Kanidm vs LLDAP
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted identity & sso options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Kanidm
Modern, simple and secure identity management server
VS
LLDAP
Lightweight LDAP server with a simple web interface
| Feature | Kanidm | LLDAP |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 90 · Excellent | 89 · Excellent |
| Category | Identity & SSO | Identity & SSO |
| License | MPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Rust | Rust |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 5,404 | ★ 6,512 |
| First released | 2019 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Active Directory, Okta | Active Directory, OpenLDAP |
What are Kanidm and LLDAP?
Kanidm
Kanidm is an identity management platform written in Rust, focused on simplicity, security and correctness. It provides authentication for web applications, Unix systems and LDAP-aware services.
- OAuth2 and OpenID Connect provider
- Passkey-first authentication
- Unix and LDAP integration
- Strong security defaults
LLDAP
LLDAP is a lightweight authentication server providing a simplified, opinionated LDAP interface. It is designed to be easy to set up and manage, with a clean web UI for users and groups.
- Minimal LDAP for self-hosters
- Friendly web UI for user management
- Tiny memory and CPU footprint
- Works with many self-hosted apps
Kanidm vs LLDAP: key differences
Both projects are written in Rust. Licensing differs — MPL-2.0 for Kanidm versus GPL-3.0 for LLDAP. LLDAP is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Kanidm. Kanidm is the more established project (first released 2019), while LLDAP arrived in 2021.
Why pick each one
Choose Kanidm if…
- Memory safe and lightweight
- Excellent passwordless support
Watch out for
- Smaller ecosystem and tooling
Choose LLDAP if…
- Very easy to deploy
- Lightweight Rust binary
Watch out for
- Not a full LDAP implementation
Frequently asked questions
Is Kanidm or LLDAP better?
LLDAP is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Kanidm if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Kanidm and LLDAP free and open-source?
Yes. Kanidm is licensed under MPL-2.0 and LLDAP under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Kanidm and LLDAP with Docker?
Kanidm: yes. LLDAP: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Kanidm or LLDAP?
LLDAP has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Kanidm. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.