KeeWeb vs pass-tomb
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-tomb |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | ≈5-minute setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 64 · Good | 46 · Fair |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | HTML | Shell |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 12,997 | ★ 437 |
| First released | 2015 | 2017 |
| Replaces | LastPass, 1Password | 1Password, KeePass |
What are KeeWeb and pass-tomb?
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-tomb
pass-tomb is an open-source extension for the standard Unix password manager that keeps the password store inside an encrypted Tomb container. It hides the directory structure of secrets when the store is locked.
- Encrypted Tomb container
- Hides store structure
- Integrates with pass
- Command-line workflow
KeeWeb vs pass-tomb: key differences
KeeWeb is written in HTML, while pass-tomb is built with Shell. Licensing differs — MIT for KeeWeb versus GPL-3.0 for pass-tomb. Pass-tomb is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for KeeWeb. KeeWeb is the more established project (first released 2015), while pass-tomb arrived in 2017. KeeWeb has the considerably larger community, at 12,997 GitHub stars versus 437. KeeWeb lists first-class Docker deployment; pass-tomb 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-tomb if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Written in Shell
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is KeeWeb or pass-tomb better?
KeeWeb is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider pass-tomb if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are KeeWeb and pass-tomb free and open-source?
Yes. KeeWeb is licensed under MIT and pass-tomb under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run KeeWeb and pass-tomb with Docker?
KeeWeb: yes. pass-tomb: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, KeeWeb or pass-tomb?
pass-tomb has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for KeeWeb. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.