pass 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 | One-Time Secret |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | Shell | Ruby |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, binary, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,200 | ★ 2,942 |
| First released | 2012 | 2012 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | 1Password, Doppler |
What are pass and One-Time Secret?
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
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 vs One-Time Secret: key differences
Pass is written in Shell, while One-Time Secret is built with Ruby. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for pass versus MIT for One-Time Secret. Pass is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 256 MB for One-Time Secret. One-Time Secret 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 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 or One-Time Secret better?
Neither is universally better. pass has the larger community, while One-Time Secret is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are pass and One-Time Secret free and open-source?
Yes. pass is licensed under GPL-2.0 and One-Time Secret under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run pass and One-Time Secret with Docker?
pass: check the project docs for container support. One-Time Secret: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, pass or One-Time Secret?
pass 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.