Clipperz vs Rubywarden
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Clipperz | Rubywarden |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 15 · At risk | 11 · At risk |
| Status | Actively maintained | Archived |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | JavaScript | Ruby |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 750 | ★ 587 |
| First released | 2006 | 2017 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | Bitwarden, 1Password |
What are Clipperz and Rubywarden?
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
Rubywarden
Rubywarden is an unofficial, self-hosted server that implements the Bitwarden API in Ruby, allowing Bitwarden clients to sync against a private backend. It is a lightweight alternative server for personal and small deployments.
- Bitwarden-compatible API
- Works with official clients
- Lightweight Ruby stack
- SQLite storage
Clipperz vs Rubywarden: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Rubywarden's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Clipperz is actively maintained. Clipperz is written in JavaScript, while Rubywarden is built with Ruby. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Clipperz versus MIT for Rubywarden. Clipperz is the more established project (first released 2006), while Rubywarden arrived in 2017.
Why pick each one
Choose Clipperz if…
- True zero-knowledge design
- Runs in any browser
Watch out for
- Project is largely dormant
Choose Rubywarden if…
- Simple personal deployment
- Compatible with Bitwarden apps
Watch out for
- Explicitly experimental
- Not recommended for large teams
Frequently asked questions
Is Clipperz or Rubywarden 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 Rubywarden free and open-source?
Yes. Clipperz is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Rubywarden under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Clipperz and Rubywarden with Docker?
Clipperz: check the project docs for container support. Rubywarden: check the project docs for container support.