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Cloud · head to head

Cilium vs LastPass

Cilium logo

Cilium

Cloud

eBPF-based networking, observability and security for Kubernetes

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
LastPass logo

LastPass

Cybersecurity

Simplify online life with LastPass password manager

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Cilium requires a recent Linux kernel, which rules out older distributions and some managed environments; LastPass free plan limited to 1 device type only
  • They diverge on capability: Cilium covers eBPF datapath, LastPass covers Password vault.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cilium and LastPass actually diverge.

Attributes where Cilium and LastPass differ
AttributeCiliumLastPass
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feefreemium
PlatformsKubernetes, LinuxWeb, Desktop, Mobile
CategoryCloudCybersecurity
FoundedUnknown2008

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Cilium

  • eBPF datapath
  • Identity-based policy
  • Hubble observability
  • Sidecar-free mesh

Only in LastPass

  • Password vault
  • Password generator
  • Autofill
  • Security dashboard
  • Dark web monitoring
  • Emergency access
  • Secure notes
  • Digital wallet

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Cilium

  • Kubernetes networking at a scale where iptables-based CNI performance degradesnot LastPass
  • Network policy expressed on workload identity rather than fragile IP rulesnot LastPass
  • Seeing which services actually talk to each other, and what policy is droppingnot LastPass

LastPass

  • Password management and vault storagenot Cilium
  • Multi-device access and autofillnot Cilium
  • Dark web monitoring and security dashboardnot Cilium
  • Team collaboration with shared folders and policiesnot Cilium

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Cilium

  • Requires a recent Linux kernel, which rules out older distributions and some managed environments
  • eBPF is genuinely hard to debug when it misbehaves, and the skill is rare on most teams
  • Broad scope — CNI, policy, mesh, observability — means the learning curve covers several domains at once

LastPass

  • Free plan limited to 1 device type only
  • Premium plan costs ~$3/month annually (30% discount applied)
  • Business Teams plan limited to up to 50 users maximum
  • Teams plan offers only 25 security policies
  • Business plan pricing ~$4/user/month
  • Business Max plan costs ~$7/user/month for advanced features

Pricing, plan by plan

Cilium

Free
  • CiliumFree
    • Full functionality
    • No usage limits
    • Community support

LastPass

Free
  • Free$undefined/mo
    • Unlimited password storage
    • Autofill
    • Dark web monitoring
  • Premium$undefined/month
    • Unlimited passwords
    • All devices
    • Password generator
  • Families$undefined/month
    • Premium features
    • Shared folders
    • Family manager dashboard

Which should you pick?

Choose Cilium if

  • You need ebpf datapath.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Kubernetes, Linux.
  • You also want identity-based policy.
Cilium review

Choose LastPass if

  • You need password vault.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
  • You also want password generator.
LastPass review

Questions people ask

Is Cilium or LastPass better?
Neither clearly leads. Cilium starts at Free and LastPass at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cilium or LastPass?
Cilium starts at Free and LastPass at Free.
Does Cilium or LastPass run on more platforms?
Cilium runs on Kubernetes, Linux. LastPass runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
Can I use Cilium for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Cilium best used for?
Cilium is most often used for kubernetes networking at a scale where iptables-based cni performance degrades, network policy expressed on workload identity rather than fragile ip rules, seeing which services actually talk to each other, and what policy is dropping. Of those, kubernetes networking at a scale where iptables-based cni performance degrades and network policy expressed on workload identity rather than fragile ip rules are not what LastPass is typically brought in for.
What can Cilium do that LastPass cannot?
Cilium covers eBPF datapath, Identity-based policy, Hubble observability, Sidecar-free mesh. LastPass covers Password vault, Password generator, Autofill, Security dashboard.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Cilium: Is Cilium free?

Yes, open source and CNCF-graduated. Isovalent sells an enterprise distribution and support.

LastPass: Does LastPass have a free version?

Yes, LastPass offers a free plan with unlimited password storage, autofill, dark web monitoring, and basic password sharing, but it is limited to 1 device type.

Source
Cilium: What does eBPF change?

It lets Cilium run packet-processing programs inside the kernel instead of relying on iptables rule chains, which behave poorly as the number of services grows.

LastPass: What devices does the free plan support?

The free plan is limited to 1 device type, meaning you must choose either desktop or mobile, not both.

Source
Cilium: Does Cilium replace a service mesh?

It can cover much of what a mesh does without sidecars, though full mesh feature sets still favour Istio or Linkerd.

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