Buttercup vs KeePassXC
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
KeePassXC
Cross-platform offline KeePass password manager
| Feature | Buttercup | KeePassXC |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 15 · At risk | 94 · Excellent |
| Status | Archived | Actively maintained |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | binary, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,388 | ★ 28,926 |
| First released | 2015 | 2017 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | LastPass, 1Password, Dashlane |
What are Buttercup and KeePassXC?
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
KeePassXC
KeePassXC is a free, cross-platform desktop password manager that stores credentials in a local, encrypted KeePass database. It targets individuals who want fully offline password storage. It runs natively on desktop platforms.
- Local encrypted KeePass database
- Browser integration extension
- TOTP and passkey support
- No cloud dependency
Buttercup vs KeePassXC: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Buttercup's repository is archived and no longer developed, while KeePassXC is actively maintained. Buttercup is written in TypeScript, while KeePassXC is built with C++. Buttercup is the more established project (first released 2015), while KeePassXC arrived in 2017. KeePassXC has the considerably larger community, at 28,926 GitHub stars versus 4,388.
Why pick each one
Choose Buttercup if…
- Flexible storage options
- Clean modern UI
Watch out for
- Sync relies on third-party storage
Choose KeePassXC if…
- Fully offline and private
- No subscription
- Mature and trusted
Watch out for
- Sync is your responsibility
- No native mobile app
Frequently asked questions
Is Buttercup or KeePassXC better?
Neither is universally better. KeePassXC has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Buttercup and KeePassXC free and open-source?
Yes. Buttercup is licensed under GPL-3.0 and KeePassXC under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Buttercup and KeePassXC with Docker?
Buttercup: check the project docs for container support. KeePassXC: check the project docs for container support.