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Head-to-head · Single Sign-On Software

authentik vs Zoho Directory

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score authentik #1 in Single Sign-On Software 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 2 features Visit authentik
Zoho Directory #8 in Single Sign-On Software 8.6/10 Free plan · 45-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 2 of 2 features Visit Zoho Directory

authentik leads on 0 checks, Zoho Directory on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreauthentik · 9.4/10
  • Free planboth
  • Free trialonly Zoho Directory
  • Most featuresZoho Directory · 2 of 2

authentik scores higher on our rubric for single sign-on software: 9.4 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #8.

authentik is the better fit for teams seeking open-source SSO and access control. Zoho Directory is the better fit for small teams wanting low-cost application SSO.

  • authentik fits best

    Teams seeking open-source SSO and access control

  • Zoho Directory fits best

    Small teams wanting low-cost application SSO

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature authentik 9.4/10 Visit ↗ Zoho Directory 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 8.6
Ranking #1 in Single Sign-On Software #8 in Single Sign-On Software
Best for Teams seeking open-source SSO and access control Small teams wanting low-cost application SSO
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free plan + paid
Starting price $5/user/mo —
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — 45 days
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted Cloud, Mobile
Platforms Web Web, Android
Integrations 11 integrations 8 integrations
Features authentik 1/2 · Zoho Directory 2/2
Built-in MFA Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Adaptive access ✓ ✓
Specs
SSO protocols OAuth2/OpenID Connect, SAML2, LDAP, SCIM, RADIUS, Kerberos, WS-Federation SAML 2.0, OpenID Connect (OIDC), JWT
Directory integrations Not checked yet Microsoft Active Directory, Azure AD, LDAP
Lifecycle provisioning Not checked yet Scim
Prebuilt app count Not checked yet 350
Our review
Pros
  • Free edition supports OIDC, SAML, LDAP, SCIM, RADIUS, Kerberos, and proxy.
  • MFA and policy-based access controls cover varied authentication needs.
  • Application proxy and privileged access features extend beyond basic SSO.
  • Free plan includes SSO, MFA, provisioning, and conditional access
  • Supports 350 prebuilt apps plus custom SAML 2.0 and OIDC apps
  • SCIM, API provisioning, directory sync, and adaptive access support
Cons
  • Requires self-hosted deployment; there is no hosted version.
  • Privileged access management and enhanced audit logging require Enterprise.
  • Enterprise Plus is geared toward custom contracts and dedicated support.
  • Free plan is limited to 10 users and 3 applications
  • Custom provisioning and custom access policies start on Standard
  • Cloud LDAP and Cloud RADIUS are unlimited only on Professional
Our verdict

authentik is a self-hosted identity provider and single sign-on platform for site administrators, application developers, and security engineers. Its open-source Free plan combines SSO with user and group management, MFA, access policies,…

Read the review →

Zoho Directory is a workforce identity and access management platform for organizations managing employee identities, application access, authentication, and security policies. It is suited to small teams that need application SSO without…

Read the review →
  1. authentikSingle Sign-On Software 9.4Free plan
  2. Zoho DirectorySingle Sign-On Software 8.6Free plan · 45-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • authentik — where it wins

    • Free edition supports OIDC, SAML, LDAP, SCIM, RADIUS, Kerberos, and proxy.
    • MFA and policy-based access controls cover varied authentication needs.
    • Application proxy and privileged access features extend beyond basic SSO.

    Where it doesn't

    • Requires self-hosted deployment; there is no hosted version.
    • Privileged access management and enhanced audit logging require Enterprise.
    • Enterprise Plus is geared toward custom contracts and dedicated support.

  • Zoho Directory — where it wins

    • Free plan includes SSO, MFA, provisioning, and conditional access
    • Supports 350 prebuilt apps plus custom SAML 2.0 and OIDC apps
    • SCIM, API provisioning, directory sync, and adaptive access support

    Where it doesn't

    • Free plan is limited to 10 users and 3 applications
    • Custom provisioning and custom access policies start on Standard
    • Cloud LDAP and Cloud RADIUS are unlimited only on Professional

More comparisons

All single Sign-On software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update