Clipperz vs One-Time Secret
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Clipperz | One-Time Secret |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 15 · At risk | 87 · Excellent |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | JavaScript | Ruby |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 750 | ★ 2,942 |
| First released | 2006 | 2012 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | 1Password, Doppler |
What are Clipperz and One-Time Secret?
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
One-Time Secret
One-Time Secret is an open-source service for sharing passwords and other sensitive information through links that can only be viewed once. After the secret is read or expires, it is permanently deleted.
- Self-destructing secret links
- Optional passphrase protection
- Configurable expiration times
- Simple REST API
Clipperz vs One-Time Secret: key differences
Clipperz is written in JavaScript, while One-Time Secret is built with Ruby. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Clipperz versus MIT for One-Time Secret. Clipperz is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for One-Time Secret. Clipperz is the more established project (first released 2006), while One-Time Secret arrived in 2012. One-Time Secret has the considerably larger community, at 2,942 GitHub stars versus 750. One-Time Secret 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 One-Time Secret if…
- Great for one-off credential sharing
- Easy to self-host
Watch out for
- Not a long-term vault
Frequently asked questions
Is Clipperz or One-Time Secret better?
One-Time Secret is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Clipperz if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Clipperz and One-Time Secret free and open-source?
Yes. Clipperz is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and One-Time Secret under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Clipperz and One-Time Secret with Docker?
Clipperz: check the project docs for container support. One-Time Secret: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Clipperz or One-Time Secret?
Clipperz has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for One-Time Secret. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.