pass-otp vs Psono
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 | Psono |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Shell | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,498 | ★ 700 |
| First released | 2017 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Authy, 1Password | 1Password, LastPass |
What are pass-otp and Psono?
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
Psono
Psono is a self-hosted, open-source password manager focused on secure secret sharing for teams and enterprises. It targets organizations needing granular credential management. It is deployed via Docker.
- Granular secret sharing
- Client-side encryption
- LDAP and SAML support
- Browser extensions and apps
pass-otp vs Psono: key differences
Pass-otp is written in Shell, while Psono is built with Python. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for pass-otp versus Apache-2.0 for Psono. Pass-otp is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Psono. Pass-otp has the considerably larger community, at 1,498 GitHub stars versus 700. Psono 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 Psono if…
- Strong sharing controls
- Enterprise auth support
- Open source
Watch out for
- Smaller community
- Setup takes effort
Frequently asked questions
Is pass-otp or Psono better?
Neither is universally better. pass-otp has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are pass-otp and Psono free and open-source?
Yes. pass-otp is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Psono under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run pass-otp and Psono with Docker?
pass-otp: check the project docs for container support. Psono: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, pass-otp or Psono?
pass-otp has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Psono. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.