KeePassXC vs pass
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
KeePassXC
Cross-platform offline KeePass password manager
VS
pass
The standard Unix password manager built on GPG and git
| Feature | KeePassXC | pass |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | C++ | Shell |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 32 MB |
| Deployment | binary, bare-metal | bare-metal, binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 28,926 | ★ 4,200 |
| First released | 2017 | 2012 |
| Replaces | LastPass, 1Password, Dashlane | 1Password, LastPass |
What are KeePassXC and pass?
KeePassXC
KeePassXC is a free, cross-platform desktop password manager that stores credentials in a local, encrypted KeePass database. It targets individuals who want fully offline password storage. It runs natively on desktop platforms.
- Local encrypted KeePass database
- Browser integration extension
- TOTP and passkey support
- No cloud dependency
pass
pass is a minimalist password manager that stores each secret in a GPG-encrypted file, optionally versioned with git. It follows the Unix philosophy and works entirely from the command line.
- GPG-encrypted password files
- Optional git versioning and sync
- Scriptable command-line workflow
- Many compatible GUI and mobile clients
KeePassXC vs pass: key differences
KeePassXC is written in C++, while pass is built with Shell. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for KeePassXC versus GPL-2.0 for pass. Pass is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 128 MB for KeePassXC. Pass is the more established project (first released 2012), while KeePassXC arrived in 2017. KeePassXC has the considerably larger community, at 28,926 GitHub stars versus 4,200.
Why pick each one
Choose KeePassXC if…
- Fully offline and private
- No subscription
- Mature and trusted
Watch out for
- Sync is your responsibility
- No native mobile app
Choose pass if…
- Simple and transparent storage
- Composes well with other tools
Watch out for
- Command-line oriented
- Requires GPG knowledge
Frequently asked questions
Is KeePassXC or pass better?
KeePassXC is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider pass if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are KeePassXC and pass free and open-source?
Yes. KeePassXC is licensed under GPL-3.0 and pass under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run KeePassXC and pass with Docker?
KeePassXC: check the project docs for container support. pass: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, KeePassXC or pass?
pass has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for KeePassXC. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.