Passky Server 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 | Passky Server | Psono Client |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 32 · At risk | 62 · Good |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | PHP | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 244 | ★ 26 |
| First released | 2021 | 2017 |
| Replaces | LastPass, Bitwarden | LastPass, 1Password |
What are Passky Server and Psono Client?
Passky Server
Passky is a simple and lightweight self-hostable password manager. The server component provides an encrypted backend that syncs with Passky web, desktop and mobile clients.
- Encrypted password sync server
- Lightweight PHP backend
- Web, desktop and mobile clients
- Two-factor authentication support
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
Passky Server vs Psono Client: key differences
Passky Server is written in PHP, while Psono Client is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Passky Server versus Apache-2.0 for Psono Client. Passky Server is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Psono Client. Psono Client is the more established project (first released 2017), while Passky Server arrived in 2021. Passky Server has the considerably larger community, at 244 GitHub stars versus 26.
Why pick each one
Choose Passky Server if…
- Very easy to set up
- Minimal footprint
Watch out for
- Smaller community and ecosystem
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 Passky Server or Psono Client better?
Passky Server is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Psono Client if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Passky Server and Psono Client free and open-source?
Yes. Passky Server is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Psono Client under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Passky Server and Psono Client with Docker?
Passky Server: yes. Psono Client: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Passky Server or Psono Client?
Passky Server has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Psono Client. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.