Padloc
✓ Verified by EU AltsMinimalist, 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. EU Alts has not independently confirmed its exposure to the US CLOUD Act — the ownership and hosting facts recorded for it do not establish that it is outside the Act's reach — 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, operating since 2015. Its EU headquarters is a good sign compared with 1Password, but EU Alts has not independently verified Padloc's exposure to the US CLOUD Act — check the Details section for the recorded facts.
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)
- Verified
- 2026-09-03
- Last checked
- 2026-09-03
- Company size
- 1–10 employees
Compare with the US product you may be replacing
Padloc is listed in a category that our US-product comparison pages cover. See every EU option side by side:
Also from Germany
16 other listed companies are based in Germany. In the same categories as Padloc:
Other EU startups like Padloc
- Cryptomator ✓ Verified by EU AltsGermany — Client-side encryption for your cloud files — a German open-source alternative to Boxcryptor.
- Notesnook ✓ Verified by EU AltsGermany — Zero-knowledge encrypted note-taking app — an alternative to Evernote.
- Tuta ✓ Verified by EU AltsGermany — End-to-end encrypted email and calendar — a German privacy-first alternative to Gmail.
- Tresorit ✓ Verified by EU AltsHungary — End-to-end encrypted cloud storage for teams — a secure European alternative to Dropbox.
- GoatCounter ✓ Verified by EU AltsNorway — Lightweight open-source web analytics that doesn't track personal data.
- Proton Mail ✓ Verified by EU AltsSwitzerland — End-to-end encrypted email and productivity suite — a privacy-first alternative to Gmail.
Frequently asked questions
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 1Password.
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 independently verified Padloc's exposure to the US CLOUD Act, so we can't confirm it either way.
How do teams switch from 1Password to Padloc?
Teams considering a move from 1Password to Padloc are usually drawn by its open source workflow fit. EU Alts has not independently verified Padloc's exposure to the US CLOUD Act, so treat any CLOUD Act or Schrems II conclusions as provisional. 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.