Buttercup vs Passit
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Buttercup | Passit |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Status | Archived | Actively maintained |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,388 | ★ 200 |
| First released | 2015 | 2016 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | LastPass, 1Password |
What are Buttercup and Passit?
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
Passit
Passit is a self-hosted, open-source password manager with browser extensions. It encrypts credentials client-side before syncing them to your own Django-based server and supports group sharing.
- Client-side encrypted vault
- Browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox
- Group password sharing
- Self-hosted Django backend
Buttercup vs Passit: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Buttercup's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Passit is actively maintained. Buttercup is written in TypeScript, while Passit is built with Python. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Buttercup versus AGPL-3.0 for Passit. Buttercup is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Passit. Buttercup has the considerably larger community, at 4,388 GitHub stars versus 200. Passit 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 Passit if…
- Simple sharing model
- Open and auditable
Watch out for
- Limited recent development
Frequently asked questions
Is Buttercup or Passit 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 Passit free and open-source?
Yes. Buttercup is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Passit under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Buttercup and Passit with Docker?
Buttercup: check the project docs for container support. Passit: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Buttercup or Passit?
Buttercup has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Passit. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.