Padloc
Minimalist, 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 operates under GDPR and is outside the reach of the US CLOUD Act, making it a privacy-friendly alternative to well-known US incumbents for European teams.
Why European teams pick Padloc
Teams in Europe pick Padloc when they want a open source provider that bills in EUR, supports their local data-protection officer requirements, and keeps customer data under Germany law, operating since 2015. Compared with well-known US incumbents, Padloc avoids cross-border data transfers under Schrems II and the US CLOUD Act, which is often the deciding factor for European procurement and legal teams.
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
Other EU startups like Padloc
- FormVaultNorway — GDPR-compliant form builder with end-to-end encryption (AES-256-GCM), EU data residency, and a submission dashboard. No cookie banners needed.
- PocketbaseBulgaria — Open-source backend in a single file — a European alternative to Firebase.
- NocoDBGermany — Open-source Airtable alternative that turns databases into smart spreadsheets.
- BaserowNetherlands — Open-source no-code database and Airtable alternative — built in the Netherlands.
- PortainerNew Zealand — Container management UI for Docker and Kubernetes — a New Zealand/European alternative to Rancher.
- NetdataGreece — Open-source real-time infrastructure monitoring — an alternative to Datadog.
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 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). Because the company is not US-incorporated, it is not subject to the US CLOUD Act — meaning US authorities cannot compel Padloc to disclose customer data the way they can with well-known US incumbents. For European buyers, that often simplifies DPIA paperwork and standard contractual clauses.
How do teams switch from well-known US incumbents to Padloc?
Most teams move to Padloc from well-known US incumbents because they want EU data residency without giving up the core open source workflow. Padloc's Germany base means a single jurisdiction for both the company and (typically) its hosting infrastructure, so you can drop Schrems II transfer impact assessments for this part of your stack. Plan the migration in stages: export your data from the US incumbent, pilot Padloc with a small team, then move the rest once the integration coverage you need 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.