KeeWeb vs pass
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | ≈5-minute setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | MIT | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | HTML | Shell |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 32 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal, binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 12,997 | ★ 4,200 |
| First released | 2015 | 2012 |
| Replaces | LastPass, 1Password | 1Password, LastPass |
What are KeeWeb and pass?
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
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
KeeWeb vs pass: key differences
KeeWeb is written in HTML, while pass is built with Shell. Licensing differs — MIT for KeeWeb versus GPL-2.0 for pass. Pass is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 128 MB for KeeWeb. Pass is the more established project (first released 2012), while KeeWeb arrived in 2015. KeeWeb has the considerably larger community, at 12,997 GitHub stars versus 4,200. KeeWeb lists first-class Docker deployment; pass 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 if…
- Simple and transparent storage
- Composes well with other tools
Watch out for
- Command-line oriented
- Requires GPG knowledge
Frequently asked questions
Is KeeWeb or pass better?
KeeWeb 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 KeeWeb and pass free and open-source?
Yes. KeeWeb is licensed under MIT and pass under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run KeeWeb and pass with Docker?
KeeWeb: yes. pass: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, KeeWeb or pass?
pass 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.