Authentik vs Keycloak
Self-host pick — both replace Auth0 (Identity / SSO / authentication-as-a-service).
Both Authentik and Keycloak self-host as a replacement for Auth0 (Identity / SSO / authentication-as-a-service). Pick Authentik if you want the lighter footprint — 15min docker-compose, $10 vps — python + postgres + redis stack. Pick Keycloak if you need b2B apps that want SAML + OIDC + LDAP federation in one server, and don't mind Java footprint — 20-30min docker-compose (Keycloak + Postgres) and $10 vps for a small team; $20+ for production with ha postgres.
| Authentikopen-source | Keycloakopen-source | |
|---|---|---|
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Setup time | 15min docker-compose | 20-30min docker-compose (Keycloak + Postgres) |
| Monthly cost | $10 VPS — Python + Postgres + Redis stack. | $10 VPS for a small team; $20+ for production with HA Postgres. |
| GitHub | goauthentik/authentik | keycloak/keycloak |
| Replaces | Auth0 | Auth0 |
Good fit for
Authentik
Modern apps that want OIDC + SAML with a clean web UI and a less heavyweight runtime than Keycloak.
Weak at:Smaller community than Keycloak; fewer pre-built SAML integrations to enterprise IDPs.
Keycloak
B2B apps that want SAML + OIDC + LDAP federation in one server, and don't mind Java footprint.
Weak at:Java-heavy; theming and UX out of the box are dated vs Auth0.
In a terminal? npx -y github:SolvoHQ/os-alt-cli auth0 prints Auth0's self-host options including both —
how the CLI works →
FAQ
Which is easier to self-host, Authentik or Keycloak?
Authentik: 15min docker-compose. Keycloak: 20-30min docker-compose (Keycloak + Postgres).
What does each cost to run?
Authentik: $10 VPS — Python + Postgres + Redis stack.. Keycloak: $10 VPS for a small team; $20+ for production with HA Postgres.. Both projects are free and open source.
Do Authentik and Keycloak replace the same SaaS?
Yes — both are open-source alternatives to Auth0.