Buttercup vs Clipperz
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Buttercup | Clipperz |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 15 · At risk | 15 · At risk |
| Status | Archived | Actively maintained |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,388 | ★ 750 |
| First released | 2015 | 2006 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | 1Password, LastPass |
What are Buttercup and Clipperz?
Buttercup
Buttercup is a free, open-source password manager available for desktop, mobile and browsers. Vaults are stored in an encrypted format and can sync through Dropbox, WebDAV, Google Drive or local files.
- Encrypted vaults with multiple backends
- WebDAV and cloud storage sync
- Browser extensions for autofill
- Cross-platform desktop and mobile apps
Clipperz
Clipperz is an open-source, zero-knowledge web password manager. All encryption happens in the browser before data reaches the server, so the host never sees plaintext credentials.
- Zero-knowledge browser encryption
- No plaintext ever sent to server
- Direct login links to sites
- Exportable encrypted data
Buttercup vs Clipperz: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Buttercup's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Clipperz is actively maintained. Buttercup is written in TypeScript, while Clipperz is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Buttercup versus AGPL-3.0 for Clipperz. Clipperz is the more established project (first released 2006), while Buttercup arrived in 2015. Buttercup has the considerably larger community, at 4,388 GitHub stars versus 750.
Why pick each one
Choose Buttercup if…
- Flexible storage options
- Clean modern UI
Watch out for
- Sync relies on third-party storage
Choose Clipperz if…
- True zero-knowledge design
- Runs in any browser
Watch out for
- Project is largely dormant
Frequently asked questions
Is Buttercup or Clipperz better?
Buttercup is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Buttercup if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Buttercup and Clipperz free and open-source?
Yes. Buttercup is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Clipperz under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Buttercup and Clipperz with Docker?
Buttercup: check the project docs for container support. Clipperz: check the project docs for container support.