Passit vs Spectre
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Passit | Spectre |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | C |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 200 | ★ 200 |
| First released | 2016 | 2012 |
| Replaces | LastPass, 1Password | 1Password, LastPass |
What are Passit and Spectre?
Passit
Passit is a self-hosted, open-source password manager with browser extensions. It encrypts credentials client-side before syncing them to your own Django-based server and supports group sharing.
- Client-side encrypted vault
- Browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox
- Group password sharing
- Self-hosted Django backend
Spectre
Spectre, the successor to Master Password, is an open-source stateless password manager. It derives strong, unique passwords from your name and a master password rather than storing them in a vault.
- Deterministic password derivation
- No vault to store or sync
- Cross-platform clients
- Works fully offline
Passit vs Spectre: key differences
Passit is written in Python, while Spectre is built with C. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Passit versus GPL-3.0 for Spectre. Spectre is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Passit. Spectre is the more established project (first released 2012), while Passit arrived in 2016. Passit lists first-class Docker deployment; Spectre does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Passit if…
- Simple sharing model
- Open and auditable
Watch out for
- Limited recent development
Choose Spectre if…
- Nothing to back up
- Stateless by design
Watch out for
- Niche project
- Hard to change individual passwords
Frequently asked questions
Is Passit or Spectre better?
Neither is universally better. Passit has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Passit and Spectre free and open-source?
Yes. Passit is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Spectre under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Passit and Spectre with Docker?
Passit: yes. Spectre: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Passit or Spectre?
Spectre has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Passit. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.