Padloc vs Rubywarden
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Padloc | Rubywarden |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 18 · At risk | 11 · At risk |
| Status | Actively maintained | Archived |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | JavaScript | Ruby |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,923 | ★ 587 |
| First released | 2016 | 2017 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | Bitwarden, 1Password |
What are Padloc and Rubywarden?
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
Rubywarden
Rubywarden is an unofficial, self-hosted server that implements the Bitwarden API in Ruby, allowing Bitwarden clients to sync against a private backend. It is a lightweight alternative server for personal and small deployments.
- Bitwarden-compatible API
- Works with official clients
- Lightweight Ruby stack
- SQLite storage
Padloc vs Rubywarden: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Rubywarden's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Padloc is actively maintained. Padloc is written in JavaScript, while Rubywarden is built with Ruby. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Padloc versus MIT for Rubywarden. Rubywarden is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Padloc. Padloc has the considerably larger community, at 2,923 GitHub stars versus 587. Padloc lists first-class Docker deployment; Rubywarden does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Padloc if…
- Polished UI
- Open source
- Cross-platform
Watch out for
- Smaller ecosystem
- Slower development pace
Choose Rubywarden if…
- Simple personal deployment
- Compatible with Bitwarden apps
Watch out for
- Explicitly experimental
- Not recommended for large teams
Frequently asked questions
Is Padloc or Rubywarden 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 Rubywarden free and open-source?
Yes. Padloc is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Rubywarden under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Padloc and Rubywarden with Docker?
Padloc: yes. Rubywarden: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Padloc or Rubywarden?
Rubywarden has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Padloc. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.