JumpServer vs Sliver
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted remote access & vpn options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
JumpServer
Open-source bastion host and PAM platform
VS
Sliver
Open-source cross-platform adversary emulation framework
| Feature | JumpServer | Sliver |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Remote Access & VPN | Remote Access & VPN |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 4,096 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, kubernetes | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 31,230 | ★ 11,648 |
| First released | 2014 | 2019 |
| Replaces | CyberArk, Teleport | Cobalt Strike |
Why pick each one
Choose JumpServer if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Kubernetes-ready with Helm charts available
- Mature project with 31.2k GitHub stars
Choose Sliver if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Mature project with 11.6k GitHub stars
- Written in Go
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is JumpServer or Sliver better?
JumpServer is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Sliver if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are JumpServer and Sliver free and open-source?
Yes. JumpServer is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Sliver under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run JumpServer and Sliver with Docker?
JumpServer: yes. Sliver: check the project docs for container support.