Buttercup vs Passbolt
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Passbolt
Open-source password manager built for teams
| Feature | Buttercup | Passbolt |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 15 · At risk | 91 · Excellent |
| Status | Archived | Actively maintained |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,388 | ★ 6,136 |
| First released | 2015 | 2017 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | 1Password, LastPass |
What are Buttercup and Passbolt?
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
Passbolt
Passbolt is an open-source password manager designed for teams, built around end-to-end encryption and OpenPGP. It targets organizations sharing credentials securely. It is deployed via Docker or packages.
- OpenPGP-based encryption
- Team-oriented sharing and roles
- Browser extension and apps
- Audit logs
Buttercup vs Passbolt: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Buttercup's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Passbolt is actively maintained. Buttercup is written in TypeScript, while Passbolt is built with PHP. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Buttercup versus AGPL-3.0 for Passbolt. Buttercup is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Passbolt. Buttercup is the more established project (first released 2015), while Passbolt arrived in 2017. Passbolt lists first-class Docker deployment; Buttercup does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Buttercup if…
- Flexible storage options
- Clean modern UI
Watch out for
- Sync relies on third-party storage
Choose Passbolt if…
- Built for team sharing
- Strong encryption model
- Good admin controls
Watch out for
- Setup is involved
- Some features in paid tiers
Frequently asked questions
Is Buttercup or Passbolt better?
Neither is universally better. Passbolt has the larger community, while Buttercup is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Buttercup and Passbolt free and open-source?
Yes. Buttercup is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Passbolt under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Buttercup and Passbolt with Docker?
Buttercup: check the project docs for container support. Passbolt: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Buttercup or Passbolt?
Buttercup has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Passbolt. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.