gopass 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 | gopass | Psono Client |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 91 · Excellent | 62 · Good |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Go | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | binary, bare-metal, source | docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 7,220 | ★ 26 |
| First released | 2017 | 2017 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | LastPass, 1Password |
What are gopass and Psono Client?
gopass
gopass is a feature-rich command-line password manager written in Go that is compatible with the standard Unix password store. It adds team features, multiple stores and improved tooling.
- pass-compatible encrypted store
- Multiple mounted stores
- Team and per-secret access control
- Browser and editor integrations
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
gopass vs Psono Client: key differences
Gopass is written in Go, while Psono Client is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — MIT for gopass versus Apache-2.0 for Psono Client. Gopass is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Psono Client. Gopass has the considerably larger community, at 7,220 GitHub stars versus 26. Psono Client lists first-class Docker deployment; gopass does not.
Why pick each one
Choose gopass if…
- Great for teams using git
- Single static binary
Watch out for
- Still command-line focused
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 gopass or Psono Client better?
Neither is universally better. gopass has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are gopass and Psono Client free and open-source?
Yes. gopass is licensed under MIT and Psono Client under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run gopass and Psono Client with Docker?
gopass: check the project docs for container support. Psono Client: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, gopass or Psono Client?
gopass has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Psono Client. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.