LemonLDAP::NG vs SimpleSAMLphp
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted identity & sso options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | LemonLDAP::NG | SimpleSAMLphp |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 41 · Fair | 83 · Excellent |
| Category | Identity & SSO | Identity & SSO |
| License | GPL-2.0 | LGPL-2.1 |
| Language | Perl | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal, source, docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 84 | ★ 1,142 |
| First released | 2005 | 2007 |
| Replaces | Okta, PingFederate | Okta, PingFederate |
What are LemonLDAP::NG and SimpleSAMLphp?
LemonLDAP::NG
LemonLDAP::NG is an open-source Web SSO, access management, and identity federation product. It supports SAML, OpenID Connect, and CAS, and protects web applications behind a configurable portal.
- Web SSO portal
- SAML and OIDC support
- CAS protocol
- Fine-grained access rules
SimpleSAMLphp
SimpleSAMLphp is a widely used PHP application for implementing SAML 2.0 identity and service providers. It enables web single sign-on and federation for PHP environments and beyond.
- SAML 2.0 IdP and SP
- Identity federation
- Many auth backends
- Module ecosystem
LemonLDAP::NG vs SimpleSAMLphp: key differences
LemonLDAP::NG is written in Perl, while SimpleSAMLphp is built with PHP. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for LemonLDAP::NG versus LGPL-2.1 for SimpleSAMLphp. SimpleSAMLphp is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for LemonLDAP::NG. LemonLDAP::NG is the more established project (first released 2005), while SimpleSAMLphp arrived in 2007. SimpleSAMLphp has the considerably larger community, at 1,142 GitHub stars versus 84.
Why pick each one
Choose LemonLDAP::NG if…
- Mature and full-featured
- Many protocol options
Watch out for
- Complex configuration
- Perl stack is uncommon
Choose SimpleSAMLphp if…
- Proven and widely deployed
- Flexible modules
Watch out for
- Configuration is intricate
- PHP performance limits
Frequently asked questions
Is LemonLDAP::NG or SimpleSAMLphp better?
SimpleSAMLphp is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider LemonLDAP::NG if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are LemonLDAP::NG and SimpleSAMLphp free and open-source?
Yes. LemonLDAP::NG is licensed under GPL-2.0 and SimpleSAMLphp under LGPL-2.1. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run LemonLDAP::NG and SimpleSAMLphp with Docker?
LemonLDAP::NG: yes. SimpleSAMLphp: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, LemonLDAP::NG or SimpleSAMLphp?
SimpleSAMLphp has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for LemonLDAP::NG. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.