Padloc vs Psono
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Padloc | Psono |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,923 | ★ 700 |
| First released | 2016 | 2017 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | 1Password, LastPass |
What are Padloc and Psono?
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
Psono
Psono is a self-hosted, open-source password manager focused on secure secret sharing for teams and enterprises. It targets organizations needing granular credential management. It is deployed via Docker.
- Granular secret sharing
- Client-side encryption
- LDAP and SAML support
- Browser extensions and apps
Padloc vs Psono: key differences
Padloc is written in JavaScript, while Psono is built with Python. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Padloc versus Apache-2.0 for Psono. Padloc has the considerably larger community, at 2,923 GitHub stars versus 700.
Why pick each one
Choose Padloc if…
- Polished UI
- Open source
- Cross-platform
Watch out for
- Smaller ecosystem
- Slower development pace
Choose Psono if…
- Strong sharing controls
- Enterprise auth support
- Open source
Watch out for
- Smaller community
- Setup takes effort
Frequently asked questions
Is Padloc or Psono 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 Psono free and open-source?
Yes. Padloc is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Psono under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Padloc and Psono with Docker?
Padloc: yes. Psono: yes.