Padloc vs pass-tomb
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-tomb |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 18 · At risk | 46 · Fair |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | Shell |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,923 | ★ 437 |
| First released | 2016 | 2017 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | 1Password, KeePass |
What are Padloc and pass-tomb?
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-tomb
pass-tomb is an open-source extension for the standard Unix password manager that keeps the password store inside an encrypted Tomb container. It hides the directory structure of secrets when the store is locked.
- Encrypted Tomb container
- Hides store structure
- Integrates with pass
- Command-line workflow
Padloc vs pass-tomb: key differences
Padloc is written in JavaScript, while pass-tomb is built with Shell. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Padloc versus GPL-3.0 for pass-tomb. Pass-tomb is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Padloc. Padloc has the considerably larger community, at 2,923 GitHub stars versus 437. Padloc lists first-class Docker deployment; pass-tomb 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-tomb if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Written in Shell
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Padloc or pass-tomb better?
Padloc is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider pass-tomb if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Padloc and pass-tomb free and open-source?
Yes. Padloc is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and pass-tomb under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Padloc and pass-tomb with Docker?
Padloc: yes. pass-tomb: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Padloc or pass-tomb?
pass-tomb has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Padloc. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.