Padloc vs pass-otp
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Padloc | pass-otp |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 18 · At risk | 28 · At risk |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | Shell |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 32 MB |
| Deployment | docker | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,923 | ★ 1,498 |
| First released | 2016 | 2017 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | Authy, 1Password |
What are Padloc and pass-otp?
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
pass-otp
pass-otp is an open-source extension that adds TOTP one-time-password support to the standard Unix password manager. It generates two-factor codes directly from secrets stored in the pass tree.
- TOTP code generation
- Integrates with pass
- Offline two-factor
- Command-line based
Padloc vs pass-otp: key differences
Padloc is written in JavaScript, while pass-otp is built with Shell. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Padloc versus GPL-3.0 for pass-otp. Pass-otp is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Padloc. Padloc lists first-class Docker deployment; pass-otp does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Padloc if…
- Polished UI
- Open source
- Cross-platform
Watch out for
- Smaller ecosystem
- Slower development pace
Choose pass-otp if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Active community (1.5k GitHub stars)
- Written in Shell
- Tiny footprint — runs in 32 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Padloc or pass-otp better?
Neither is universally better. Padloc has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Padloc and pass-otp free and open-source?
Yes. Padloc is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and pass-otp under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Padloc and pass-otp with Docker?
Padloc: yes. pass-otp: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Padloc or pass-otp?
pass-otp 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.