Padloc vs pass
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | Shell |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 32 MB |
| Deployment | docker | bare-metal, binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,923 | ★ 4,200 |
| First released | 2016 | 2012 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | 1Password, LastPass |
What are Padloc and pass?
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
pass is a minimalist password manager that stores each secret in a GPG-encrypted file, optionally versioned with git. It follows the Unix philosophy and works entirely from the command line.
- GPG-encrypted password files
- Optional git versioning and sync
- Scriptable command-line workflow
- Many compatible GUI and mobile clients
Padloc vs pass: key differences
Padloc is written in JavaScript, while pass is built with Shell. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Padloc versus GPL-2.0 for pass. Pass is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Padloc. Pass is the more established project (first released 2012), while Padloc arrived in 2016. Padloc lists first-class Docker deployment; pass 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 if…
- Simple and transparent storage
- Composes well with other tools
Watch out for
- Command-line oriented
- Requires GPG knowledge
Frequently asked questions
Is Padloc or pass better?
Neither is universally better. pass has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Padloc and pass free and open-source?
Yes. Padloc is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and pass under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Padloc and pass with Docker?
Padloc: yes. pass: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Padloc or pass?
pass 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.