pass

The standard Unix password manager: GPG-encrypted files in a folder, managed from the command line.

Verified facts: 3 of 3
Alternatives ranked: 5
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About pass

pass, from the ZX2C4 project, follows the Unix philosophy: each password is a GPG-encrypted file named after the site or account it belongs to, stored in an ordinary directory tree. A small shell script lets you add, generate, edit and copy passwords to the clipboard, and the whole store can be tracked with Git, so syncing and history come from tools you already use. Because the format is so simple, a community has built clients and extensions around it, including Android and iOS apps, browser extensions, dmenu and rofi front-ends and OTP plugins. It is free and open source under the GPL. You will need to be comfortable with GPG keys and the terminal. It suits developers and Linux users who want a transparent, scriptable password store.

Best for: Developers and Linux users who want a simple, scriptable store built on GPG and Git.

What works

Plain files and standard tools, easy to script
Git provides sync and full history
Many community clients and extensions

Why people leave

Requires GPG key management and terminal comfort
File names reveal which accounts you have
Mobile and browser support rely on third-party apps

Top pass alternatives

See all 5

1
gopass
Compatible with pass, adding team sharing and more features.
66.5
2
Bitwarden
Hosted sync, polished apps and a CLI, still open source.
58.3
3
KeePassXC
Local encrypted vault with a desktop GUI and a CLI.
57.8
4
1Password
Commercial manager with a strong developer CLI and SSH agent.
55.9
5
Infisical
Better fit for application secrets and environment variables.
55.3

Why people left pass

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

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pass: common questions

Is pass free?

Yes. pass is free, open-source software.

Is pass open source?

Yes.

What platforms does pass run on?

pass is available for Linux and macOS.

What are the best alternatives to pass?

The highest-ranked pass alternatives right now are gopass, Bitwarden and KeePassXC. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 5 pass alternatives

pass facts

3 of 3 verified

Storage: GPG-encrypted files; Checked Oct 25, 2026passwordstore.org(opens source in a new tab); “With pass , each password lives inside of a gpg encrypted file”
Version control: Git; Checked Oct 25, 2026passwordstore.org(opens source in a new tab); “It's capable of temporarily putting passwords on your clipboard and tracking password changes using git .”
Interface: Command line; Checked Oct 25, 2026passwordstore.org(opens source in a new tab); “You can edit the password store using ordinary unix shell commands alongside the pass command.”