KeeWeb vs Spectre
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | KeeWeb | Spectre |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | ≈5-minute setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | HTML | C |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 12,997 | ★ 200 |
| First released | 2015 | 2012 |
| Replaces | LastPass, 1Password | 1Password, LastPass |
What are KeeWeb and Spectre?
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
Spectre
Spectre, the successor to Master Password, is an open-source stateless password manager. It derives strong, unique passwords from your name and a master password rather than storing them in a vault.
- Deterministic password derivation
- No vault to store or sync
- Cross-platform clients
- Works fully offline
KeeWeb vs Spectre: key differences
KeeWeb is written in HTML, while Spectre is built with C. Licensing differs — MIT for KeeWeb versus GPL-3.0 for Spectre. Spectre is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for KeeWeb. Spectre 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 200. KeeWeb lists first-class Docker deployment; Spectre 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 Spectre if…
- Nothing to back up
- Stateless by design
Watch out for
- Niche project
- Hard to change individual passwords
Frequently asked questions
Is KeeWeb or Spectre better?
KeeWeb is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Spectre if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are KeeWeb and Spectre free and open-source?
Yes. KeeWeb is licensed under MIT and Spectre under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run KeeWeb and Spectre with Docker?
KeeWeb: yes. Spectre: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, KeeWeb or Spectre?
Spectre 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.