Best Self-Hosted Password Managers in 2026
Quick Picks
| Need | Best Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Vaultwarden | Uses Bitwarden clients, all features free, minimal resources |
| Best for teams | Passbolt | Designed for team password sharing with RBAC |
The Full Breakdown
1. Vaultwarden — Best Overall
Vaultwarden is the undisputed champion. It’s a lightweight Rust implementation of the Bitwarden server API, compatible with all official Bitwarden clients. Every premium feature — TOTP, file attachments, emergency access, organizations — is free. It runs on 128MB RAM.
Strengths: Uses polished Bitwarden clients on every platform, all premium features free, minimal resources, easy to set up. Weaknesses: Single developer project (though widely used and maintained).
2. Passbolt — Best for Teams
Passbolt is designed for team password sharing. It uses a browser extension for encryption (end-to-end, server never sees plaintext) and provides role-based access control for shared credentials. The Community Edition is free.
Strengths: Team-focused sharing, RBAC, browser-based encryption, audit logs. Weaknesses: No native mobile apps (CE), more complex setup, heavier resources.
The Verdict
For personal use and small teams, Vaultwarden is the clear choice. The Bitwarden client ecosystem is unmatched — browser extensions, desktop apps, and mobile apps that are actively developed by a well-funded company. You get a premium experience backed by a server you control.
Only consider Passbolt if you specifically need enterprise-grade team password sharing with audit trails and RBAC.
See also: Replace LastPass | Replace 1Password