AliasVault vs Padloc
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
AliasVault
End-to-end encrypted password and email alias manager
VS
Padloc
Modern open-source password manager
| Feature | AliasVault | Padloc |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 87 · Excellent | 18 · At risk |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,141 | ★ 2,923 |
| First released | 2024 | 2016 |
| Replaces | 1Password, SimpleLogin | 1Password, LastPass |
What are AliasVault and Padloc?
AliasVault
AliasVault is a self-hosted, end-to-end encrypted password manager that also generates private email aliases to protect your real address. It combines credential storage with built-in alias mailboxes so you can sign up for services without exposing personal data.
- Zero-knowledge encrypted vault
- Built-in private email aliases
- Browser extensions
- Docker-based self-hosting
Padloc
Padloc is a modern, open-source password manager with a clean interface and end-to-end encryption, offering a self-hostable server. It targets individuals and small teams. It is deployed via Docker.
- End-to-end encryption
- Clean modern interface
- Self-hostable server
- Organizations and sharing
AliasVault vs Padloc: key differences
AliasVault is written in TypeScript, while Padloc is built with JavaScript. Padloc is the more established project (first released 2016), while AliasVault arrived in 2024.
Why pick each one
Choose AliasVault if…
- Combines vault and alias mail
- Strong encryption model
Watch out for
- Young project
- Requires running mail components
Choose Padloc if…
- Polished UI
- Open source
- Cross-platform
Watch out for
- Smaller ecosystem
- Slower development pace
Frequently asked questions
Is AliasVault or Padloc better?
Neither is universally better. AliasVault has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are AliasVault and Padloc free and open-source?
Yes. AliasVault is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Padloc under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run AliasVault and Padloc with Docker?
AliasVault: yes. Padloc: yes.