Clipperz 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.
| Feature | Clipperz | Password Gorilla |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 15 · At risk | 53 · Fair |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | Tcl |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 750 | ★ 425 |
| First released | 2006 | 2005 |
| Replaces | 1Password, LastPass | LastPass, Password Safe |
What are Clipperz and Password Gorilla?
Clipperz
Clipperz is an open-source, zero-knowledge web password manager. All encryption happens in the browser before data reaches the server, so the host never sees plaintext credentials.
- Zero-knowledge browser encryption
- No plaintext ever sent to server
- Direct login links to sites
- Exportable encrypted data
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
Clipperz vs Password Gorilla: key differences
Clipperz is written in JavaScript, while Password Gorilla is built with Tcl. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Clipperz versus GPL-2.0 for Password Gorilla. Password Gorilla is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Clipperz.
Why pick each one
Choose Clipperz if…
- True zero-knowledge design
- Runs in any browser
Watch out for
- Project is largely dormant
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 Clipperz or Password Gorilla better?
Neither is universally better. Clipperz 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 Clipperz and Password Gorilla free and open-source?
Yes. Clipperz 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 Clipperz and Password Gorilla with Docker?
Clipperz: check the project docs for container support. Password Gorilla: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Clipperz or Password Gorilla?
Password Gorilla has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Clipperz. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.