Best Self Hosted Alternatives to 1Password

Vaultwarden is an alternative implementation of the Bitwarden Client API, built in Rust and compatible with official Bitwarden apps and browser extensions. It focuses on a lightweight, resource-efficient server suitable for self-hosted deployments.

Key Features

• Bitwarden-compatible API for syncing vault items across official clients
• Personal vault features including items, attachments, and website icons
• Organization support with collections, sharing, roles, groups, and policies
• Two-factor authentication options including authenticator apps and WebAuthn/FIDO2
• Bitwarden “Send” support for secure text/file sharing
• Admin interface for server management and operational controls

Use Cases

• Self-host a password manager backend for individuals and families using official Bitwarden clients
• Run a lightweight password manager server for small teams needing sharing and organization features
• Deploy a private vault service in homelabs or resource-constrained environments

Limitations and Considerations

• Not affiliated with Bitwarden, and some features may lag behind the official server depending on upstream client/API changes
• The web vault requires a secure context (HTTPS or localhost) to function correctly due to browser crypto requirements

Vaultwarden is a strong option when you want Bitwarden client compatibility with a smaller operational footprint. It provides most core Bitwarden functionality while keeping deployment and resource usage relatively simple.

KeePassXC is a community-driven, cross-platform password manager based on the KeePass ecosystem. It stores credentials and other sensitive data in encrypted, offline KDBX database files, keeping you in full control of where the data is stored.

Key Features

• Create, open, and save KeePass-compatible KDBX3/KDBX4 databases
• Store passwords, usernames, URLs, notes, attachments, and custom attributes
• Password and passphrase generator, plus advanced search
• Auto-Type to fill credentials into desktop applications
• Browser integration for credential autofill and passkey support
• Built-in TOTP storage and code generation
• Import/export for common formats (for example CSV and other password managers)
• Entry history, restore, and database reports (health/statistics)
• Optional integrations such as SSH agent support and Secret Service compatibility

Use Cases

• Personal or team credential vault stored on a local disk or a chosen sync location
• Secure storage for TOTP secrets, recovery codes, and sensitive notes
• Managing SSH credentials and logins with automated typing and browser autofill

KeePassXC is well-suited for users who prefer a cloud-free, file-based vault with strong encryption and broad platform support. It combines usability features like autofill and reporting with an auditable, open-source codebase.

Ente is an open-source, end-to-end encrypted cloud platform designed to store and sync personal data without needing to trust the service operator. It powers apps such as Ente Photos (a private alternative to mainstream photo clouds) and Ente Auth (a 2FA authenticator with encrypted sync).

Key Features

• End-to-end encryption with a zero-knowledge design for stored and shared content
• Cross-platform clients (mobile, desktop, and web) for photos and authenticator workflows
• Photo backup with background uploads and multi-device sync
• Private sharing, including collaborative albums and link-based sharing with encrypted uploads
• Migration and export workflows to move photo libraries in and out
• External security and cryptography audits reported by the project

Use Cases

• Private photo and video backup as an alternative to Google Photos or iCloud Photos
• Secure family or team photo sharing with collaborative albums
• Encrypted syncing of 2FA tokens across devices (Authy alternative)

Limitations and Considerations

• Some advanced features (for example, semantic search/face features) may depend on the app’s capabilities and server configuration
• Ente Photos is offered as a paid service by the vendor, though the codebase can be deployed independently

Ente suits users who want a privacy-first, audited, end-to-end encrypted experience for photos and 2FA, while keeping the option to run the full stack under their own control. It combines modern client apps with an encrypted cloud backend focused on minimizing trust.

Bitwarden is an open-source password manager that securely stores, generates, and autofills credentials across devices. It supports cloud hosting and self-hosting for on-prem deployments, with administrator options for teams. Bitwarden's backend server is built on ASP.NET Core with a SQL Server database, and the codebase is designed for cross-platform deployment. (bitwarden.com)

Key Features

• Cross-platform with unlimited devices (bitwarden.com)
• End-to-end zero-knowledge encryption (bitwarden.com)
• Data breach reports and vault health (bitwarden.com)
• Encrypted file attachments up to 1 GB per user (bitwarden.com)
• Integrated Authenticator (TOTP) and passkeys (bitwarden.com)
• Local cache & offline access (bitwarden.com)
• Secure sharing with Send (bitwarden.com)
• Flexible deployment: cloud or self-hosted on-premises or private cloud (bitwarden.com)
• APIs & CLI for automation and integration (bitwarden.com)
• SSH key generation, storage and usage in vault (bitwarden.com)

Use Cases

• Personal and family password management across devices (bitwarden.com)
• Team collaboration with shared vaults and collections (bitwarden.com)
• Enterprise IT governance with SSO, directory integration, auditing, and policy enforcement (bitwarden.com)

CONCLUSION Bitwarden provides a transparent, extensible solution for individuals and organizations to manage sensitive information securely, with flexible hosting options ranging from cloud to on-premises. Its open-source nature and security-focused design aim to balance usability with robust governance for diverse environments.

Passbolt is an open-source password and secret management platform designed for teams that need secure sharing, governance, and traceability. It is API-centric and uses a public/private key cryptography model so users keep control of their keys while collaborating.

