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Cybersecurity · head to head

Passbolt vs Semantic Kernel

Passbolt logo

Passbolt

Cybersecurity

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Semantic Kernel logo

Semantic Kernel

Machine Learning

Model-agnostic SDK for AI orchestration

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Passbolt pro Edition requires a minimum of 10 users, making it costlier for very small teams.; Semantic Kernel steep learning curve for advanced features
  • They diverge on capability: Passbolt covers Password sharing and folders, Semantic Kernel covers Multi-model support.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Passbolt and Semantic Kernel actually diverge.

Attributes where Passbolt and Semantic Kernel differ
AttributePassboltSemantic Kernel
Pricing modelopen-sourceOpen source, no pricing
Platformsweb, windows, mac, linux, apiPython, .NET, Java
CategoryCybersecurityMachine Learning

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Passbolt

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

Only in Semantic Kernel

  • Multi-model support
  • Agent framework
  • Multi-agent systems
  • Plugin ecosystem
  • Vector database integration
  • Multimodal support
  • Local model support
  • Enterprise observability

What people use each for

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

Passbolt

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

Semantic Kernel

  • Building enterprise AI applications with LLM integrationnot Passbolt
  • Creating multi-agent systems for complex workflowsnot Passbolt
  • Developing AI-powered chatbots and assistantsnot Passbolt
  • Implementing RAG systems with vector databasesnot Passbolt

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Semantic Kernel

  • Steep learning curve for advanced features
  • Documentation focuses on Azure cloud services
  • Configuration complexity for multi-model scenarios
  • Requires understanding of AI/LLM concepts

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Semantic Kernel

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • MIT license
    • Full framework access
    • All language SDKs

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Semantic Kernel if

  • You need multi-model support.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Python, .NET, Java.
  • You also want agent framework.
Semantic Kernel review

Questions people ask

Is Passbolt or Semantic Kernel better?
Neither clearly leads. Passbolt starts at Free and Semantic Kernel at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Passbolt or Semantic Kernel?
Passbolt starts at Free and Semantic Kernel at Free.
Does Passbolt or Semantic Kernel run on more platforms?
Passbolt runs on web, windows, mac, linux, api. Semantic Kernel runs on Python, .NET, Java.
Can I use Passbolt for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Passbolt best used for?
Passbolt is most often used for self-hosting a team password manager for data sovereignty, provisioning vault access from an existing ldap/ad directory, sharing credentials across engineering or it teams via folders and groups, automating credential retrieval through the cli or open api. Of those, self-hosting a team password manager for data sovereignty and provisioning vault access from an existing ldap/ad directory are not what Semantic Kernel is typically brought in for.
What can Passbolt do that Semantic Kernel cannot?
Passbolt covers Password sharing and folders, Groups and role-based access, Browser extensions and CLI, Open API. Semantic Kernel covers Multi-model support, Agent framework, Multi-agent systems, Plugin ecosystem.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Semantic Kernel: What LLM providers does Semantic Kernel support?

Semantic Kernel supports OpenAI, Azure OpenAI, Hugging Face, Nvidia, and other providers through extensible model implementations.

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
Semantic Kernel: Can I run Semantic Kernel locally?

Yes. Semantic Kernel supports local models through Ollama, LMStudio, and ONNX for complete data control and offline operation.

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
Semantic Kernel: Is Semantic Kernel free?

Yes. Semantic Kernel is MIT-licensed open source and completely free. You only pay for external LLM APIs you use.

Source
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