Clipperz vs Psono Client
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Clipperz | Psono Client |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 15 · At risk | 62 · Good |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 750 | ★ 26 |
| First released | 2006 | 2017 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | LastPass, 1Password |
What are Clipperz and Psono Client?
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
Psono Client
Psono Client is the open-source web and browser-extension client for the Psono password manager. It encrypts secrets locally and connects to a self-hosted Psono server for team password sharing.
- Client-side encryption
- Browser extension
- Team password sharing
- Connects to Psono server
Clipperz vs Psono Client: key differences
Both projects are written in JavaScript. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Clipperz versus Apache-2.0 for Psono Client. Clipperz is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Psono Client. Clipperz is the more established project (first released 2006), while Psono Client arrived in 2017. Clipperz has the considerably larger community, at 750 GitHub stars versus 26. Psono Client 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 Psono Client if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in JavaScript
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Clipperz or Psono Client 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 Psono Client free and open-source?
Yes. Clipperz is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Psono Client under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Clipperz and Psono Client with Docker?
Clipperz: check the project docs for container support. Psono Client: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Clipperz or Psono Client?
Clipperz has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Psono Client. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.