KeePassXC vs Yopass
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
Yopass
Securely share secrets with encrypted one-time links
| Feature | KeePassXC | Yopass |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 94 · Excellent | 87 · Excellent |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | C++ | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | binary, bare-metal | docker, kubernetes, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 28,926 | ★ 3,148 |
| First released | 2017 | 2016 |
| Replaces | LastPass, 1Password, Dashlane | 1Password, Doppler |
What are KeePassXC and Yopass?
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
Yopass
Yopass is an open-source tool for sharing secrets in a quick and secure manner. Secrets are encrypted in the browser and shared via links that expire after a set time or a single view.
- Client-side encrypted secrets
- One-time and time-limited links
- Tiny resource footprint
- Memcached or Redis backend
KeePassXC vs Yopass: key differences
KeePassXC is written in C++, while Yopass is built with Go. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for KeePassXC versus MIT for Yopass. Yopass is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for KeePassXC. KeePassXC has the considerably larger community, at 28,926 GitHub stars versus 3,148. Yopass lists first-class Docker deployment; KeePassXC does not.
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 Yopass if…
- Very lightweight
- No persistent database needed
Watch out for
- Focused on sharing, not storage
Frequently asked questions
Is KeePassXC or Yopass better?
Neither is universally better. KeePassXC has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are KeePassXC and Yopass free and open-source?
Yes. KeePassXC is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Yopass under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run KeePassXC and Yopass with Docker?
KeePassXC: check the project docs for container support. Yopass: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, KeePassXC or Yopass?
Yopass has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for KeePassXC. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.