OpenIddict review
A flexible .NET framework for building self-hosted OAuth and OIDC services.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
OpenIddict is a free, open-source .NET framework for building OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect clients, authorization servers, and token-validation services. Its independent client, server, and validation stacks can be used together or separately, making it suitable for developers implementing identity protocols in self-hosted applications. The server stack supports ASP.NET Core and legacy ASP.NET applications, while the client stack also supports desktop and mobile applications across web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android environments.
Its main strength is protocol and deployment coverage. OpenIddict includes authorization-server and client stacks, API token validation, client-credentials grants, token introspection, reference access and refresh tokens, revocation, proof-of-key and client assertion authentication, and mutual TLS client authentication and token binding. The ecosystem connects with ASP.NET, ASP.NET Core, Entity Framework 6, Entity Framework Core, MongoDB, Quartz.NET, and more than 100 OAuth and OpenID Connect web providers. Entity Framework, Entity Framework Core, and MongoDB integrations also give teams several persistence options.
OpenIddict is a better fit for teams that want control over identity implementation, storage, and deployment than for organizations seeking a managed identity service. Operating it requires application code and a self-hosted deployment model, so implementation responsibility remains with the development team. SAML is not a native core feature; it is documented through the commercial OpenIddict.SAML2P component from Rock Solid Knowledge. Teams that need a turnkey hosted service, native core SAML, or standard dedicated support should consider an alternative. Teams building customized .NET OAuth and OIDC infrastructure should find its broad protocol coverage more relevant.
OpenIddict pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Separate client, server, and token-validation stacks
- Supports ASP.NET, ASP.NET Core, desktop, and mobile applications
- Includes introspection, revocation, mTLS, and database integrations
- Where it doesn't
- Requires application code instead of providing a turnkey hosted service
- SAML is handled through a commercial component, not the core feature set
- Dedicated support depends on a custom support contract
OpenIddict fact sheet, pricing and score →
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.
Last updated · How we research and update