Nextcloud Passwords 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 | Nextcloud Passwords | Spectre |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | C |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 249 | ★ 200 |
| First released | 2018 | 2012 |
| Replaces | LastPass, Bitwarden | 1Password, LastPass |
What are Nextcloud Passwords and Spectre?
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
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
Nextcloud Passwords vs Spectre: key differences
Nextcloud Passwords is written in PHP, while Spectre is built with C. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Nextcloud Passwords versus GPL-3.0 for Spectre. Spectre is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Nextcloud Passwords. Spectre is the more established project (first released 2012), while Nextcloud Passwords arrived in 2018. Nextcloud Passwords lists first-class Docker deployment; Spectre does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Nextcloud Passwords if…
- Integrates with Nextcloud
- Strong feature set
Watch out for
- Requires Nextcloud
- Tied to PHP stack
Choose Spectre if…
- Nothing to back up
- Stateless by design
Watch out for
- Niche project
- Hard to change individual passwords
Frequently asked questions
Is Nextcloud Passwords or Spectre better?
Nextcloud Passwords is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Spectre if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Nextcloud Passwords and Spectre free and open-source?
Yes. Nextcloud Passwords is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Spectre under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Nextcloud Passwords and Spectre with Docker?
Nextcloud Passwords: yes. Spectre: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Nextcloud Passwords or Spectre?
Spectre has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Nextcloud Passwords. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.