Bitwarden vs Password Gorilla
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Bitwarden
Open-source password manager you can self-host
VS
Password Gorilla
Cross-platform password vault compatible with Password Safe
| Feature | Bitwarden | Password Gorilla |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 96 · Excellent | 53 · Fair |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | C# | Tcl |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 20,184 | ★ 425 |
| First released | 2016 | 2005 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass, Dashlane | LastPass, Password Safe |
What are Bitwarden and Password Gorilla?
Bitwarden
Bitwarden is an open-source password manager offering encrypted vaults, sharing, and apps on every platform, with a self-hostable server. It targets individuals and teams wanting an audited password manager. It is deployed via Docker.
- Encrypted cross-platform vaults
- Secure password sharing
- Regular third-party audits
- Self-hostable official server
Password Gorilla
Password Gorilla is an open-source password manager that stores credentials in encrypted databases compatible with the Password Safe format. It runs on Linux, Windows, and macOS as a lightweight desktop app.
- Password Safe compatible
- Encrypted database
- Cross-platform desktop
- Lightweight
Bitwarden vs Password Gorilla: key differences
Bitwarden is written in C#, while Password Gorilla is built with Tcl. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Bitwarden versus GPL-2.0 for Password Gorilla. Password Gorilla is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for Bitwarden. Password Gorilla is the more established project (first released 2005), while Bitwarden arrived in 2016. Bitwarden has the considerably larger community, at 20,184 GitHub stars versus 425. Bitwarden lists first-class Docker deployment; Password Gorilla does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Bitwarden if…
- Audited and trusted
- Apps everywhere
- Open source
Watch out for
- Official server is resource heavy
- Setup more complex than Vaultwarden
Choose Password Gorilla if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in Tcl
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Bitwarden or Password Gorilla better?
Neither is universally better. Bitwarden has the larger community, while Password Gorilla is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Bitwarden and Password Gorilla free and open-source?
Yes. Bitwarden is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Password Gorilla under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Bitwarden and Password Gorilla with Docker?
Bitwarden: yes. Password Gorilla: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Bitwarden or Password Gorilla?
Password Gorilla has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for Bitwarden. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.