LLDAP vs Ory Oathkeeper
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted identity & sso options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
LLDAP
Lightweight LDAP server with a simple web interface
VS
Ory Oathkeeper
Identity and access proxy for zero-trust networks
| Feature | LLDAP | Ory Oathkeeper |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Identity & SSO | Identity & SSO |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Rust | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker, kubernetes, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 6,421 | ★ 3,590 |
| First released | 2021 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Active Directory, OpenLDAP | Cloudflare Access |
Why pick each one
Choose Ory Oathkeeper if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Kubernetes-ready with Helm charts available
- Active community (3.6k GitHub stars)
Frequently asked questions
Is LLDAP or Ory Oathkeeper better?
LLDAP is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Ory Oathkeeper if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are LLDAP and Ory Oathkeeper free and open-source?
Yes. LLDAP is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Ory Oathkeeper under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run LLDAP and Ory Oathkeeper with Docker?
LLDAP: yes. Ory Oathkeeper: yes.