pass 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 | Psono |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Shell | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, binary, source | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,200 | ★ 700 |
| First released | 2012 | 2017 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | 1Password, LastPass |
What are pass and Psono?
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
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 vs Psono: key differences
Pass is written in Shell, while Psono is built with Python. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for pass versus Apache-2.0 for Psono. Pass is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Psono. Pass is the more established project (first released 2012), while Psono arrived in 2017. Pass has the considerably larger community, at 4,200 GitHub stars versus 700. Psono lists first-class Docker deployment; pass does not.
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 Psono if…
- Strong sharing controls
- Enterprise auth support
- Open source
Watch out for
- Smaller community
- Setup takes effort
Frequently asked questions
Is pass or Psono better?
Neither is universally better. pass has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are pass and Psono free and open-source?
Yes. pass is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Psono under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run pass and Psono with Docker?
pass: check the project docs for container support. Psono: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, pass or Psono?
pass 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.