Password Gorilla vs Vaultwarden
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted password managers options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Vaultwarden
Lightweight Bitwarden-compatible password server
| Feature | Password Gorilla | Vaultwarden |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | ≈5-minute setup |
| Health score | 53 · Fair | 100 · Excellent |
| Category | Password Managers | Password Managers |
| License | GPL-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Tcl | Rust |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 425 | ★ 68,080 |
| First released | 2005 | 2018 |
| Replaces | LastPass, Password Safe | 1Password, LastPass, Dashlane |
What are Password Gorilla and Vaultwarden?
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
Vaultwarden
Vaultwarden is a lightweight, unofficial Bitwarden-compatible server written in Rust that works with all official Bitwarden clients. It targets self-hosters who want Bitwarden without heavy resource use. It is deployed via Docker.
- Compatible with all Bitwarden clients
- Tiny resource footprint
- Organizations and sharing
- Includes premium-equivalent features
Password Gorilla vs Vaultwarden: key differences
Password Gorilla is written in Tcl, while Vaultwarden is built with Rust. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for Password Gorilla versus AGPL-3.0 for Vaultwarden. Password Gorilla is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Vaultwarden. Password Gorilla is the more established project (first released 2005), while Vaultwarden arrived in 2018. Vaultwarden has the considerably larger community, at 68,080 GitHub stars versus 425. Vaultwarden 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 Vaultwarden if…
- Extremely lightweight
- Works with official apps
- Easy to deploy
Watch out for
- Unofficial, community project
- Self-hosting security is on you
Frequently asked questions
Is Password Gorilla or Vaultwarden better?
Neither is universally better. Vaultwarden has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Password Gorilla and Vaultwarden free and open-source?
Yes. Password Gorilla is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Vaultwarden under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Password Gorilla and Vaultwarden with Docker?
Password Gorilla: check the project docs for container support. Vaultwarden: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Password Gorilla or Vaultwarden?
Password Gorilla has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Vaultwarden. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.