KeeWeb vs pass-otp
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | KeeWeb | pass-otp |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | ≈5-minute setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 64 · Good | 28 · At risk |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | HTML | Shell |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 32 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 12,997 | ★ 1,498 |
| First released | 2015 | 2017 |
| Replaces | LastPass, 1Password | Authy, 1Password |
What are KeeWeb and pass-otp?
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
pass-otp
pass-otp is an open-source extension that adds TOTP one-time-password support to the standard Unix password manager. It generates two-factor codes directly from secrets stored in the pass tree.
- TOTP code generation
- Integrates with pass
- Offline two-factor
- Command-line based
KeeWeb vs pass-otp: key differences
KeeWeb is written in HTML, while pass-otp is built with Shell. Licensing differs — MIT for KeeWeb versus GPL-3.0 for pass-otp. Pass-otp is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 128 MB for KeeWeb. KeeWeb is the more established project (first released 2015), while pass-otp arrived in 2017. KeeWeb has the considerably larger community, at 12,997 GitHub stars versus 1,498. KeeWeb lists first-class Docker deployment; pass-otp does not.
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
Choose pass-otp if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Active community (1.5k GitHub stars)
- Written in Shell
- Tiny footprint — runs in 32 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is KeeWeb or pass-otp better?
KeeWeb is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider pass-otp if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are KeeWeb and pass-otp free and open-source?
Yes. KeeWeb is licensed under MIT and pass-otp under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run KeeWeb and pass-otp with Docker?
KeeWeb: yes. pass-otp: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, KeeWeb or pass-otp?
pass-otp has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for KeeWeb. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.