pass

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What pass is

pass is a free password manager that stores each entry in a GPG-encrypted file beneath ~/.password-store. Folders provide an organization structure chosen by the user, while decrypted files remain plain text and can hold usernames, URLs, PINs or other metadata. Its command-line tool adds, edits, generates, retrieves and removes passwords. Generation uses /dev/urandom and can omit non-alphanumeric characters. pass can copy a password to the clipboard and restore the previous clipboard after 45 seconds by default. A store kept as a Git repository can synchronize changes with git push and git pull. Multiple GPG keys support team use, and separate folders can use different keys. Community extensions add importing, updating, OTP tokens and Windows clipboard support. Community clients are listed for Android, iOS, Windows and macOS, with Firefox and Chrome plugins and GUI clients. Installation instructions cover major Linux distributions, macOS through Homebrew and FreeBSD. Version 1.7.4 is identified as the latest release, and the project uses GPLv2 or later.

Who it suits

It suits users comfortable with command-line password management, GPG encryption and optional Git synchronization. Teams can assign multiple keys or different keys to separate folders.

What it does well

Free password manager
Stores entries in GPG-encrypted files
Supports Git push and pull synchronization
Allows multiple GPG keys
Community clients cover major platforms

What to know first

Primary tool is command-line based
Organization scheme is user-defined
Community clients and extensions vary by platform

Verdict

pass offers a file-based password store with encryption, flexible metadata and Git synchronization. Its broad community client list extends access beyond the command line, while setup assumes familiarity with GPG and file organization.

Facts from pass's own pages

Clients: The community list includes Android and iOS apps, a Windows client, browser plugins, and GUI clients. · passwordstore.org, 12 Oct 2026
Clipboard: It can copy a password to the clipboard and restore the clipboard after 45 seconds by default. · git.zx2c4.com, 12 Oct 2026
Community clients: The site lists community clients for Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS, plus Firefox and Chrome extensions. · passwordstore.org, 12 Oct 2026
Downloads: The site lists packages for Ubuntu/Debian, Fedora/RHEL, openSUSE, Gentoo, Arch, macOS via Homebrew, and FreeBSD. · passwordstore.org, 12 Oct 2026
Extensions: Community extensions include password importing, password updating, OTP tokens, and a Windows clipboard plugin. · passwordstore.org, 12 Oct 2026
Flexible data: Entries are plain text after decryption and can contain arbitrary data, including usernames, URLs, PINs, and metadata. · passwordstore.org, 12 Oct 2026
Free plan: Yes · passwordstore.org, 16 Sept 2026
Git synchronization: When the password store is a Git repository, changes are committed and users can synchronize with Git push and pull. · passwordstore.org, 12 Oct 2026
License: The project is licensed under GPLv2+. · passwordstore.org, 12 Oct 2026
License and author: The site credits Jason A. Donenfeld as the author and states that pass is licensed under GPLv2 or later. · passwordstore.org, 12 Oct 2026
Linux availability: The download page lists installation instructions for Ubuntu/Debian, Fedora/RHEL, openSUSE, Gentoo, and Arch. · passwordstore.org, 12 Oct 2026
Maintainer: The site credits Jason A. Donenfeld as the author and says contributions can be sent as Git-formatted patches via the mailing list. · passwordstore.org, 12 Oct 2026
Organization: Entries are flat text files that can contain arbitrary data, and users choose their own organization scheme. · passwordstore.org, 12 Oct 2026
Other downloads: The site also lists installation through Homebrew on Macintosh, FreeBSD packages, a tarball, and the Git repository. · passwordstore.org, 12 Oct 2026
Password actions: The command provides operations to add, remove, edit, generate, and retrieve passwords. · git.zx2c4.com, 12 Oct 2026
Password generation: It generates passwords using /dev/urandom and can omit non-alphanumeric characters. · git.zx2c4.com, 12 Oct 2026
Password management: The command-line tool can add, edit, generate, retrieve, and remove passwords. · passwordstore.org, 12 Oct 2026
Password storage: Each password is stored in a GPG-encrypted file under ~/.password-store, organized in folders named for websites or resources. · passwordstore.org, 12 Oct 2026
Release: The site identifies version 1.7.4 as the latest version. · passwordstore.org, 12 Oct 2026
Secure sharing: Yes · passwordstore.org, 16 Sept 2026
Support and community: The site recommends contributing through the mailing list with Git-formatted patches and says discussion is available on Libera.Chat in #pass. · passwordstore.org, 12 Oct 2026
Supported platforms: Linux,macOS · passwordstore.org, 16 Sept 2026
Synchronization: When the store is a Git repository, pass can synchronize it using git push and git pull. · passwordstore.org, 12 Oct 2026
Team keys: Multiple GPG keys can be specified, and different folders can use different keys. · passwordstore.org, 12 Oct 2026

Where pass stands on Freedom251

Password Managers#62 of 104