pass-otp 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 | pass-otp | Passbolt |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 28 · At risk | 91 · Excellent |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Shell | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,498 | ★ 6,136 |
| First released | 2017 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Authy, 1Password | 1Password, LastPass |
What are pass-otp and Passbolt?
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
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
pass-otp vs Passbolt: key differences
Pass-otp is written in Shell, while Passbolt is built with PHP. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for pass-otp versus AGPL-3.0 for Passbolt. Pass-otp is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Passbolt. Passbolt has the considerably larger community, at 6,136 GitHub stars versus 1,498. Passbolt lists first-class Docker deployment; pass-otp does not.
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 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 pass-otp or Passbolt better?
Neither is universally better. Passbolt has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are pass-otp and Passbolt free and open-source?
Yes. pass-otp is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Passbolt under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run pass-otp and Passbolt with Docker?
pass-otp: check the project docs for container support. Passbolt: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, pass-otp or Passbolt?
pass-otp has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Passbolt. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.