Padloc vs One-Time Secret
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Padloc | One-Time Secret |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 18 · At risk | 87 · Excellent |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | JavaScript | Ruby |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,923 | ★ 2,942 |
| First released | 2016 | 2012 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | 1Password, Doppler |
What are Padloc and One-Time Secret?
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
One-Time Secret
One-Time Secret is an open-source service for sharing passwords and other sensitive information through links that can only be viewed once. After the secret is read or expires, it is permanently deleted.
- Self-destructing secret links
- Optional passphrase protection
- Configurable expiration times
- Simple REST API
Padloc vs One-Time Secret: key differences
Padloc is written in JavaScript, while One-Time Secret is built with Ruby. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Padloc versus MIT for One-Time Secret. One-Time Secret is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Padloc. One-Time Secret is the more established project (first released 2012), while Padloc arrived in 2016.
Why pick each one
Choose Padloc if…
- Polished UI
- Open source
- Cross-platform
Watch out for
- Smaller ecosystem
- Slower development pace
Choose One-Time Secret if…
- Great for one-off credential sharing
- Easy to self-host
Watch out for
- Not a long-term vault
Frequently asked questions
Is Padloc or One-Time Secret better?
One-Time Secret is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Padloc if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Padloc and One-Time Secret free and open-source?
Yes. Padloc is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and One-Time Secret under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Padloc and One-Time Secret with Docker?
Padloc: yes. One-Time Secret: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Padloc or One-Time Secret?
One-Time Secret has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Padloc. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.