gopass vs Padloc
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | gopass | Padloc |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 91 · Excellent | 18 · At risk |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | binary, bare-metal, source | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 7,220 | ★ 2,923 |
| First released | 2017 | 2016 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | 1Password, LastPass |
What are gopass and Padloc?
gopass
gopass is a feature-rich command-line password manager written in Go that is compatible with the standard Unix password store. It adds team features, multiple stores and improved tooling.
- pass-compatible encrypted store
- Multiple mounted stores
- Team and per-secret access control
- Browser and editor integrations
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
gopass vs Padloc: key differences
Gopass is written in Go, while Padloc is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — MIT for gopass versus AGPL-3.0 for Padloc. Gopass is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Padloc. Gopass has the considerably larger community, at 7,220 GitHub stars versus 2,923. Padloc lists first-class Docker deployment; gopass does not.
Why pick each one
Choose gopass if…
- Great for teams using git
- Single static binary
Watch out for
- Still command-line focused
Choose Padloc if…
- Polished UI
- Open source
- Cross-platform
Watch out for
- Smaller ecosystem
- Slower development pace
Frequently asked questions
Is gopass or Padloc better?
Neither is universally better. gopass has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are gopass and Padloc free and open-source?
Yes. gopass is licensed under MIT and Padloc under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run gopass and Padloc with Docker?
gopass: check the project docs for container support. Padloc: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, gopass or Padloc?
gopass has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Padloc. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.