pass-otp vs One-Time Secret
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 | One-Time Secret |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 28 · At risk | 87 · Excellent |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | Shell | Ruby |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,498 | ★ 2,942 |
| First released | 2017 | 2012 |
| Replaces | Authy, 1Password | 1Password, Doppler |
What are pass-otp and One-Time Secret?
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
One-Time Secret
One-Time Secret is an open-source service for sharing passwords and other sensitive information through links that can only be viewed once. After the secret is read or expires, it is permanently deleted.
- Self-destructing secret links
- Optional passphrase protection
- Configurable expiration times
- Simple REST API
pass-otp vs One-Time Secret: key differences
Pass-otp is written in Shell, while One-Time Secret is built with Ruby. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for pass-otp versus MIT for One-Time Secret. Pass-otp is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 256 MB for One-Time Secret. One-Time Secret is the more established project (first released 2012), while pass-otp arrived in 2017. One-Time Secret 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 One-Time Secret if…
- Great for one-off credential sharing
- Easy to self-host
Watch out for
- Not a long-term vault
Frequently asked questions
Is pass-otp or One-Time Secret better?
One-Time Secret is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider pass-otp if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are pass-otp and One-Time Secret free and open-source?
Yes. pass-otp is licensed under GPL-3.0 and One-Time Secret under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run pass-otp and One-Time Secret with Docker?
pass-otp: check the project docs for container support. One-Time Secret: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, pass-otp or One-Time Secret?
pass-otp has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for One-Time Secret. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.