OpenBao vs Stashbase
OpenBao
openbao.orgStashbase
stashbase.devSide by side
| Figure | OpenBao | Stashbase |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 3 |
| Spec score · Secrets Management Tools | 8.0 (#12) | 7.3 (#26) |
| Encryption | OpenBao can encrypt and decrypt data without storing it, using centrally defined encryption parameters. | The security page states that Stashbase uses AES-256 multi-layer encryption and workspace isolation. |
| Integrations | The project lists integrations including Sigstore for artifact signing, StackHPC for OpenStack, and Percona for database encryption key management. | The documentation describes integrations for AWS Secrets Manager, Google Cloud Secret Manager, and Vercel. |
Plans
In their own words
OpenBao
OpenBao is a free, open-source system for storing and controlling access to secrets such as API tokens, encryption keys, passwords, and certificates. Management is available through a web UI, CLI, or HTTP API. Key/value secrets are encrypted before persistent storage, while dynamic credentials can be generated for Kubernetes and SQL databases and revoked when leases expire. Leases can be renewed, and individual secrets or groups can be revoked. OpenBao also encrypts and decrypts data without retaining it. Authentication methods include GitHub, LDAP, and AppRole, with token-based policies. Its storage barrier uses AES-256-GCM and verifies authentication tags during decryption. High-availability configurations are supported. Deployment options include packages, containers, binaries, source builds, and Helm; documentation covers Linux, macOS, FreeBSD, and Windows. Releases provide GPG signatures and SBOMs. Integrated Storage defaults to a 1 MiB maximum entry size, configurable with max_entry_size.
Stashbase
Stashbase manages application secrets across projects and environments, with scoped controls over how developers, services, and coding agents use credentials and other resources. Coding agents can run in native or Docker sandboxes with governed access to credentials, network, files, and MCP tools. The Agent Proxy keeps raw secret values outside the agent process, and policies can cover credentials, API requests, MCP tools, files, commands, and dependencies. Repository and secret scanning workflows help identify exposed or hard-coded secrets. Interfaces include a dashboard, CLI, SDKs, REST API, Agent Proxy, and MCP server. Documentation describes integrations for AWS Secrets Manager, Google Cloud Secret Manager, and Vercel. The security page states that Stashbase uses AES-256 multi-layer encryption and workspace isolation, and encrypts traffic in transit. It also supports secret rotation, CI/CD injection, and audit logs. Its local quickstart can run a file policy without an account, API key, or secrets; the desktop quickstart is for macOS or Linux. A free plan is listed, while paid pricing is noted from $25/user/mo.