Buttercup vs Nextcloud Passwords
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Buttercup | Nextcloud Passwords |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 15 · At risk | 57 · Fair |
| Status | Archived | Actively maintained |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,388 | ★ 249 |
| First released | 2015 | 2018 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | LastPass, Bitwarden |
What are Buttercup and Nextcloud Passwords?
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
Nextcloud Passwords
Nextcloud Passwords is a feature-rich password manager that runs as an app inside a Nextcloud instance, with client-side encryption and browser extensions. It integrates with existing Nextcloud users and sharing.
- Client-side encryption
- Browser extensions
- Password sharing
- Security audits
Buttercup vs Nextcloud Passwords: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Buttercup's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Nextcloud Passwords is actively maintained. Buttercup is written in TypeScript, while Nextcloud Passwords is built with PHP. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Buttercup versus AGPL-3.0 for Nextcloud Passwords. Buttercup is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Nextcloud Passwords. Buttercup is the more established project (first released 2015), while Nextcloud Passwords arrived in 2018. Buttercup has the considerably larger community, at 4,388 GitHub stars versus 249. Nextcloud Passwords 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 Nextcloud Passwords if…
- Integrates with Nextcloud
- Strong feature set
Watch out for
- Requires Nextcloud
- Tied to PHP stack
Frequently asked questions
Is Buttercup or Nextcloud Passwords 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 Nextcloud Passwords free and open-source?
Yes. Buttercup is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Nextcloud Passwords under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Buttercup and Nextcloud Passwords with Docker?
Buttercup: check the project docs for container support. Nextcloud Passwords: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Buttercup or Nextcloud Passwords?
Buttercup has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Nextcloud Passwords. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.