Password Gorilla vs Passky Server
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 | Passky Server |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 53 · Fair | 32 · At risk |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Tcl | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 425 | ★ 244 |
| First released | 2005 | 2021 |
| Replaces | LastPass, Password Safe | LastPass, Bitwarden |
What are Password Gorilla and Passky Server?
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
Passky Server
Passky is a simple and lightweight self-hostable password manager. The server component provides an encrypted backend that syncs with Passky web, desktop and mobile clients.
- Encrypted password sync server
- Lightweight PHP backend
- Web, desktop and mobile clients
- Two-factor authentication support
Password Gorilla vs Passky Server: key differences
Password Gorilla is written in Tcl, while Passky Server is built with PHP. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for Password Gorilla versus GPL-3.0 for Passky Server. Password Gorilla is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Passky Server. Password Gorilla is the more established project (first released 2005), while Passky Server arrived in 2021. Passky Server 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 Passky Server if…
- Very easy to set up
- Minimal footprint
Watch out for
- Smaller community and ecosystem
Frequently asked questions
Is Password Gorilla or Passky Server better?
Neither is universally better. Password Gorilla has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Password Gorilla and Passky Server free and open-source?
Yes. Password Gorilla is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Passky Server under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Password Gorilla and Passky Server with Docker?
Password Gorilla: check the project docs for container support. Passky Server: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Password Gorilla or Passky Server?
Password Gorilla has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Passky Server. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.