pass-otp vs pass-tomb
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | pass-otp | pass-tomb |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 28 · At risk | 46 · Fair |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Shell | Shell |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,498 | ★ 437 |
| First released | 2017 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Authy, 1Password | 1Password, KeePass |
What are pass-otp and pass-tomb?
pass-otp
pass-otp is an open-source extension that adds TOTP one-time-password support to the standard Unix password manager. It generates two-factor codes directly from secrets stored in the pass tree.
- TOTP code generation
- Integrates with pass
- Offline two-factor
- Command-line based
pass-tomb
pass-tomb is an open-source extension for the standard Unix password manager that keeps the password store inside an encrypted Tomb container. It hides the directory structure of secrets when the store is locked.
- Encrypted Tomb container
- Hides store structure
- Integrates with pass
- Command-line workflow
pass-otp vs pass-tomb: key differences
Both projects are written in Shell. Pass-otp is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 64 MB for pass-tomb. Pass-otp has the considerably larger community, at 1,498 GitHub stars versus 437.
Why pick each one
Choose pass-otp if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Active community (1.5k GitHub stars)
- Written in Shell
- Tiny footprint — runs in 32 MB RAM
Choose pass-tomb if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Written in Shell
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is pass-otp or pass-tomb better?
pass-otp is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider pass-tomb if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are pass-otp and pass-tomb free and open-source?
Yes. pass-otp is licensed under GPL-3.0 and pass-tomb under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run pass-otp and pass-tomb with Docker?
pass-otp: check the project docs for container support. pass-tomb: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, pass-otp or pass-tomb?
pass-otp has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 64 MB for pass-tomb. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.