KeePassium vs Spectre
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | KeePassium | Spectre |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Swift | C |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | binary | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,697 | ★ 200 |
| First released | 2019 | 2012 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | 1Password, LastPass |
What are KeePassium and Spectre?
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
Spectre
Spectre, the successor to Master Password, is an open-source stateless password manager. It derives strong, unique passwords from your name and a master password rather than storing them in a vault.
- Deterministic password derivation
- No vault to store or sync
- Cross-platform clients
- Works fully offline
KeePassium vs Spectre: key differences
KeePassium is written in Swift, while Spectre is built with C. Spectre is the more established project (first released 2012), while KeePassium arrived in 2019. KeePassium has the considerably larger community, at 1,697 GitHub stars versus 200.
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 Spectre if…
- Nothing to back up
- Stateless by design
Watch out for
- Niche project
- Hard to change individual passwords
Frequently asked questions
Is KeePassium or Spectre better?
KeePassium is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Spectre if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are KeePassium and Spectre free and open-source?
Yes. KeePassium is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Spectre under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run KeePassium and Spectre with Docker?
KeePassium: check the project docs for container support. Spectre: check the project docs for container support.