pass-tomb vs Vaultwarden
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Vaultwarden
Lightweight Bitwarden-compatible password server
| Feature | pass-tomb | Vaultwarden |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | ≈5-minute setup |
| Health score | 46 · Fair | 100 · Excellent |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Shell | Rust |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 437 | ★ 68,080 |
| First released | 2017 | 2018 |
| Replaces | 1Password, KeePass | 1Password, LastPass, Dashlane |
What are pass-tomb and Vaultwarden?
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
Vaultwarden
Vaultwarden is a lightweight, unofficial Bitwarden-compatible server written in Rust that works with all official Bitwarden clients. It targets self-hosters who want Bitwarden without heavy resource use. It is deployed via Docker.
- Compatible with all Bitwarden clients
- Tiny resource footprint
- Organizations and sharing
- Includes premium-equivalent features
pass-tomb vs Vaultwarden: key differences
Pass-tomb is written in Shell, while Vaultwarden is built with Rust. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for pass-tomb versus AGPL-3.0 for Vaultwarden. Pass-tomb is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Vaultwarden. Vaultwarden has the considerably larger community, at 68,080 GitHub stars versus 437. Vaultwarden lists first-class Docker deployment; pass-tomb does not.
Why pick each one
Choose pass-tomb if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Written in Shell
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Choose Vaultwarden if…
- Extremely lightweight
- Works with official apps
- Easy to deploy
Watch out for
- Unofficial, community project
- Self-hosting security is on you
Frequently asked questions
Is pass-tomb or Vaultwarden better?
Vaultwarden is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider pass-tomb if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are pass-tomb and Vaultwarden free and open-source?
Yes. pass-tomb is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Vaultwarden under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run pass-tomb and Vaultwarden with Docker?
pass-tomb: check the project docs for container support. Vaultwarden: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, pass-tomb or Vaultwarden?
pass-tomb has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Vaultwarden. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.