SHSelfHostIndex

KeeWeb vs LessPass

A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.

Not the right match-up?
KE KeeWeb Web-based client for KeePass databases VS LE LessPass Stateless password manager that derives passwords on demand
FeatureKeeWebLessPass
Deploy effort≈5-minute setupUnder-an-hour setup
Health score64 · Good88 · Excellent
CategoryPassword ManagersPassword Managers
LicenseMITGPL-3.0
LanguageHTMLTypeScript
Setup difficultyEasyEasy
Min. RAM128 MB128 MB
Deploymentdocker, bare-metaldocker, bare-metal
GitHub stars★ 12,997★ 6,065
First released20152016
ReplacesLastPass, 1Password1Password, LastPass

What are KeeWeb and LessPass?

KeeWeb

KeeWeb is a free, cross-platform password manager compatible with KeePass databases, usable in a browser or as a desktop app. It targets KeePass users who want web access to their vault. It is deployed via Docker or static hosting.

  • Reads and writes KeePass files
  • Browser and desktop versions
  • No backend database needed
  • Offline support

Read the full KeeWeb guide →

LessPass

LessPass is an open-source password manager that generates unique passwords deterministically from a master password and site details. Because nothing is stored, there is no vault to sync or back up.

  • Deterministic password generation
  • No vault to store or sync
  • Browser extensions and mobile apps
  • Optional self-hosted profile sync

Read the full LessPass guide →

KeeWeb vs LessPass: key differences

KeeWeb is written in HTML, while LessPass is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — MIT for KeeWeb versus GPL-3.0 for LessPass. KeeWeb has the considerably larger community, at 12,997 GitHub stars versus 6,065.

Why pick each one

Choose KeeWeb if…

  • Works with KeePass files
  • No server database
  • Cross-platform

Watch out for

  • Development has slowed
  • No team features
KeeWeb details

Choose LessPass if…

  • Nothing to back up
  • Works fully offline

Watch out for

  • Hard to change a single password
  • Profiles must be remembered
LessPass details

Frequently asked questions

Is KeeWeb or LessPass better?

Neither is universally better. KeeWeb has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.

Are KeeWeb and LessPass free and open-source?

Yes. KeeWeb is licensed under MIT and LessPass under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run KeeWeb and LessPass with Docker?

KeeWeb: yes. LessPass: yes.

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