Apereo CAS
Apereo CAS: A protocol-rich, self-hosted SSO platform for institutions with identity expertise. Ranked #9 of 32 in Single Sign-On Software by our editors (8.5/10); pricing: Free plan; best for institutions needing protocol-rich open-source SSO.
At a glance
- Editor score8.5 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forInstitutions needing protocol-rich open-source SSO
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Supports CAS, SAML 2.0, OAuth 2.0, and OpenID Connect
- Includes MFA, risk-based authentication, and session management
- Connects with LDAP, Active Directory, OpenLDAP, databases, and SCIM v2
Where it doesn't
- Self-hosted deployment places more responsibility on the institution
- Verified integration breadth is narrower than higher-ranked options
- MFA and risk-scoring references include development documentation
Our verdict on Apereo CAS
Apereo CAS is a free, open-source identity provider and enterprise single sign-on platform for web applications. It is designed for self-hosted deployments and suits institutions that need control over authentication, authorization, and identity infrastructure. The platform supports its native CAS ticket-based protocol alongside SAML 2.0, OAuth 2.0, and OpenID Connect, making it relevant for environments with varied application and identity requirements. It can connect to LDAP, Active Directory, OpenLDAP, JDBC databases, and external identity providers.
Its main strength is protocol and authentication depth. Apereo CAS combines centralized authentication with service registry and application authorization policies, session management, single logout, and SCIM v2 user and group provisioning. Multifactor authentication options include Duo, YubiKey, RADIUS, TOTP, and WebAuthn, while configurable risk scoring supports risk-based authentication. This gives institutions a broad set of controls within an open-source platform, particularly where native CAS support matters alongside modern federation protocols.
Apereo CAS is available at no cost under the Apache License 2.0, with no official paid plans. That pricing model can suit institutions with the technical capacity to operate and govern a self-hosted identity provider, but it also means deployment and ongoing administration sit with the organization. Its verified integration breadth is narrower than higher-ranked alternatives, and some MFA and risk-based authentication references are tied to development documentation. Choose Apereo CAS when protocol flexibility, open-source control, and institutional identity integration are priorities. Organizations seeking a more turnkey service or broader prebuilt application coverage should consider an alternative.
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Apereo CAS pricing
Apereo CAS fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| SSO protocols | CAS, SAML 2.0, OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect |
| Directory integrations | LDAP, Active Directory, OpenLDAP |
| Lifecycle provisioning | Not verified |
| Built-in MFA | Yes |
| Adaptive access | Yes |
| Prebuilt app count | Not verified |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web |
| Integrations | 5 integrations: LDAP, Active Directory, OpenLDAP, JDBC databases, SCIM v2 |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | apereo.org |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Apereo CAS integrations
Apereo CAS lists 5 integrations on its own site.
- LDAP
- Active Directory
- OpenLDAP
- JDBC databases
- SCIM v2
Alternatives to Apereo CAS
- authentikFlexible self-hosted SSO with a free open-source edition and paid access controls.9.4
- WSO2 Identity ServerA broad, self-hosted IAM platform for enterprise SSO, federation, MFA, and API security.9.2
- KeycloakA broad, open-source SSO server for teams that want to run identity infrastructure themselves.9.1
See all Apereo CAS alternatives →
Also Ranked In
Apereo CAS is ranked in 2 of our directories.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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