Password Gorilla vs Spectre
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Password Gorilla
Cross-platform password vault compatible with Password Safe
VS
Spectre
Stateless password manager that derives passwords on demand
| Feature | Password Gorilla | Spectre |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Tcl | C |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 425 | ★ 200 |
| First released | 2005 | 2012 |
| Replaces | LastPass, Password Safe | 1Password, LastPass |
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
Frequently asked questions
Is Password Gorilla or Spectre better?
Password Gorilla is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Spectre if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Password Gorilla and Spectre free and open-source?
Yes. Password Gorilla is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Spectre under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Password Gorilla and Spectre with Docker?
Password Gorilla: check the project docs for container support. Spectre: check the project docs for container support.