret is the more established project (first released 2012), while KeePassium arrived in 2019. One-Time Secret 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 One-Time Secret if…
- Great for one-off credential sharing
- Easy to self-host
Watch out for
- Not a long-term vault
Frequently asked questions
Is KeePassium or One-Time Secret better?
Neither is universally better. One-Time Secret has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are KeePassium and One-Time Secret free and open-source?
Yes. KeePassium is licensed under GPL-3.0 and One-Time Secret under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run KeePassium and One-Time Secret with Docker?
KeePassium: check the project docs for container support. One-Time Secret: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, KeePassium or One-Time Secret?
KeePassium has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for One-Time Secret. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.