Password Gorilla vs LessPass
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 | LessPass |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 53 · Fair | 88 · Excellent |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Tcl | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 425 | ★ 6,065 |
| First released | 2005 | 2016 |
| Replaces | LastPass, Password Safe | 1Password, LastPass |
What are Password Gorilla and LessPass?
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
LessPass
LessPass is an open-source password manager that generates unique passwords deterministically from a master password and site details. Because nothing is stored, there is no vault to sync or back up.
- Deterministic password generation
- No vault to store or sync
- Browser extensions and mobile apps
- Optional self-hosted profile sync
Password Gorilla vs LessPass: key differences
Password Gorilla is written in Tcl, while LessPass is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for Password Gorilla versus GPL-3.0 for LessPass. Password Gorilla is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for LessPass. Password Gorilla is the more established project (first released 2005), while LessPass arrived in 2016. LessPass has the considerably larger community, at 6,065 GitHub stars versus 425. LessPass lists first-class Docker deployment; Password Gorilla does not.
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 LessPass if…
- Nothing to back up
- Works fully offline
Watch out for
- Hard to change a single password
- Profiles must be remembered
Frequently asked questions
Is Password Gorilla or LessPass better?
Neither is universally better. LessPass has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Password Gorilla and LessPass free and open-source?
Yes. Password Gorilla is licensed under GPL-2.0 and LessPass under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Password Gorilla and LessPass with Docker?
Password Gorilla: check the project docs for container support. LessPass: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Password Gorilla or LessPass?
Password Gorilla has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for LessPass. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.