Clipperz 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 | Clipperz | Nextcloud Passwords |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 15 · At risk | 57 · Fair |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 750 | ★ 249 |
| First released | 2006 | 2018 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | LastPass, Bitwarden |
What are Clipperz and Nextcloud Passwords?
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
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
Clipperz vs Nextcloud Passwords: key differences
Clipperz is written in JavaScript, while Nextcloud Passwords is built with PHP. Clipperz is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Nextcloud Passwords. Clipperz is the more established project (first released 2006), while Nextcloud Passwords arrived in 2018. Clipperz has the considerably larger community, at 750 GitHub stars versus 249. Nextcloud Passwords 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 Nextcloud Passwords if…
- Integrates with Nextcloud
- Strong feature set
Watch out for
- Requires Nextcloud
- Tied to PHP stack
Frequently asked questions
Is Clipperz or Nextcloud Passwords better?
Neither is universally better. Clipperz has the larger community, while Nextcloud Passwords is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Clipperz and Nextcloud Passwords free and open-source?
Yes. Clipperz is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Nextcloud Passwords under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Clipperz and Nextcloud Passwords with Docker?
Clipperz: check the project docs for container support. Nextcloud Passwords: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Clipperz or Nextcloud Passwords?
Clipperz 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.