Psono vs Rubywarden
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Psono | Rubywarden |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Status | Actively maintained | Archived |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | Python | Ruby |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 700 | ★ 587 |
| First released | 2017 | 2017 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | Bitwarden, 1Password |
What are Psono and Rubywarden?
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
Rubywarden
Rubywarden is an unofficial, self-hosted server that implements the Bitwarden API in Ruby, allowing Bitwarden clients to sync against a private backend. It is a lightweight alternative server for personal and small deployments.
- Bitwarden-compatible API
- Works with official clients
- Lightweight Ruby stack
- SQLite storage
Psono vs Rubywarden: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Rubywarden's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Psono is actively maintained. Psono is written in Python, while Rubywarden is built with Ruby. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for Psono versus MIT for Rubywarden. Rubywarden is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Psono. Psono lists first-class Docker deployment; Rubywarden does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Psono if…
- Strong sharing controls
- Enterprise auth support
- Open source
Watch out for
- Smaller community
- Setup takes effort
Choose Rubywarden if…
- Simple personal deployment
- Compatible with Bitwarden apps
Watch out for
- Explicitly experimental
- Not recommended for large teams
Frequently asked questions
Is Psono or Rubywarden 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 Rubywarden free and open-source?
Yes. Psono is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Rubywarden under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Psono and Rubywarden with Docker?
Psono: yes. Rubywarden: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Psono or Rubywarden?
Rubywarden has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Psono. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.