Password Gorilla vs KeePassium
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Password Gorilla | KeePassium |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 53 · Fair | 70 · Good |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Tcl | Swift |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 425 | ★ 1,697 |
| First released | 2005 | 2019 |
| Replaces | LastPass, Password Safe | 1Password, LastPass |
What are Password Gorilla and KeePassium?
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
KeePassium
KeePassium is an open-source password manager for iOS and macOS that works with KeePass KDBX databases. It supports Face ID, Touch ID and AutoFill while keeping all data under user control.
- KDBX-compatible iOS and macOS app
- Face ID and Touch ID unlock
- Password AutoFill integration
- Hardware key support
Password Gorilla vs KeePassium: key differences
Password Gorilla is written in Tcl, while KeePassium is built with Swift. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for Password Gorilla versus GPL-3.0 for KeePassium. Password Gorilla is the more established project (first released 2005), while KeePassium arrived in 2019. KeePassium has the considerably larger community, at 1,697 GitHub stars versus 425.
Why pick each one
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
Choose KeePassium if…
- Polished Apple-platform experience
- Open source
Watch out for
- Apple platforms only
- Premium tier for some features
Frequently asked questions
Is Password Gorilla or KeePassium better?
Neither is universally better. KeePassium has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Password Gorilla and KeePassium free and open-source?
Yes. Password Gorilla is licensed under GPL-2.0 and KeePassium under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Password Gorilla and KeePassium with Docker?
Password Gorilla: check the project docs for container support. KeePassium: check the project docs for container support.