Apache Syncope vs LemonLDAP::NG
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted identity & sso options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Apache Syncope | LemonLDAP::NG |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 77 · Good | 41 · Fair |
| Category | Identity & SSO | Identity & SSO |
| License | Apache-2.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | Java | Perl |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, kubernetes, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 341 | ★ 84 |
| First released | 2012 | 2005 |
| Replaces | SailPoint, Okta | Okta, PingFederate |
What are Apache Syncope and LemonLDAP::NG?
Apache Syncope
Apache Syncope is an open-source system for managing digital identities in enterprise environments. It handles identity lifecycle, provisioning, governance and access management with workflow support.
- Identity lifecycle management
- Provisioning to many connected systems
- Workflow-driven approvals
- Reporting and auditing
LemonLDAP::NG
LemonLDAP::NG is an open-source Web SSO, access management, and identity federation product. It supports SAML, OpenID Connect, and CAS, and protects web applications behind a configurable portal.
- Web SSO portal
- SAML and OIDC support
- CAS protocol
- Fine-grained access rules
Apache Syncope vs LemonLDAP::NG: key differences
Apache Syncope is written in Java, while LemonLDAP::NG is built with Perl. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for Apache Syncope versus GPL-2.0 for LemonLDAP::NG. LemonLDAP::NG is the lighter option, starting around 1,024 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for Apache Syncope. LemonLDAP::NG is the more established project (first released 2005), while Apache Syncope arrived in 2012. Apache Syncope has the considerably larger community, at 341 GitHub stars versus 84.
Why pick each one
Choose Apache Syncope if…
- Strong identity governance features
- Standards based
Watch out for
- Complex enterprise-oriented setup
Choose LemonLDAP::NG if…
- Mature and full-featured
- Many protocol options
Watch out for
- Complex configuration
- Perl stack is uncommon
Frequently asked questions
Is Apache Syncope or LemonLDAP::NG better?
Neither is universally better. Apache Syncope has the larger community; both share a hard setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Apache Syncope and LemonLDAP::NG free and open-source?
Yes. Apache Syncope is licensed under Apache-2.0 and LemonLDAP::NG under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Apache Syncope and LemonLDAP::NG with Docker?
Apache Syncope: yes. LemonLDAP::NG: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Apache Syncope or LemonLDAP::NG?
LemonLDAP::NG has the smaller minimum footprint at 1,024 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for Apache Syncope. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.