LessPass 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 | LessPass | Passbolt |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 88 · Excellent | 91 · Excellent |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 6,065 | ★ 6,136 |
| First released | 2016 | 2017 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | 1Password, LastPass |
What are LessPass and Passbolt?
LessPass
LessPass is an open-source password manager that generates unique passwords deterministically from a master password and site details. Because nothing is stored, there is no vault to sync or back up.
- Deterministic password generation
- No vault to store or sync
- Browser extensions and mobile apps
- Optional self-hosted profile sync
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
LessPass vs Passbolt: key differences
LessPass is written in TypeScript, while Passbolt is built with PHP. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for LessPass versus AGPL-3.0 for Passbolt. LessPass is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Passbolt.
Why pick each one
Choose LessPass if…
- Nothing to back up
- Works fully offline
Watch out for
- Hard to change a single password
- Profiles must be remembered
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 LessPass or Passbolt better?
Neither is universally better. Passbolt has the larger community, while LessPass is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are LessPass and Passbolt free and open-source?
Yes. LessPass is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Passbolt under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run LessPass and Passbolt with Docker?
LessPass: yes. Passbolt: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, LessPass or Passbolt?
LessPass 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.