pass vs TeamPass
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | pass | TeamPass |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Shell | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, binary, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,200 | ★ 1,828 |
| First released | 2012 | 2010 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | LastPass, 1Password |
What are pass and TeamPass?
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
TeamPass
TeamPass is a collaborative password manager that lets teams store and share credentials with granular access rights. It targets IT teams managing shared passwords. It is deployed via Docker or a PHP stack.
- Granular access control
- Folder-based credential organization
- LDAP integration
- Audit logging
pass vs TeamPass: key differences
Pass is written in Shell, while TeamPass is built with PHP. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for pass versus GPL-3.0 for TeamPass. Pass is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 512 MB for TeamPass. TeamPass is the more established project (first released 2010), while pass arrived in 2012. Pass has the considerably larger community, at 4,200 GitHub stars versus 1,828. TeamPass 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 TeamPass if…
- Good for shared team passwords
- Detailed permissions
- Mature
Watch out for
- Dated interface
- Configuration is involved
Frequently asked questions
Is pass or TeamPass 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 TeamPass free and open-source?
Yes. pass is licensed under GPL-2.0 and TeamPass under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run pass and TeamPass with Docker?
pass: check the project docs for container support. TeamPass: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, pass or TeamPass?
pass has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for TeamPass. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.