Password Pusher alternative: OncePad vs Password Pusher

Both hand over credentials with an expiring link. The difference is who holds the encryption key.

Short answer: OncePad is a free, no-account service for sharing a password, secret, or file through an end-to-end encrypted link. The link contains no decryption key, works once, and expires after 24 hours. Files may be up to 25 MB.

Where they agree

Password Pusher (pwpush) is a well-established tool for sending passwords, text, files and URLs through links that expire after a number of views or days, with optional passphrases and audit logs. It is popular with IT teams for good reason. OncePad covers the same core act — hand a secret to someone through a link — with a narrower, end-to-end model.

The core difference: server-side vs in-browser encryption

Password Pusher's documentation describes server-side encryption: sensitive database fields are encrypted at rest with AES-256-GCM using keys derived from a server master key, and the product explicitly says it does not provide custom client-side encryption. That can be a sound design for a tool your team operates, but the operator holds the master key. OncePad never has a decryption key: the secret is encrypted in your browser under a generated 7-word passphrase, and the passphrase travels on a second channel.

Side by side

FeatureOncePadPassword Pusher
Encryption locationBrowser, before upload (end-to-end)Server-side; AES-256-GCM for sensitive database fields
Key placementDerived from a generated passphrase sent separately; no key in linkServer master key; optional pre-shared passphrase
File support / limitOne browser-encrypted file up to 25 MBFiles available by edition/configuration; no universal size limit
ExpiryExactly one reveal or 24 hoursConfigurable time and view count
AccountsNo accountAnonymous, account, hosted, and self-hosted options vary by edition
Open-source statusHosted app source not publicly releasedApache-2.0 open-source edition; hosted and Pro editions add features

When Password Pusher may suit you better

If you need multiple views, longer expiries, URL pushes, detailed audit logs, accounts, team administration, or a self-hosted instance, Password Pusher is built for that operational model. Its hosted and self-hosted editions also offer file workflows that are broader than OncePad's one-file handoff.

When OncePad is the better fit

If the requirement is that nobody but the recipient can ever decrypt it — not the service, not an admin, not someone who later obtains the database — and you want a strong passphrase by default and a link that is safe to leave in a ticket, OncePad's end-to-end, one-read, RAM-only design is the simpler answer.

Last verified: August 18, 2026. Descriptions of Password Pusher are based on its primary documentation and are given in good faith; editions, limits, and policies change, so verify them before deciding. Password Pusher is a trademark of its respective owner and is not affiliated with OncePad.