KeeWeb vs Psono
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | KeeWeb | Psono |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | ≈5-minute setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | HTML | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 12,997 | ★ 700 |
| First released | 2015 | 2017 |
| Replaces | LastPass, 1Password | 1Password, LastPass |
What are KeeWeb and Psono?
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
Psono
Psono is a self-hosted, open-source password manager focused on secure secret sharing for teams and enterprises. It targets organizations needing granular credential management. It is deployed via Docker.
- Granular secret sharing
- Client-side encryption
- LDAP and SAML support
- Browser extensions and apps
KeeWeb vs Psono: key differences
KeeWeb is written in HTML, while Psono is built with Python. Licensing differs — MIT for KeeWeb versus Apache-2.0 for Psono. KeeWeb is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Psono. KeeWeb is the more established project (first released 2015), while Psono arrived in 2017. KeeWeb has the considerably larger community, at 12,997 GitHub stars versus 700.
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 Psono if…
- Strong sharing controls
- Enterprise auth support
- Open source
Watch out for
- Smaller community
- Setup takes effort
Frequently asked questions
Is KeeWeb or Psono better?
KeeWeb is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Psono if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are KeeWeb and Psono free and open-source?
Yes. KeeWeb is licensed under MIT and Psono under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run KeeWeb and Psono with Docker?
KeeWeb: yes. Psono: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, KeeWeb or Psono?
KeeWeb has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Psono. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.