Psono Client 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 | Psono Client | Spectre |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | Apache-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | C |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 26 | ★ 200 |
| First released | 2017 | 2012 |
| Replaces | LastPass, 1Password | 1Password, LastPass |
What are Psono Client and Spectre?
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
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
Psono Client vs Spectre: key differences
Psono Client is written in JavaScript, while Spectre is built with C. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for Psono Client versus GPL-3.0 for Spectre. Spectre is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Psono Client. Spectre is the more established project (first released 2012), while Psono Client arrived in 2017. Spectre has the considerably larger community, at 200 GitHub stars versus 26. Psono Client lists first-class Docker deployment; Spectre does not.
Why pick each one
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
Choose Spectre if…
- Nothing to back up
- Stateless by design
Watch out for
- Niche project
- Hard to change individual passwords
Frequently asked questions
Is Psono Client or Spectre better?
Neither is universally better. Spectre has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Psono Client and Spectre free and open-source?
Yes. Psono Client is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Spectre under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Psono Client and Spectre with Docker?
Psono Client: yes. Spectre: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Psono Client or Spectre?
Spectre has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Psono Client. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.