Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to Keeper · 🔐 security
Keeper vs Passbolt Community Edition
A team password vault with real sharing and a server stack that expects an adult in the room. Here is how Passbolt Community Edition ($0/mo open source) stacks up against Keeper ($3.75/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
Passbolt Community Edition
$0.00/mo · AGPL-3.0
Keeper vs Passbolt Community Edition Specification Matrix
facts verified 2026-08-11
| Dimension | Keeper (Paid) | Passbolt Community Edition (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $3.75 / mo | $0 / mo |
| 1-Year Cost (1 seat) | $45 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $45) |
| 1-Year Cost (5 seats) | $225 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $225) |
| 1-Year Cost (10 seats) | $450 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $450) |
| Source & License | Proprietary SaaS | open source AGPL-3.0 |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Self-host (your server) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | mobilewebself-hostedcliextensionself-host, real ops |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ 6.1k (active aug 2026) |
Deep Dive: Switching from Keeper to Passbolt Community Edition
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
It is a team-first server product with much heavier administration and a less polished solo and mobile experience than Keeper.
How to deploy Passbolt Community Edition
Ubuntu or Debian package, or Docker deployment, followed by browser-extension setup
What it takes to run
A server, database, domain, TLS, SMTP and key-recovery process are required before anyone can use it
Where your data lives
Password secrets are OpenPGP-encrypted; account, sharing and audit metadata live in SQL, while users' private keys and recovery kits remain client-side
Why fork Passbolt Community Edition instead of vibe-coding a Keeper clone?
A consolation build is possible, but the paid product's decisive value sits outside a solo rebuild. For Keeper, manage a local encrypted credential vault and secure notes. The hard boundary is audits, enterprise controls, autofill, monitoring, recovery, and support, plus security assurance, infrastructure, and trust.
Keeper vs Passbolt Community Edition FAQ
Is Passbolt Community Edition a good free alternative to Keeper?+
Yes. Passbolt Community Edition is a verified open-source (AGPL-3.0) replacement for Keeper. A team password vault with real sharing and a server stack that expects an adult in the room.
What is the catch when switching from Keeper to Passbolt Community Edition?+
It is a team-first server product with much heavier administration and a less polished solo and mobile experience than Keeper.
How much do you save switching from Keeper to Passbolt Community Edition?+
Keeper costs $3.75/mo ($45/yr) per seat, whereas Passbolt Community Edition is $0/mo. Switching saves $45/yr for a solo user, $225/yr for a 5-person team, and $450/yr for a 10-person team.
How do I install or self-host Passbolt Community Edition instead of Keeper?+
Install: Ubuntu or Debian package, or Docker deployment, followed by browser-extension setup. Setup: A server, database, domain, TLS, SMTP and key-recovery process are required before anyone can use it