Key Features

• End-to-end encryption based on OpenPGP with user-owned key pairs
• Granular sharing permissions for passwords and other secrets
• Organization features for groups, folders, tags, comments, and descriptions
• Auditing capabilities and cryptographically-backed traceability of access and changes
• Phishing protections such as URL matching and verification indicators
• Account recovery workflows with admin approval and organization policies
• Multiple clients including browser extensions and mobile apps, plus CLI/SDK access via JSON API

Use Cases

• Share infrastructure and service credentials across IT and DevOps teams with controlled permissions
• Centralize business-critical secrets for departments while keeping an audit trail for compliance
• Enable secure credential access for distributed teams, including air-gapped or restricted environments

Limitations and Considerations

• Full functionality typically depends on using official clients (for example, browser extensions) for key management and seamless autofill
• Some advanced capabilities may differ between Community Edition and paid offerings

Passbolt is a strong fit for organizations that need a security-first approach to shared credentials, with interoperable cryptography and an API-driven design. It balances team collaboration with controls like permissioning, auditing, and recovery policies.

AliasVault is a privacy-first password manager that combines credential storage with identity and email alias management. It uses end-to-end encryption and a zero-knowledge design so the server cannot read your vault data or received alias emails.

Key Features

• End-to-end encrypted vault with zero-knowledge architecture
• Built-in email server to create unique alias addresses and receive mail inside the vault
• Password and passkey storage with generators for strong credentials and identities
• Built-in TOTP authenticator
• Cross-platform clients: web app, mobile apps, and browser extensions with autofill
• Import from traditional password managers
• Docker-based deployment options, including an install script and Docker Compose

Use Cases

• Create unique identities, passwords, and email aliases per website to reduce tracking
• Isolate sign-ups and identify which service leaked or sold your address
• Run a private, self-controlled password + alias solution for individuals or households

Limitations and Considerations

• Team/family sharing and organization features are under active development and may be incomplete
• Some advanced hardware-key functionality (FIDO2/WebAuthn) may not yet be fully available depending on release status

AliasVault is a good fit for users who want a single tool for passwords, passkeys, and email aliasing without relying on third-party alias providers. Its built-in email handling and encrypted storage make it especially suitable for privacy-focused deployments.

TeamPass is a collaborative password manager designed to securely store and share credentials within teams. It is an on-premises solution that centralizes password data and applies strict access controls to protect sensitive information.

Key Features

• Highly customizable to fit your needs and access constraints
• Data encryption at rest using AES-256 and encryption library support for strong crypto
• Fine-grained access control: Roles, User Privileges, and a Tree structure for folder-based permissions
• Each Item supports multiple Fields and Attachments; custom fields are supported
• Offline mode: export encrypted item data for use in disconnected locations
• Personal folders with per-user salt-key protection for added privacy
• 2FA options via libraries to secure user logins
• Open-source, actively maintained with comprehensive documentation and API reference

Use Cases

• Securely share and manage credentials within teams using role-based access to folders and items
• Organize credentials in a hierarchical folder structure with defined write/read permissions per role
• Enable offline or encrypted data transfer via export for environments with limited connectivity

Conclusion: TeamPass provides an on-premises, auditable password vault with strong encryption, RBAC, and flexible data organization suited for teams and organizations.

Psono is an open-source, self-hosted password manager designed for teams and enterprises. It encrypts data on the client before transmission and provides web, desktop and mobile clients plus an admin portal. The project is maintained by esaqa GmbH and is distributed as Docker images for on-premise deployment. (psono.com)

Key Features

• Client-side end-to-end encryption using NaCl (Curve25519/Salsa20) and scrypt for key derivation, keeping secrets encrypted before they reach the server. (psono.com)
• Fileserver module that chunks, encrypts and stores files across multiple backends (local, S3, GCS, Azure, SFTP, FTP, etc.), with shard/cluster semantics for HA and site-affinity. (doc.psono.com)
• Docker-based deployment with official images and documented installation steps; requires a PostgreSQL database (Postgres 14 recommended). (doc.psono.com)
• MFA support including TOTP (Google Authenticator/Authy), WebAuthn/FIDO2 and YubiKey; enterprise edition adds LDAP/SAML/OIDC and audit/policy controls. (doc.psono.com)

Use Cases

• Team password and secret management with role-based access, sharing and secret history for audits.
• Encrypted file sharing across offices using the fileserver with cloud or local storage backends.
• Integration of secrets into automation via API keys and callbacks for CI/CD or infrastructure automation. (doc.psono.com)

Limitations and Considerations

• Production installs require a domain and trusted TLS certificate; setups with plain IP/http or untrusted certs are not supported. Postgres is required and recommended to be modern (Postgres 14+). Enterprise features (LDAP/SAML/OIDC, audit logging, enforced policies) are gated to the EE edition. (doc.psono.com)

Psono is a full-featured open-source solution for organizations that need server-side control of secrets and client-side encryption. It is optimized for self-hosting with Docker, supports multiple storage backends for encrypted files, and provides enterprise integrations in its paid edition. (psono.com)

Passit is an open-source password manager designed to securely store passwords and secure notes, with optional team sharing on self-hosted instances. It focuses on cross-platform access, offline availability, and practical import/export workflows.

Key Features

• Store passwords and secure notes
• Access vault data across platforms and browsers
• Offline access to read stored passwords
• Browser extensions for quick autofill and access
• CSV import/export for migrating passwords in and out
• Groups for organizing entries
• Add users to groups on a self-hosted instance to share passwords

Use Cases

• Personal password and secure-notes vault with offline access
• Team password sharing using group-based organization on a self-hosted server
• Migrating credentials between password managers via CSV import/export

Passit is a solid option for users who want an open-source password manager with offline access, browser integration, and straightforward sharing through groups. It can be used individually or deployed as a shared instance for small teams.