Password Gorilla vs Passbolt
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Passbolt
Open-source password manager built for teams
| Feature | Password Gorilla | Passbolt |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 53 · Fair | 91 · Excellent |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Tcl | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 425 | ★ 6,136 |
| First released | 2005 | 2017 |
| Replaces | LastPass, Password Safe | 1Password, LastPass |
What are Password Gorilla and Passbolt?
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
Passbolt
Passbolt is an open-source password manager designed for teams, built around end-to-end encryption and OpenPGP. It targets organizations sharing credentials securely. It is deployed via Docker or packages.
- OpenPGP-based encryption
- Team-oriented sharing and roles
- Browser extension and apps
- Audit logs
Password Gorilla vs Passbolt: key differences
Password Gorilla is written in Tcl, while Passbolt is built with PHP. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for Password Gorilla versus AGPL-3.0 for Passbolt. Password Gorilla is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Passbolt. Password Gorilla is the more established project (first released 2005), while Passbolt arrived in 2017. Passbolt has the considerably larger community, at 6,136 GitHub stars versus 425. Passbolt 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 Passbolt if…
- Built for team sharing
- Strong encryption model
- Good admin controls
Watch out for
- Setup is involved
- Some features in paid tiers
Frequently asked questions
Is Password Gorilla or Passbolt better?
Neither is universally better. Passbolt 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 Password Gorilla and Passbolt free and open-source?
Yes. Password Gorilla is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Passbolt under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Password Gorilla and Passbolt with Docker?
Password Gorilla: check the project docs for container support. Passbolt: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Password Gorilla or Passbolt?
Password Gorilla has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Passbolt. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.