Padloc
Padloc is an open-source password manager that can also handle notes, file storage, authentication, and secret sharing.
What Padloc is
Padloc is an open-source password manager that can also handle notes, file storage, authentication, and secret sharing. It stores passwords, credit cards, banking information, documents, and other sensitive data. Access is available on the web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, with cloud synchronization; browser extensions are available for Chrome and Firefox. Organizations and shared vaults let users control who can access, edit, or share data. Padloc says data is encrypted locally and cannot be decrypted by the company; its security whitepaper describes AES in GCM mode. The company says three independent groups audited the product, and its summary of the 2022 Radically Open Security audit reports no high or critical issues were found. Users can self-host with the provided technical documentation. Plans include Free at no cost, Premium at $3.49 a month, Family at $5.95 a month, Team at $3.49 a month, Business at $6.99 a month, and Enterprise at a price upon request. A 30-day trial is available. Padloc says it cannot recover unencrypted data if the master password is lost.
Good
- Stores passwords, notes, files, and banking data
- Available across web, desktop, and mobile platforms
- Shared vaults include access controls
- Self-hosting documentation is available
Watch out
- Lost master passwords mean Padloc cannot recover unencrypted data
- Free plan lacks MFA and shared vaults
- Chrome and Firefox are the listed browser extensions
Who it suits
Padloc suits individuals or organizations seeking a password manager with options for shared vaults, file storage, and self-hosting. Its plans cover free use as well as family, team, and business arrangements.
Verdict
Padloc combines password storage with sharing, notes, files, and authentication features across several platforms. Choose a plan based on the sharing and storage features you need, and keep the master password safe because the company cannot recover unencrypted data.
Plans and prices
From Padloc's own pricing page, checked 15 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Premium | $3.49 a month | Unlimited vault items · Unlimited devices · MFA · Up to 1GB encrypted file storage · Security Report · Authenticator/OTPs · Rich-text notes · or $34.90 / year |
| Family | $5.95 a month | Unlimited vault items · Unlimited devices · MFA · Up to 1GB encrypted file storage · Share with up to 5 users · Up to 5 shared vaults · or $59.50 / year |
| Team | $3.49 a month | Unlimited vault items · Unlimited devices · MFA · Up to 5GB encrypted file storage · Up to 20 shared vaults · Up to 10 groups · or $34.90 / year |
| Business | $6.99 a month | Unlimited vault items · Unlimited devices · MFA · Up to 20GB encrypted file storage · Up to 50 shared vaults · Up to 20 groups · Directory sync/automatic provisioning · or $69.90 / year |
| Free | Free | Unlimited vault items · Unlimited devices · No MFA · No shared vaults · No encrypted file storage |
| Enterprise | Priced on request | Unlimited vaults · Unlimited groups · Unlimited encrypted file storage · Directory sync/automatic provisioning · Customized appearance and features |
The facts
Each one read from Padloc's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Audit criticism
- NCC Group's 2019 cryptography review reported flaws involving silent re-addition of removed organization members and dictionary attacks against weak or moderate master passwords.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Built-in authenticator
- Paid plans provide a built-in authenticator for one-time passwords.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Business admin controls
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- Data hosting
- The FAQ says user data is stored in a Frankfurt, Germany data center operated by DigitalOcean.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Developer components
- The repository contains core logic, web UI, server, PWA, localization, Electron, Cordova, Tauri and browser-extension packages.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Directory integration
- Business and Enterprise plans list directory synchronization and automatic provisioning.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation
- Documentation includes a user manual, generated technical reference, development material, hosting guides and a security whitepaper.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Encrypted file storage
- Encrypted attachment storage ranges from 1GB on Premium and Family to 20GB on Business, with Enterprise listed as unlimited.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Encryption algorithm
- The security whitepaper states that Padloc uses AES in GCM mode for symmetric encryption.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Encryption detail
- The security whitepaper says Padloc uses AES in GCM mode for symmetric encryption.checked 5 Oct 2026
- End-to-end encryption
- Padloc says data is encrypted locally and is never stored or transmitted in plaintext.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Independent audit
- Padloc says three independent groups audited it; its 2022 Radically Open Security audit summary reports that identified issues were resolved or documented and that no high or critical issues were found.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Independent install evidence
- A 2024 academic survey table listed Padloc with 1,000+ Google Play installs and four iOS App Store ratings.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Padloc’s 2022 v4 announcement says its Security Report checks for compromised passwords against a known-breach database powered by Have I Been Pwned.checked 5 Oct 2026
- License
- The source code is distributed under the GNU Affero General Public License, with commercial licensing available by contacting Padloc.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: autofill
- NetSec.News reported that Padloc lacked autofill and password capture, requiring drag-and-drop entry instead.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: mobile experience
- An Apple reviewer reported small text, many steps to copy passwords and frequent mobile crashes.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: pricing value
- NetSec.News judged the Premium price difficult to justify because competing open-source managers offered more capabilities for less.checked 15 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Browser extensions
- The browser extension supports Chrome and Firefox; the documentation says Safari, Edge, and other browsers were planned for future support.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Cross-device access
- Padloc says it is available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and major browsers, with cloud synchronization.checked 5 Oct 2026
The company
- Company identity
- The legal developer is MaKleSoft UG, listed at Meisenstraße 5, 91522 Ansbach, Germany; NetSec.News says the project has existed since 2014.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- Ansbach, Bavaria, Germanychecked 28 Sep 2026
Money
- Family plan
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
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