Password Gorilla vs Passit
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 | Passit |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Tcl | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 425 | ★ 200 |
| First released | 2005 | 2016 |
| Replaces | LastPass, Password Safe | LastPass, 1Password |
What are Password Gorilla and Passit?
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
Passit
Passit is a self-hosted, open-source password manager with browser extensions. It encrypts credentials client-side before syncing them to your own Django-based server and supports group sharing.
- Client-side encrypted vault
- Browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox
- Group password sharing
- Self-hosted Django backend
Password Gorilla vs Passit: key differences
Password Gorilla is written in Tcl, while Passit is built with Python. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for Password Gorilla versus AGPL-3.0 for Passit. Password Gorilla is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Passit. Password Gorilla is the more established project (first released 2005), while Passit arrived in 2016. Password Gorilla has the considerably larger community, at 425 GitHub stars versus 200. Passit 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 Passit if…
- Simple sharing model
- Open and auditable
Watch out for
- Limited recent development
Frequently asked questions
Is Password Gorilla or Passit better?
Password Gorilla is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Passit if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Password Gorilla and Passit free and open-source?
Yes. Password Gorilla is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Passit under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Password Gorilla and Passit with Docker?
Password Gorilla: check the project docs for container support. Passit: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Password Gorilla or Passit?
Password Gorilla has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Passit. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.