Buttercup vs Passky Server
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Buttercup | Passky Server |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 15 · At risk | 32 · At risk |
| Status | Archived | Actively maintained |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,388 | ★ 244 |
| First released | 2015 | 2021 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | LastPass, Bitwarden |
What are Buttercup and Passky Server?
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
Passky Server
Passky is a simple and lightweight self-hostable password manager. The server component provides an encrypted backend that syncs with Passky web, desktop and mobile clients.
- Encrypted password sync server
- Lightweight PHP backend
- Web, desktop and mobile clients
- Two-factor authentication support
Buttercup vs Passky Server: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Buttercup's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Passky Server is actively maintained. Buttercup is written in TypeScript, while Passky Server is built with PHP. Buttercup is the more established project (first released 2015), while Passky Server arrived in 2021. Buttercup has the considerably larger community, at 4,388 GitHub stars versus 244. Passky Server 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 Passky Server if…
- Very easy to set up
- Minimal footprint
Watch out for
- Smaller community and ecosystem
Frequently asked questions
Is Buttercup or Passky Server better?
Neither is universally better. Buttercup has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Buttercup and Passky Server free and open-source?
Yes. Buttercup is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Passky Server under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Buttercup and Passky Server with Docker?
Buttercup: check the project docs for container support. Passky Server: yes.