Nextcloud Passwords 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 | Nextcloud Passwords | Psono Client |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 57 · Fair | 62 · Good |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | PHP | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 249 | ★ 26 |
| First released | 2018 | 2017 |
| Replaces | LastPass, Bitwarden | LastPass, 1Password |
What are Nextcloud Passwords and Psono Client?
Nextcloud Passwords
Nextcloud Passwords is a feature-rich password manager that runs as an app inside a Nextcloud instance, with client-side encryption and browser extensions. It integrates with existing Nextcloud users and sharing.
- Client-side encryption
- Browser extensions
- Password sharing
- Security audits
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
Nextcloud Passwords vs Psono Client: key differences
Nextcloud Passwords is written in PHP, while Psono Client is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Nextcloud Passwords versus Apache-2.0 for Psono Client. Psono Client is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Nextcloud Passwords. Nextcloud Passwords has the considerably larger community, at 249 GitHub stars versus 26.
Why pick each one
Choose Nextcloud Passwords if…
- Integrates with Nextcloud
- Strong feature set
Watch out for
- Requires Nextcloud
- Tied to PHP stack
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 Nextcloud Passwords or Psono Client better?
Nextcloud Passwords 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 Nextcloud Passwords and Psono Client free and open-source?
Yes. Nextcloud Passwords is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Psono Client under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Nextcloud Passwords and Psono Client with Docker?
Nextcloud Passwords: yes. Psono Client: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Nextcloud Passwords or Psono Client?
Psono Client has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Nextcloud Passwords. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.