pass 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 | pass-tomb |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Shell | Shell |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, binary, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,200 | ★ 437 |
| First released | 2012 | 2017 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | 1Password, KeePass |
What are pass and pass-tomb?
pass
pass is a minimalist password manager that stores each secret in a GPG-encrypted file, optionally versioned with git. It follows the Unix philosophy and works entirely from the command line.
- GPG-encrypted password files
- Optional git versioning and sync
- Scriptable command-line workflow
- Many compatible GUI and mobile clients
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 vs pass-tomb: key differences
Both projects are written in Shell. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for pass versus GPL-3.0 for pass-tomb. Pass is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 64 MB for pass-tomb. Pass is the more established project (first released 2012), while pass-tomb arrived in 2017. Pass has the considerably larger community, at 4,200 GitHub stars versus 437.
Why pick each one
Choose pass if…
- Simple and transparent storage
- Composes well with other tools
Watch out for
- Command-line oriented
- Requires GPG knowledge
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 or pass-tomb better?
pass 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 and pass-tomb free and open-source?
Yes. pass is licensed under GPL-2.0 and pass-tomb under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run pass and pass-tomb with Docker?
pass: check the project docs for container support. pass-tomb: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, pass or pass-tomb?
pass 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.