head to head · open source
KeePassXC vs Padloc
KeePassXC has 28,843 GitHub stars, 1,910 forks, 910 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. Padloc has 2,922 stars, 266 forks, 105 open issues and last shipped 1.5 years ago. KeePassXC leads on adoption by 887% (28,843 vs 2,922 stars). KeePassXC is written in C++ under a custom or non-standard licence; Padloc is written in JavaScript under AGPL-3.0. KeePassXC has attracted 7% as many forks as stars, Padloc 9%. KeePassXC was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 1 topic tag (password-manager), so they are genuine substitutes rather than adjacent tools.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| KeePassXC | Padloc | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 29K | ★ 2.9K |
| License | Custom / other | AGPL-3.0 |
| Written in | C++ | JavaScript |
| Last push | 2026-09-16 | 2025-03-29 |
| Forks | ⑂ 1.9K | ⑂ 266 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick KeePassXC if
- You weight community size — 29K stars and counting
- You want the Custom / other license terms
- Your stack matches C++
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick Padloc if
- You want the Padloc feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the AGPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches JavaScript
- You evaluated both and Padloc fits your workflow better
About KeePassXC
KeePassXC is a cross platform, open source password manager derived from the Windows application KeePass Password Safe. It runs natively on Windows, macOS, and Linux, storing sensitive data—such as usernames, passwords, URLs, notes, and file attachments—in a single, encrypted database file using the KDBX format (KDBX4 and KDBX3). The project is community driven, hosted on GitHub, and maintained under the NOASSERTION license.
read the full KeePassXC overview →
About Padloc
Padloc is an open source password and data manager for individuals and teams, distributed under the AGPL 3.0 license and written primarily in JavaScript and TypeScript. It lives in the JavaScript and TypeScript ecosystem, and the repository is organized as a monorepo split into separate packages: a core logic library, a web based UI component library, a backend server, a Progressive Web App client, a localization package, an Electron desktop app, a Cordova project for iOS and Android, a Tauri based cross platform native app, and a browser extension. The project positions itself as an open alternative to 1Password…
read the full Padloc overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is KeePassXC or Padloc more popular?
KeePassXC has 28,843 GitHub stars and Padloc has 2,922. KeePassXC has the larger community by that measure.
Are KeePassXC and Padloc free?
Both are open source. KeePassXC has no licence declared in this registry, and Padloc is licensed under AGPL-3.0. Both are free to self-host.
What is the difference between KeePassXC and Padloc?
KeePassXC is written in C++ and Padloc in JavaScript. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, KeePassXC or Padloc?
Choose KeePassXC if you want the larger community (28,843 stars) or its Custom / other licence terms. Choose Padloc if its feature set, stack or AGPL-3.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.