Padloc
Pending verificationMinimalist, open-source password manager — a German alternative to 1Password.
Overview
Padloc is a Hamburg, Germany-based European company building open source, password manager, privacy, and security software since 2015. As an EU-headquartered provider, Padloc likely operates under GDPR, though EU Alts has not yet independently verified its ownership and hosting facts, so its exposure to the US CLOUD Act isn't confirmed yet — see the Details section below for what's known so far.
Why European teams pick Padloc
Teams in Europe consider Padloc when they want a open source provider that bills in EUR and keeps customer data under Germany law, operating since 2015. Its EU headquarters is a good sign compared with well-known US incumbents, but EU Alts hasn't yet verified Padloc's ownership and hosting facts — check back once verification is complete.
See more EU open source tools or browse other startups from Germany.
About
Padloc is a German open-source password manager with end-to-end encryption for individuals and teams. All data is encrypted client-side before transmission using AES-256-GCM, and the Padloc server never has access to unencrypted vault contents. It is available as a self-hostable server (MIT licence), a managed cloud service hosted in Germany, and native apps for iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and Linux. Padloc is a clean, minimalist alternative to 1Password and Bitwarden for users who value simplicity and EU data sovereignty. The free plan supports a single device; paid plans unlock sync across unlimited devices and team sharing.
Details
- Founded
- 2015
- Headquarters
- Hamburg, Germany
- Ownership
- Independently owned (Germany)
- Company size
- 1–10 employees
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Frequently asked questions
What is Padloc?
Padloc is a German open-source password manager with end-to-end encryption for individuals and teams. All data is encrypted client-side before transmission using AES-256-GCM, and the Padloc server never has access to unencrypted vault contents. It is available as a self-hostable server (MIT licence), a managed cloud service hosted in Germany, and native apps for iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and Linux. Padloc is a clean, minimalist alternative to 1Password and Bitwarden for users who value simplicity and EU data sovereignty. The free plan supports a single device; paid plans unlock sync across unlimited devices and team sharing.
What does Padloc do?
Padloc is minimalist, open-source password manager — a german alternative to 1password. It is listed under open source, password manager, privacy, and security on EU Alts because its core functionality serves teams looking for a European open source tool with EU data residency, typically as a switch away from well-known US incumbents.
Is Padloc a good European open source alternative?
Padloc is a fit for European businesses evaluating open source options where data residency and GDPR alignment matter — typical buyers include EU-based SaaS teams, public-sector projects, regulated industries (healthcare, finance, legal), and any organisation that needs to demonstrate that customer data does not leave the EU. It also overlaps with password manager and privacy use cases.
Is Padloc GDPR compliant?
Padloc is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany and falls under EU jurisdiction, so it likely processes user data under the GDPR by default. Customer data processing is supervised by Germany's data protection authority, the Bundesbeauftragte für den Datenschutz und die Informationsfreiheit (BfDI). EU Alts has not yet independently verified Padloc's ownership structure or hosting location, so we can't yet confirm its exposure to the US CLOUD Act the way we can for verified entries.
How do teams switch from well-known US incumbents to Padloc?
Most teams considering a move from well-known US incumbents to Padloc are drawn to its EU headquarters and open source workflow fit. EU Alts hasn't yet verified Padloc's ownership and hosting facts, so treat any CLOUD Act or Schrems II conclusions as provisional until verification is complete. Plan a migration in stages regardless: export your data from the US incumbent, pilot Padloc with a small team, then move the rest once integration coverage is confirmed.
Where is Padloc based?
Padloc is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany. The company was founded in 2015. Its main website is https://padloc.app.