Padloc vs Passbolt
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Padloc | Passbolt |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 18 · At risk | 91 · Excellent |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,923 | ★ 6,136 |
| First released | 2016 | 2017 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | 1Password, LastPass |
What are Padloc and Passbolt?
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
Passbolt
Passbolt is an open-source password manager designed for teams, built around end-to-end encryption and OpenPGP. It targets organizations sharing credentials securely. It is deployed via Docker or packages.
- OpenPGP-based encryption
- Team-oriented sharing and roles
- Browser extension and apps
- Audit logs
Padloc vs Passbolt: key differences
Padloc is written in JavaScript, while Passbolt is built with PHP. Padloc is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Passbolt. Passbolt has the considerably larger community, at 6,136 GitHub stars versus 2,923.
Why pick each one
Choose Padloc if…
- Polished UI
- Open source
- Cross-platform
Watch out for
- Smaller ecosystem
- Slower development pace
Choose Passbolt if…
- Built for team sharing
- Strong encryption model
- Good admin controls
Watch out for
- Setup is involved
- Some features in paid tiers
Frequently asked questions
Is Padloc or Passbolt better?
Neither is universally better. Passbolt has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Padloc and Passbolt free and open-source?
Yes. Padloc is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Passbolt under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Padloc and Passbolt with Docker?
Padloc: yes. Passbolt: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Padloc or Passbolt?
Padloc has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Passbolt. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.