KeeWeb vs Passbolt
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Passbolt
Open-source password manager built for teams
| Feature | KeeWeb | Passbolt |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | ≈5-minute setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 64 · Good | 91 · Excellent |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | HTML | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 12,997 | ★ 6,136 |
| First released | 2015 | 2017 |
| Replaces | LastPass, 1Password | 1Password, LastPass |
What are KeeWeb and Passbolt?
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
Passbolt
Passbolt is an open-source password manager designed for teams, built around end-to-end encryption and OpenPGP. It targets organizations sharing credentials securely. It is deployed via Docker or packages.
- OpenPGP-based encryption
- Team-oriented sharing and roles
- Browser extension and apps
- Audit logs
KeeWeb vs Passbolt: key differences
KeeWeb is written in HTML, while Passbolt is built with PHP. Licensing differs — MIT for KeeWeb versus AGPL-3.0 for Passbolt. KeeWeb is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Passbolt. KeeWeb is the more established project (first released 2015), while Passbolt arrived in 2017. KeeWeb has the considerably larger community, at 12,997 GitHub stars versus 6,136.
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 Passbolt if…
- Built for team sharing
- Strong encryption model
- Good admin controls
Watch out for
- Setup is involved
- Some features in paid tiers
Frequently asked questions
Is KeeWeb or Passbolt better?
KeeWeb is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Passbolt if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are KeeWeb and Passbolt free and open-source?
Yes. KeeWeb is licensed under MIT and Passbolt under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run KeeWeb and Passbolt with Docker?
KeeWeb: yes. Passbolt: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, KeeWeb or Passbolt?
KeeWeb has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Passbolt. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.