KeeWeb vs One-Time Secret
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | KeeWeb | One-Time Secret |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | ≈5-minute setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 64 · Good | 87 · Excellent |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | HTML | Ruby |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 12,997 | ★ 2,942 |
| First released | 2015 | 2012 |
| Replaces | LastPass, 1Password | 1Password, Doppler |
What are KeeWeb and One-Time Secret?
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
One-Time Secret
One-Time Secret is an open-source service for sharing passwords and other sensitive information through links that can only be viewed once. After the secret is read or expires, it is permanently deleted.
- Self-destructing secret links
- Optional passphrase protection
- Configurable expiration times
- Simple REST API
KeeWeb vs One-Time Secret: key differences
KeeWeb is written in HTML, while One-Time Secret is built with Ruby. KeeWeb is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for One-Time Secret. One-Time Secret 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 2,942.
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 One-Time Secret if…
- Great for one-off credential sharing
- Easy to self-host
Watch out for
- Not a long-term vault
Frequently asked questions
Is KeeWeb or One-Time Secret better?
Neither is universally better. KeeWeb has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are KeeWeb and One-Time Secret free and open-source?
Yes. KeeWeb is licensed under MIT and One-Time Secret under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run KeeWeb and One-Time Secret with Docker?
KeeWeb: yes. One-Time Secret: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, KeeWeb or One-Time Secret?
KeeWeb has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for One-Time Secret. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.