Buttercup vs Browserpass
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Buttercup
Cross-platform password manager with multiple storage backends
VS
Browserpass
Browser extension front-end for the pass manager
| Feature | Buttercup | Browserpass |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | ISC |
| Language | TypeScript | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,394 | ★ 1,009 |
| First released | 2015 | 2016 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | LastPass extension, 1Password extension |
Why pick each one
Choose Browserpass if…
- Released under the ISC license
- Active community (1k GitHub stars)
- Written in JavaScript
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Buttercup or Browserpass better?
Buttercup is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Browserpass if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Buttercup and Browserpass free and open-source?
Yes. Buttercup is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Browserpass under ISC. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Buttercup and Browserpass with Docker?
Buttercup: check the project docs for container support. Browserpass: check the project docs for container support.