Best Dex Alternatives in 2026
The top Dex alternatives are Keycloak, authentik and WSO2 Identity Server: 15 OAuth server software our editors would look at instead of Dex, in our ranking order.
Dex: A focused, open-source OIDC and OAuth layer for Kubernetes federation. Where it falls short: requires self-hosted deployment and operator-managed infrastructure.
Switching from Dex? For most oauth server software buyers the best Dex alternative is Keycloak, built for broad self-hosted identity deployments. On a budget, Amazon Cognito starts at $0.0055/user/mo.
Why People Look for a Dex Alternative
- Requires self-hosted deployment and operator-managed infrastructure
- The documented SAML connector is unmaintained and may be deprecated
- Narrower scope than full IAM suites
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 Dex 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 Dex:
- Editor score 9.4 vs 8.5
A broad, self-hosted IAM server for standards-based authentication and authorization.
9.4/10★★★★★Visit Keycloak -
Best forFeature-rich open-source identity teams
- Better than Dex:
- Editor score 9.2 vs 8.5
A broad, self-hosted identity stack for teams that need open-source control.
9.2/10★★★★★Visit authentik -
Best forEnterprise self-hosted IAM
- Better than Dex:
- Editor score 9.1 vs 8.5
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
- Better than Dex:
- Editor score 9.0 vs 8.5
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
- Better than Dex:
- Editor score 8.9 vs 8.5
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
- Better than Dex:
- Editor score 8.8 vs 8.5
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 Dex:
- Editor score 8.7 vs 8.5
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
- Better than Dex:
- Editor score 8.6 vs 8.5
A free, self-hosted OAuth and identity platform with broad protocol support.
- SAML support
- Self-hosting
- Token introspection
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Casdoor -
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
Dex Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Dex?
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 Dex?
Yes. Keycloak, authentik, WSO2 Identity Server, Apereo CAS and OpenIddict have a free plan or a free tier (15 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
What is the cheapest paid alternative to Dex?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, Amazon Cognito starts lowest, at $0.0055/user/mo.
Why do people look for Dex alternatives?
Requires self-hosted deployment and operator-managed infrastructure; The documented SAML connector is unmaintained and may be deprecated; Narrower scope than full IAM suites.
How do I switch from Dex?
Snapshot or back up the data and configs on your Dex 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 Dex.
How to Switch from Dex
- Snapshot or back up the data and configs on your Dex 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 Dex.
Dex vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Deployment model | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Dex | Free | Self_hosted | 8.5 | |
| 1 | Keycloak | Free | 9.4 | ||
| 2 | authentik | Yes | $5/user/mo | 9.2 | |
| 3 | WSO2 Identity Server | Yes | Free | 9.1 | |
| 4 | Apereo CAS | Yes | Free | Self_hosted | 9.0 |
| 5 | OpenIddict | Yes | Free | Self_hosted | 8.9 |
| 6 | Ory | Yes | 8.8 | ||
| 7 | Amazon Cognito | Yes | $0.0055/user/mo | 8.7 | |
| 8 | Casdoor | Yes | Free | Self_hosted | 8.6 |
| 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 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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