Clipperz vs Passit
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Clipperz | Passit |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 750 | ★ 200 |
| First released | 2006 | 2016 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | LastPass, 1Password |
What are Clipperz and Passit?
Clipperz
Clipperz is an open-source, zero-knowledge web password manager. All encryption happens in the browser before data reaches the server, so the host never sees plaintext credentials.
- Zero-knowledge browser encryption
- No plaintext ever sent to server
- Direct login links to sites
- Exportable encrypted data
Passit
Passit is a self-hosted, open-source password manager with browser extensions. It encrypts credentials client-side before syncing them to your own Django-based server and supports group sharing.
- Client-side encrypted vault
- Browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox
- Group password sharing
- Self-hosted Django backend
Clipperz vs Passit: key differences
Clipperz is written in JavaScript, while Passit is built with Python. Clipperz is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Passit. Clipperz is the more established project (first released 2006), while Passit arrived in 2016. Clipperz has the considerably larger community, at 750 GitHub stars versus 200. Passit lists first-class Docker deployment; Clipperz does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Clipperz if…
- True zero-knowledge design
- Runs in any browser
Watch out for
- Project is largely dormant
Choose Passit if…
- Simple sharing model
- Open and auditable
Watch out for
- Limited recent development
Frequently asked questions
Is Clipperz or Passit better?
Neither is universally better. Clipperz has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Clipperz and Passit free and open-source?
Yes. Clipperz is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Passit under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Clipperz and Passit with Docker?
Clipperz: check the project docs for container support. Passit: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Clipperz or Passit?
Clipperz has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Passit. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.