Buttercup vs Psono
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Buttercup | Psono |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Status | Archived | Actively maintained |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,388 | ★ 700 |
| First released | 2015 | 2017 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | 1Password, LastPass |
What are Buttercup and Psono?
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
Psono
Psono is a self-hosted, open-source password manager focused on secure secret sharing for teams and enterprises. It targets organizations needing granular credential management. It is deployed via Docker.
- Granular secret sharing
- Client-side encryption
- LDAP and SAML support
- Browser extensions and apps
Buttercup vs Psono: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Buttercup's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Psono is actively maintained. Buttercup is written in TypeScript, while Psono is built with Python. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Buttercup versus Apache-2.0 for Psono. Buttercup is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Psono. Buttercup is the more established project (first released 2015), while Psono arrived in 2017. Buttercup has the considerably larger community, at 4,388 GitHub stars versus 700. Psono 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 Psono if…
- Strong sharing controls
- Enterprise auth support
- Open source
Watch out for
- Smaller community
- Setup takes effort
Frequently asked questions
Is Buttercup or Psono 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 Psono free and open-source?
Yes. Buttercup is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Psono under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Buttercup and Psono with Docker?
Buttercup: check the project docs for container support. Psono: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Buttercup or Psono?
Buttercup has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Psono. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.