Bastillion vs JumpServer
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted remote access & vpn options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
JumpServer
Open-source bastion host and PAM platform
| Feature | Bastillion | JumpServer |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 88 · Excellent | 98 · Excellent |
| Category | Remote Access & VPN | Remote Access & VPN |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Java | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 4,096 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker, kubernetes |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,551 | ★ 31,596 |
| First released | 2013 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Teleport, Termius | CyberArk, Teleport |
What are Bastillion and JumpServer?
Bastillion
Bastillion is an open-source, web-based SSH console that centrally manages access to systems and distributes SSH keys. It is self-hosted to provide audited, browser-based administrative access to servers.
- Web SSH console
- SSH key distribution
- Session auditing
- Multi-user access control
JumpServer
JumpServer is an open-source privileged access management bastion host that audits and controls access to servers, databases, and cloud resources. It supports SSH, RDP, VNC, and more.
- Privileged access management
- Session auditing and recording
- Multi-protocol support
- Web-based access
Bastillion vs JumpServer: key differences
Bastillion is written in Java, while JumpServer is built with Python. Bastillion is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 4,096 MB for JumpServer. JumpServer has the considerably larger community, at 31,596 GitHub stars versus 3,551.
Why pick each one
Choose Bastillion if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (3.6k GitHub stars)
- Written in Java
Choose JumpServer if…
- Broad protocol support
- Full session auditing
- LDAP and SSO ready
Watch out for
- Heavy multi-component stack
- Docs partly in Chinese
Frequently asked questions
Is Bastillion or JumpServer better?
Neither is universally better. JumpServer has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Bastillion and JumpServer free and open-source?
Yes. Bastillion is licensed under GPL-3.0 and JumpServer under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Bastillion and JumpServer with Docker?
Bastillion: yes. JumpServer: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Bastillion or JumpServer?
Bastillion has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 4,096 MB for JumpServer. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.