Psono 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 | Psono | Psono Client |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Python | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 700 | ★ 26 |
| First released | 2017 | 2017 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | LastPass, 1Password |
What are Psono and Psono Client?
Psono
Psono is a self-hosted, open-source password manager focused on secure secret sharing for teams and enterprises. It targets organizations needing granular credential management. It is deployed via Docker.
- Granular secret sharing
- Client-side encryption
- LDAP and SAML support
- Browser extensions and apps
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
Psono vs Psono Client: key differences
Psono is written in Python, while Psono Client is built with JavaScript. Psono Client is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Psono. Psono has the considerably larger community, at 700 GitHub stars versus 26.
Why pick each one
Choose Psono if…
- Strong sharing controls
- Enterprise auth support
- Open source
Watch out for
- Smaller community
- Setup takes effort
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 Psono or Psono Client better?
Neither is universally better. Psono has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Psono and Psono Client free and open-source?
Yes. Psono is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Psono Client under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Psono and Psono Client with Docker?
Psono: yes. Psono Client: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Psono or Psono Client?
Psono Client has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Psono. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.