Padloc vs Spectre
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Padloc | Spectre |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | C |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,923 | ★ 200 |
| First released | 2016 | 2012 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | 1Password, LastPass |
What are Padloc and Spectre?
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
Spectre
Spectre, the successor to Master Password, is an open-source stateless password manager. It derives strong, unique passwords from your name and a master password rather than storing them in a vault.
- Deterministic password derivation
- No vault to store or sync
- Cross-platform clients
- Works fully offline
Padloc vs Spectre: key differences
Padloc is written in JavaScript, while Spectre is built with C. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Padloc versus GPL-3.0 for Spectre. Spectre is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Padloc. Spectre is the more established project (first released 2012), while Padloc arrived in 2016. Padloc has the considerably larger community, at 2,923 GitHub stars versus 200. Padloc lists first-class Docker deployment; Spectre does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Padloc if…
- Polished UI
- Open source
- Cross-platform
Watch out for
- Smaller ecosystem
- Slower development pace
Choose Spectre if…
- Nothing to back up
- Stateless by design
Watch out for
- Niche project
- Hard to change individual passwords
Frequently asked questions
Is Padloc or Spectre 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 Spectre free and open-source?
Yes. Padloc is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Spectre under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Padloc and Spectre with Docker?
Padloc: yes. Spectre: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Padloc or Spectre?
Spectre has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Padloc. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.