Quick Verdict
These serve completely different use cases. Passbolt is a team password manager with server-side user management, OpenPGP encryption, and granular sharing. KeeWeb is a browser-based client for personal KeePass vaults with zero server-side logic. Choose Passbolt for teams, KeeWeb for solo use with KeePass files. For the best of both worlds, use Vaultwarden.
Overview
Passbolt is a team-oriented password manager built on OpenPGP. It manages users, groups, permissions, and audit trails server-side. The Community Edition is free but requires MariaDB, SMTP, and a browser extension. It's actively maintained by Passbolt SA.
KeeWeb is a static web application that opens KeePass (.kdbx) vault files in the browser. All encryption happens client-side. The Docker container is just nginx serving static files. There's no user management, no server-side processing, and no database. Development has been dormant since 2021.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Passbolt | KeeWeb |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Server-side (PHP + MariaDB) | Client-side only (static web app) |
| Encryption | OpenPGP (asymmetric) | KeePass format (AES-256/ChaCha20) |
| Browser extension | Yes (required) | No |
| Mobile apps | iOS, Android | No (responsive web) |
| Team sharing | Yes (granular permissions) | No (file-level sharing only) |
| User management | Yes (server-managed) | No |
| Audit logs | Yes | No |
| TOTP storage | Pro only | Yes |
| SMTP required | Yes | No |
| Database required | Yes (MariaDB) | No |
| Offline access | No | Yes (vault files are local) |
| Docker RAM | ~200 MB | ~30 MB |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Active development | Yes (monthly releases) | No (dormant since 2021) |
Installation Complexity
Passbolt requires significant setup: MariaDB, SMTP server, GPG key volumes, JWT key volumes, domain with HTTPS, and first-user creation via CLI. Plan for 30-60 minutes of setup time.
KeeWeb requires almost no setup. Pull the Docker image, expose port 443, done. It's a static web app — there's nothing to configure server-side. You manage your .kdbx vault files yourself.
Performance and Resource Usage
| Metric | Passbolt | KeeWeb |
|---|---|---|
| RAM | ~200 MB | ~30 MB |
| CPU | Low-Medium | Negligible |
| Disk | ~500 MB | ~50 MB |
| Containers | 2+ (app + DB) | 1 |
KeeWeb is 6-7x lighter than Passbolt. This isn't a fair comparison though — they're fundamentally different architectures.
Community and Support
Passbolt has strong community backing, commercial support options, regular security audits, and monthly releases. It's a funded company with paying enterprise customers.
KeeWeb is maintained by a single developer and hasn't had a release since 2021. The KeePass format it uses is a mature standard, so the tool still works, but any browser API changes or security issues won't be patched.
Use Cases
Choose Passbolt If...
- You need to share passwords across a team with audit trails
- Compliance requirements demand centralized credential management
- You want an actively maintained security tool
- You need LDAP/AD integration (Pro tier)
- You're willing to handle the setup complexity
Choose KeeWeb If...
- You're a single user managing personal passwords
- You already use KeePass (.kdbx) files
- You want zero server-side trust
- You sync vaults through WebDAV (Nextcloud), Dropbox, or Google Drive
- You want the simplest possible deployment
- Offline access is important
Choose Neither If...
- You want browser auto-fill on every platform — use Vaultwarden
- You want a single-user password manager that also handles teams — use Vaultwarden
Final Verdict
Don't compare these as competitors — they're different tools for different problems. Passbolt is a team credential management platform. KeeWeb is a web viewer for personal vault files. If you're a solo self-hoster, KeeWeb's simplicity is appealing but its dormancy is concerning. If you manage a team, Passbolt is the right tool. For most people who want one password manager that does personal and team use well, Vaultwarden remains the best answer.
FAQ
Can I import KeeWeb (KeePass) vaults into Passbolt?
Yes. Passbolt supports importing KeePass .kdbx files through its web interface. This makes migrating from KeeWeb to Passbolt straightforward.
Can I use both together?
Not in a meaningful way. They use completely different vault formats and architectures. Pick one based on whether you need team features (Passbolt) or solo file-based management (KeeWeb).
Which is more secure?
Both use strong encryption. KeeWeb has a smaller attack surface (static files, client-side crypto only) but lacks security updates. Passbolt has more attack surface (server-side PHP, database) but receives regular security patches. For a security-critical application, active maintenance wins.
Top comments (0)