Best authentik Alternatives in 2026
The top authentik alternatives are Keycloak, WSO2 Identity Server and Apereo CAS: 15 OAuth server software our editors would look at instead of authentik, in our ranking order.
authentik: A broad, self-hosted identity stack for teams that need open-source control. Where it falls short: deployment is self-hosted rather than hosted by the vendor.
Switching from authentik? For most oauth server software buyers the best authentik alternative is Keycloak, built for broad self-hosted identity deployments. On a budget, Amazon Cognito starts at $0.0055/user/mo, against $5/user/mo for authentik.
Why People Look for an authentik Alternative
- Deployment is self-hosted rather than hosted by the vendor
- Advanced enterprise capabilities require paid plans
- Enterprise Plus uses custom contracts and dedicated support
- Paid from $5/mo — Amazon Cognito is $0.0055/mo
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallKeycloak9.4
Broad self-hosted identity deployments
Visit Keycloak - Lowest priceAmazon Cognito8.7
Paid plans from $0.0055/user/mo
Visit Amazon Cognito - Best free optionKeycloak9.4
Has a free plan
Visit Keycloak
All 15 authentik Alternatives, Ranked
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.
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Best forBroad self-hosted identity deployments
- Better than authentik:
- Editor score 9.4 vs 9.2
A broad, self-hosted IAM server for standards-based authentication and authorization.
9.4/10★★★★★Visit Keycloak -
Best forEnterprise self-hosted IAM
A broad self-hosted IAM platform for enterprise OAuth, OIDC, SAML, and provisioning needs.
9.1/10★★★★★Visit WSO2 -
Best forAuditable open-source SSO infrastructure
A broad, auditable SSO foundation for teams prepared to run identity infrastructure.
- SAML support
- Self-hosting
- Token introspection
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Apereo CAS -
Best for.NET OAuth and OIDC implementations
A flexible .NET framework for building self-hosted OAuth and OIDC services.
- SAML support
- Self-hosting
- Token introspection
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit OpenIddict -
Best forManaged or self-hosted identity platforms
A flexible OAuth and identity stack for teams choosing cloud, self-hosting, or both.
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Ory -
Best forAWS-centric application authentication
- Better than authentik:
- Paid from: $0.0055/mo vs $5/mo
A usage-based AWS identity service with OAuth, federation, MFA, and temporary AWS credentials.
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Amazon Cognito -
Best forFree self-hosted OAuth deployments
A free, self-hosted OAuth and identity platform with broad protocol support.
- SAML support
- Self-hosting
- Token introspection
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Casdoor -
Best forLightweight Kubernetes OIDC federation
A focused, open-source OIDC and OAuth layer for Kubernetes federation.
- SAML support
- Self-hosting
- Token introspection
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Dex -
Best forStandards-focused Node.js authorization servers
A configurable Node.js authorization server library for standards-focused teams.
- Self-hosting
- Token introspection
- Machine-to-machine auth
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit oidc-provider -
Best forSelf-hosted OAuth/OIDC with operational APIs
A self-hosted identity server with broad protocol support and operational APIs.
- SAML support
- Self-hosting
- Token introspection
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Janssen Server -
Best forSelf-hosted reverse-proxy access control
A focused, self-hosted access layer for reverse-proxy environments.
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Authelia -
Best forAdaptive open-source SSO gateways
A flexible self-hosted SSO gateway with broad protocols, adaptive access, and strong MFA coverage.
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit LemonLDAP::NG -
Best forTraditional self-hosted federation deployments
A broad, self-hosted federation server for organizations managing identity in-house.
- SAML support
- Self-hosting
- Token introspection
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit OpenAM -
Best forDeveloper-friendly hosted authentication
Developer-friendly hosted and self-hosted authentication with broad identity features.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Logto -
Best forMulti-tenant identity with provisioning
A flexible OAuth and multi-tenant identity platform with cloud and self-hosted options.
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit ZITADEL
authentik Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to authentik?
Keycloak: #1 in our OAuth Server Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. A broad, self-hosted IAM server for standards-based authentication and authorization.
Is there a free alternative to authentik?
Yes. Keycloak, WSO2 Identity Server, Apereo CAS, OpenIddict and Ory have a free plan or a free tier (15 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
What is the cheapest paid alternative to authentik?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, Amazon Cognito starts lowest, at $0.0055/user/mo.
Why do people look for authentik alternatives?
Deployment is self-hosted rather than hosted by the vendor; Advanced enterprise capabilities require paid plans; Enterprise Plus uses custom contracts and dedicated support.
How do I switch from authentik?
Snapshot or back up the data and configs on your authentik server. Create the new server with the same operating system and size, and add your SSH key. Copy the data across (rsync or your backup tool) and reinstall your apps or containers. Move the DNS records or IP references to the new server, test it, then cancel authentik.
How to Switch from authentik
- Snapshot or back up the data and configs on your authentik server.
- Create the new server with the same operating system and size, and add your SSH key.
- Copy the data across (rsync or your backup tool) and reinstall your apps or containers.
- Move the DNS records or IP references to the new server, test it, then cancel authentik.
authentik vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Deployment model | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | authentik | Yes | $5/user/mo | 9.2 | |
| 1 | Keycloak | Free | 9.4 | ||
| 2 | WSO2 Identity Server | Yes | Free | 9.1 | |
| 3 | Apereo CAS | Yes | Free | Self_hosted | 9.0 |
| 4 | OpenIddict | Yes | Free | Self_hosted | 8.9 |
| 5 | Ory | Yes | 8.8 | ||
| 6 | Amazon Cognito | Yes | $0.0055/user/mo | 8.7 | |
| 7 | Casdoor | Yes | Free | Self_hosted | 8.6 |
| 8 | Dex | Free | Self_hosted | 8.5 | |
| 9 | oidc-provider | Free | Self_hosted | 8.4 | |
| 10 | Janssen Server | Free | Both | 8.3 | |
| 11 | Authelia | Yes | Free | 8.2 | |
| 12 | LemonLDAP::NG | Yes | Free | 8.1 | |
| 13 | OpenAM | Yes | Free | Self_hosted | 8.0 |
| 14 | Logto | Yes | $24/mo | Both | 7.9 |
| 15 | ZITADEL | Yes | $100/mo | 7.8 |
Head-to-Head
- authentik vs Keycloak
- authentik vs WSO2 Identity Server
- authentik vs Apereo CAS
- authentik vs OpenIddict
- authentik vs Ory
- authentik vs Amazon Cognito
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update