Buttercup vs Padloc
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Buttercup
Cross-platform password manager with multiple storage backends
VS
Padloc
Modern open-source password manager
| Feature | Buttercup | Padloc |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,394 | ★ 2,924 |
| First released | 2015 | 2016 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | 1Password, LastPass |
Why pick each one
Frequently asked questions
Is Buttercup or Padloc better?
Buttercup is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Padloc if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Buttercup and Padloc free and open-source?
Yes. Buttercup is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Padloc under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Buttercup and Padloc with Docker?
Buttercup: check the project docs for container support. Padloc: yes.