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Government · head to head

DocuWare vs Passbolt

DocuWare logo

DocuWare

Government

Document Management and Workflow Automation

From
On request
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite
Passbolt logo

Passbolt

Cybersecurity

Open-source password manager for teams with self-hosted or cloud deployment

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Passbolt has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: DocuWare complex setup requiring significant IT effort before full functionality is achieved; Passbolt pro Edition requires a minimum of 10 users, making it costlier for very small teams.
  • They diverge on capability: DocuWare covers Document Storage, Passbolt covers Password sharing and folders.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which DocuWare and Passbolt actually diverge.

Attributes where DocuWare and Passbolt differ
AttributeDocuWarePassbolt
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelUnknownopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Androidweb, windows, mac, linux, api
CategoryGovernmentCybersecurity
Founded1988Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in DocuWare

  • Document Storage
  • Intelligent Indexing
  • Workflow Automation
  • Mobile Access
  • Electronic Signatures
  • Microsoft 365
  • SAP
  • QuickBooks

Only in Passbolt

  • Password sharing and folders
  • Groups and role-based access
  • Browser extensions and CLI
  • Open API
  • LDAP provisioning and SSO
  • Activity audit log

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

DocuWare

  • Citizen Servicesnot Passbolt
  • Records Managementnot Passbolt
  • Public Safetynot Passbolt
  • Civic Engagementnot Passbolt

Passbolt

  • Self-hosting a team password manager for data sovereigntynot DocuWare
  • Provisioning vault access from an existing LDAP/AD directorynot DocuWare
  • Sharing credentials across engineering or IT teams via folders and groupsnot DocuWare
  • Automating credential retrieval through the CLI or open APInot DocuWare

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

DocuWare

  • Complex setup requiring significant IT effort before full functionality is achieved
  • Limited user interface customization restricting tailored workflows and branding
  • Performance slowdowns when processing large document volumes or handling many simultaneous users
  • Search requires exact matches and is case-sensitive, limiting usability
  • Limited offline access with mobile app offering reduced functionality
  • Integration challenges with major ERP platforms
  • Steep initial investment, particularly for migrating older systems

Passbolt

  • Pro Edition requires a minimum of 10 users, making it costlier for very small teams.
  • Community Edition lacks SSO and LDAP provisioning, which many organizations need for onboarding at scale.
  • Self-hosting the Community Edition requires infrastructure and maintenance effort compared to fully managed competitors.
  • Enterprise-tier support and HA consulting require custom, quote-based pricing rather than transparent rates.

Pricing, plan by plan

DocuWare

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the DocuWare review.

Passbolt

Free
  • Community EditionFree
    • Unlimited users
    • Password sharing and folders
    • Role-based access control
  • Pro Edition$4.9/month
    • Minimum 10 users, billed annually
    • LDAP/AD provisioning
    • Single sign-on
  • Enterprise Edition$undefined/month
    • High availability and disaster recovery consulting
    • White-glove migration
    • Custom feature development

Which should you pick?

Choose DocuWare if

  • You need document storage.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want intelligent indexing.
DocuWare review

Choose Passbolt if

  • You need password sharing and folders.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, windows, mac, linux, api.
  • You also want groups and role-based access.
Passbolt review

Questions people ask

Is DocuWare or Passbolt better?
Neither clearly leads. DocuWare starts at On request and Passbolt at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, DocuWare or Passbolt?
Passbolt has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for DocuWare and Free for Passbolt.
Does DocuWare or Passbolt run on more platforms?
DocuWare runs on Web, iOS, Android. Passbolt runs on web, windows, mac, linux, api.
Can I use Passbolt for free?
Yes. Passbolt has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. DocuWare starts at On request.
What is DocuWare best used for?
DocuWare is most often used for citizen services, records management, public safety, civic engagement. Of those, citizen services and records management are not what Passbolt is typically brought in for.
What can DocuWare do that Passbolt cannot?
DocuWare covers Document Storage, Intelligent Indexing, Workflow Automation, Mobile Access. Passbolt covers Password sharing and folders, Groups and role-based access, Browser extensions and CLI, Open API.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

DocuWare: Is DocuWare available as cloud or on-premises?

DocuWare is available as both a cloud-based SaaS solution and as an on-premises deployment option.

Source
Passbolt: Is Passbolt free to use?

Yes. The Community Edition is free forever with unlimited users, including password sharing, folders, groups, role-based access, browser extensions, a CLI, and an open API.

Source
DocuWare: What platforms does DocuWare support?

DocuWare is available as a web-based platform accessible via browser, with mobile apps available on iOS and Android.

Source
Passbolt: What does the Pro Edition cost and add?

Pro Edition costs $4.90 per user per month billed annually, with a 10-user minimum, and adds LDAP/AD provisioning, single sign-on, account recovery escrow, activity audit logs, and next-business-day support.

Source
DocuWare: Does DocuWare offer offline access?

DocuWare has limited offline access capabilities. The mobile app offers fewer features compared to the desktop version.

Source
Passbolt: What license is Passbolt distributed under?

All Passbolt editions, including Pro and Enterprise, are distributed under the AGPL v3 open-source license.

Source
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