Buttercup vs TeamPass
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Buttercup | TeamPass |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 15 · At risk | 85 · Excellent |
| Status | Archived | Actively maintained |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,388 | ★ 1,827 |
| First released | 2015 | 2010 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | LastPass, 1Password |
What are Buttercup and TeamPass?
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
TeamPass
TeamPass is a collaborative password manager that lets teams store and share credentials with granular access rights. It targets IT teams managing shared passwords. It is deployed via Docker or a PHP stack.
- Granular access control
- Folder-based credential organization
- LDAP integration
- Audit logging
Buttercup vs TeamPass: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Buttercup's repository is archived and no longer developed, while TeamPass is actively maintained. Buttercup is written in TypeScript, while TeamPass is built with PHP. Buttercup is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for TeamPass. TeamPass is the more established project (first released 2010), while Buttercup arrived in 2015. Buttercup has the considerably larger community, at 4,388 GitHub stars versus 1,827. TeamPass 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 TeamPass if…
- Good for shared team passwords
- Detailed permissions
- Mature
Watch out for
- Dated interface
- Configuration is involved
Frequently asked questions
Is Buttercup or TeamPass 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 TeamPass free and open-source?
Yes. Buttercup is licensed under GPL-3.0 and TeamPass under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Buttercup and TeamPass with Docker?
Buttercup: check the project docs for container support. TeamPass: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Buttercup or TeamPass?
Buttercup has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for TeamPass. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.