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Comparison · Collab
Passbolt vs KACE
A side-by-side editorial comparison of Passbolt and KACE — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.
Passbolt vs KACE: at a glance
| Feature | Passbolt | KACE |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Collab | Collab |
| Velocity score | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Sparks · 30d | 0 | 0 |
| Top themes | password-manager, shared-permissions, browser-extensions, editions | endpoint management, on-prem appliance, mdm, patch management |
| Last editorial update | 19h ago | 34m ago |
| Website | Visit → | — |
What is Passbolt?
Passbolt made shared-resource permissions explicit, then spent a release calming the prompt.
The 5.14 line dominates the window. 5.14.0 introduced explicit confirmation dialogs before creating items in shared folders or editing shared resources, and fixed a security issue in MFA policy enforcement. 5.14.3 then narrowed that dialog, which had been firing on metadata-only edits such as renaming, and now appears only when a secret actually changes. Behind those, 5.13 added in-app switching between Community and Pro editions, and 5.12 took the Safari extension out of beta and added a PIN code resource type.
What is KACE?
KACE's real news lands in two numbered releases a quarter; the rest of the feed is fix notices
KACE runs two product lines through one changelog: the on-prem Systems Management Appliance, which ships numbered releases every few months, and KACE Cloud, which deploys continuously and reports each deploy as a fix notice. SMA 15.1 in July was the substantive release of the period, adding a native Windows ARM64 agent, Windows 11 24H2 feature-update support, HTTPS-only appliance access, and Microsoft 365 OAuth for outbound mail — all of it tracking Microsoft platform changes rather than opening new ground. Everything since has been Cloud maintenance, most of it in Apple and Android device-enrollment paths, plus the monthly Patch Tuesday catalog notice.
Passbolt vs KACE: editorial side-by-side
Passbolt
5.0COLLAB
Passbolt made shared-resource permissions explicit, then spent a release calming the prompt.
◆ Current state
The 5.14 line dominates the window. 5.14.0 introduced explicit confirmation dialogs before creating items in shared folders or editing shared resources, and fixed a security issue in MFA policy enforcement. 5.14.3 then narrowed that dialog, which had been firing on metadata-only edits such as renaming, and now appears only when a secret actually changes. Behind those, 5.13 added in-app switching between Community and Pro editions, and 5.12 took the Safari extension out of beta and added a PIN code resource type.
◆ Where it's heading
The recent arc is about making shared state legible before it changes, then tuning that intervention so it does not fire on edits that carry no risk — a confirmation prompt is only useful while users still read it. Around that thread the work is reach and packaging: Safari at parity with the other browsers, editions switchable without a manual migration, new resource types added one at a time. This is a product filling in the operational edges of team password management rather than moving into new territory.
◆ Prediction
The 5.14.3 correction suggests further tuning of which edit paths trigger the confirmation dialog as more cases are reported. Beyond that, the entries point to continued resource-type additions in the manner of the PIN code type.
KACE
5.0COLLAB
KACE's real news lands in two numbered releases a quarter; the rest of the feed is fix notices
◆ Current state
KACE runs two product lines through one changelog: the on-prem Systems Management Appliance, which ships numbered releases every few months, and KACE Cloud, which deploys continuously and reports each deploy as a fix notice. SMA 15.1 in July was the substantive release of the period, adding a native Windows ARM64 agent, Windows 11 24H2 feature-update support, HTTPS-only appliance access, and Microsoft 365 OAuth for outbound mail — all of it tracking Microsoft platform changes rather than opening new ground. Everything since has been Cloud maintenance, most of it in Apple and Android device-enrollment paths, plus the monthly Patch Tuesday catalog notice.
◆ Where it's heading
The on-prem line is being modernized to track Microsoft's platform changes rather than extended into new territory — ARM64 coverage, UUP-based feature updates, OAuth mail, and mandatory TLS are all catch-up moves against dependencies KACE does not control. Cloud is where the volume is, and its fix stream reads as a product still stabilizing its MDM enrollment surface: Apple DEP profiles, restriction sets, WiFi payloads, and Android AMAPI have each needed correction in the last month. The split is clear enough that the two lines could be read as different maturity stages of the same portfolio.
◆ Prediction
Expect the next SMA numbered release to continue the Microsoft-alignment work rather than open a new capability area, with Cloud fix notices continuing at roughly weekly cadence in between. The entries give no indication of when that release lands.
Alternatives to Passbolt and KACE
Other Collab products tracked by Sparkpulse, ranked by recent ship velocity. Each card links to a full editorial trajectory and lets you pivot into a head-to-head comparison with either Passbolt or KACE.
Teable
Teable is hardening the paid edges of its open-core Airtable alternative.
Simpplr
Simpplr's feed is research-backed internal-comms commentary, with no product releases in it.
Calibre-Web
A self-hosted ebook library growing one reader feature and one format at a time.
Elgg
A social-networking engine in careful maintenance across two supported branches.
NetNewsWire
NetNewsWire's release notes have become a log of other people's rate limits.
See all Passbolt alternatives → · See all KACE alternatives →
Recent activity from Passbolt and KACE
Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.
- 1d agoPassbolt5.14.3 limits the permission dialog to actual secret changes
- 1d agoKACEKACE Cloud: Fixed issues with Apple WiFi and Restriction Set configurations
- 9d agoKACESMA Agent 15.1.46 fixes .NET dependency on Windows Server 2016/2019
- 10d agoPassbolt5.14 adds confirmation prompts before shared-resource edits
- 20d agoKACEKACE Cloud: Fixed issues with Apple "Not Now" responses, DEP profiles, web app icons and Android AMAPI enrollments
- 22d agoKACEJuly 2026 Microsoft Patch Tuesday
- 23d agoKACEKACE Cloud: Fixed issue with MFA configuration on new tenants
- 25d agoKACESMA 15.1 adds Windows ARM64 agent and enforces HTTPS-only access
- 1mo agoPassbolt5.13 adds in-app switching between Community and Pro
- 2mo agoPassbolt5.12 makes the Safari extension generally available
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Passbolt and KACE?
They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. Passbolt and KACE are shipping at a similar cadence (velocity 5.0 vs 5.0, both within Sparkpulse's "active" band). See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.
Is Passbolt better than KACE?
Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. Passbolt and KACE are shipping at a similar cadence (velocity 5.0 vs 5.0, both within Sparkpulse's "active" band). For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other Collab products to evaluate alongside.
What are the best alternatives to Passbolt?
Top Passbolt alternatives in Collab are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Passbolt alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/passbolt for the full list with editorial commentary on each.
What are the best alternatives to KACE?
Top KACE alternatives in Collab are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "KACE alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/kace for the full list with editorial commentary on each.