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Passbolt vs Keycloak: Which is Better in 2026?

Choosing between Passbolt and Keycloak comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.

Bottom line: Keycloak wins this matchup. 1Password is our overall Security pick. LastPass is our free Security pick. Pick Passbolt if you need security.

··Methodology
Editor reviewed0 verified reviews comparedPricing checked Sep 2026

Short on time? Here's the quick answer

We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:

Passbolt

Open-source, end-to-end encrypted password and secret management for teams of any size.

Best for you if:

  • • You want open-source nature provides transparency and auditability
  • • You want strong security with end-to-end encryption and unique key architecture

Keycloak

Open-source identity and access management

Best for you if:

  • • You want a fully free tool (Passbolt requires payment)
  • • You want open source identity
  • • You want self-hostable
At a Glance
PassboltPassbolt
KeycloakKeycloak
Starts at
FreeFree tier available
FreeFree tier available
Best For
SecurityIdentity & Access
Rating
4.5/5-
Free plan
 Yes Yes

Choose Passbolt or Keycloak?

Passbolt

Choose Passbolt if

Open-source, end-to-end encrypted password and secret management for teams of any size.

  • You want open-source nature provides transparency and auditability
  • You want strong security with end-to-end encryption and unique key architecture
  • Your work is security-shaped, not identity & access-shaped
Keycloak

Choose Keycloak if

Open-source identity and access management

  • You want a fully free tool (Passbolt requires payment)
  • You want open source identity
  • You want self-hostable
  • Your work is identity & access-shaped, not security-shaped
Passbolt logo

Passbolt

Open-source, end-to-end encrypted password and secret management for teams of any size.

Visit Website
TOP RATED
Keycloak logo

Keycloak

Open-source identity and access management

Visit Website
FeaturePassboltKeycloak
Pricing ModelFreemiumFree
User Rating
★4.5/5
49 reviews
No ratings yet
Categories
SecurityDeveloper Tools
Identity & AccessSecurity

In-Depth Analysis

PassboltPassbolt

Open-source, end-to-end encrypted password and secret management for teams of any size.

Starts at Free
Good value

Passbolt offers a very generous free tier with unlimited users and core password management features, making it highly accessible.

Strengths

  • +Open-source nature provides transparency and auditability.
  • +Strong security with end-to-end encryption and unique key architecture.
  • +Flexible deployment options: self-hosted or cloud-managed.
  • +Comprehensive features for various team roles (workforce, IT, DevOps).
  • +Supports fine-grained access control and audit trails.

Weaknesses

  • -Minimum user count for paid plans (10 users).
  • -Subscription key required for Pro version, even though it's open source.
  • -Cloud hosting for Business tier is on GCP, which might not suit all sovereignty requirements (Enterprise offers sovereign cloud).

Key features

End-to-end encryption with public-private key architecturePassword auto-fill, auto-save, and generationPrivileged Access Management (PAM) with Just-In-Time (JIT) accessSecret management for DevOps with API, CLI, and SDKsGranular access controls and real-time activity monitoringSingle Sign-On (SSO) and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

KeycloakKeycloak

Open-source identity and access management

Starts at Free
Great value

Keycloak's pricing is exceptionally generous, being entirely free as an open-source solution.

Strengths

  • +Open source identity
  • +Self-hostable
  • +Feature rich
  • +No per-user cost
  • +Enterprise ready

Weaknesses

  • -Complex to set up
  • -Requires maintenance
  • -Learning curve
  • -Java-based
  • -UI dated

Key features

Identity managementSSOLDAPSocial loginAdmin consoleOpen source

Pricing: Passbolt vs Keycloak

PlanPassboltKeycloak
Tier 1
Free
Free
Free
Open Source
Tier 2
$4.86/month per user
Business
N/A
Tier 3
Contact us
Enterprise
N/A

Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Passbolt pricing and Keycloak pricing.

Who Should Use What?

On a budget?

Keycloak is free. Passbolt is freemium.

Go with: Keycloak

Want the highest-rated option?

Passbolt is rated 4.5/5. Keycloak has no ratings yet.

Go with: Passbolt

Value user reviews?

Passbolt: 49 reviews (4.5/5). Keycloak: no ratings yet.

Go with: Passbolt

3 Questions to Help You Decide

1

What's your budget?

Passbolt is freemium. Keycloak is free. Go with Keycloak if free matters most.

2

What's your use case?

Passbolt is a security tool. Keycloak is in identity & access. Pick the category that matches your needs.

3

How important are ratings?

Passbolt is rated 4.5/5; Keycloak has no ratings yet.

Key Takeaways

Keycloak

  • Completely free
  • Our pick for this comparison

Passbolt

  • Better fit for security

The Bottom Line

Keycloak wins this matchup. 1Password is our overall Security pick. LastPass is our free Security pick.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Passbolt or Keycloak better?

Keycloak is rated in our evaluation. Passbolt is freemium and Keycloak is free.

What are Passbolt and Keycloak used for?

Passbolt: Open-source, end-to-end encrypted password and secret management for teams of any size.. Keycloak: Open-source identity and access management.

What does Passbolt cost vs Keycloak?

Passbolt is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Keycloak is completely free. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.

Related Comparisons & Resources

Passbolt AlternativesKeycloak AlternativesPassbolt Full ReviewKeycloak Full Review
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