Buttercup

Discontinued free open-source password manager for desktop, mobile and browsers.

Updated Nov 7, 2026 · AppBreakup editorial · Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension

Buttercup has been discontinued. The project announced its closure and archived its repositories in June 2025, according to the Buttercup README on GitHub.

Is Buttercup free?

Yes, free and open source

License:: GPL-3.0 (desktop app)

Checked on Buttercup's site Nov 8, 2026

Switch from Buttercup to

All 6

Bitwarden
Premium plan: $1.65/month, billed annually
KeePassXC
Free
KeeWeb
Open source

Verified facts: 4 of 4
Alternatives ranked: 6
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About Buttercup

Buttercup was a free, open-source password manager that stored passwords in an encrypted vault file you kept wherever you liked: on your own disk or in a cloud drive such as Dropbox, Google Drive or a WebDAV server. There was no Buttercup account or company server; syncing happened through whichever storage you chose. It had desktop apps for Windows, macOS and Linux, mobile apps for iOS and Android, and browser extensions for autofill, all written in JavaScript on a shared core library. The project was run by a small group of volunteers, and in 2025 they announced its closure and archived the code repositories, so the apps no longer receive fixes or security updates. Existing vaults should be exported and moved to a maintained manager. People who liked its no-account, bring-your-own-storage model usually move to KeePassXC or another KeePass-format app, or to Bitwarden if they want a hosted sync service with an open-source codebase.

Best for: Nobody new; existing users should export their vaults and move to a maintained manager.

What works

Completely free and open source
No account: the vault file lives in storage you choose
Apps covered desktop, mobile and browsers

Why people leave

Discontinued: no more security updates or bug fixes
No sharing or team features
Sync depended on third-party cloud storage being set up correctly

Buttercup vs Bitwarden, KeePassXC and KeeWeb

From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.

Attribute	Buttercup	Bitwarden	KeePassXC	KeeWeb
Pricing	Open source	Open source	Free	Open source
Verified price	—	$1.65/month, billed annually	—	—
Free plan	Free app	Free app	Free app	Free app
Open source	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Self-hostable	No	Yes	No	Yes
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension, Self-hosted	Windows, macOS, Linux, Browser extension	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, Self-hosted

Top Buttercup alternatives

See all 6

1
Bitwarden
Open-source manager with free hosted sync across every platform.
77.7
2
KeePassXC
Free, open source and account-free, with a vault file you sync any way you like.
61.8
3
KeeWeb
Open-source KeePass-compatible app that also syncs vaults through Dropbox or WebDAV.
61.8
4
KeePassDX
Free open-source KeePass app for Android to pair with a desktop KeePass client.
59.4
5
KeePassium
KeePass-format manager for iPhone and iPad that opens vaults from cloud drives.
57.5

Why people left Buttercup

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

No switching stories yet. If you moved away from Buttercup, review the app you switched to and tell us why.

Reviews

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Buttercup: common questions

What is Buttercup?

Buttercup: Discontinued free open-source password manager for desktop, mobile and browsers. Best for nobody new; existing users should export their vaults and move to a maintained manager. Available for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android and Browser extension.

Is Buttercup free?

Yes. Buttercup is free, open-source software.

Is Buttercup open source?

Yes. The source code is on GitHub at buttercup/buttercup-desktop.

What platforms does Buttercup run on?

Buttercup is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android and Browser extension.

What are the best alternatives to Buttercup?

The highest-ranked Buttercup alternatives right now are Bitwarden, KeePassXC and KeeWeb. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

Buttercup vs Bitwarden: what's the difference?

Both Buttercup and Bitwarden are free and open source. Only Bitwarden runs on Web.

See all 6 Buttercup alternatives

Buttercup facts

4 of 4 verified

Status: Archived (discontinued); Checked Nov 8, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab); “Status: archived.”
License: GPL-3.0 (desktop app); Checked Nov 8, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab); “License: GPL-3.0 (GNU General Public License v3.0).”
Mobile app: React Native app, GPL-3.0; Checked Nov 8, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab); “Description: :iphone: React-Native mobile application for Buttercup.”
Browser extension: Yes, MIT licensed; Checked Nov 8, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab); “Description: :earth_asia: Buttercup browser extension.”