AppBreakup

Okta Workforce Identity alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Okta Workforce Identity: annual billing with a contract minimum shuts out tiny teams, and governance and privileged access cost extra. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Okta Workforce Identity, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Microsoft Entra ID currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Keycloak logoKeycloakOpen sourceYesSelf-hosted, Linux, macOS +14 of 457.2
2authentik logoauthentikOpen sourceYesSelf-hosted4 of 455.3
  1. Keycloak logo

    1. KeycloakTop pick

    Best for: Organisations that want standards-based SSO on their own infrastructure at no licence cost

    Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Linux, macOS, Windows

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Okta Workforce Identity

    Free and self-hosted SSO for teams willing to run their own identity server.

    Pros

    • Free and open source under Apache 2.0
    • Supports OIDC, OAuth 2.0 and SAML with LDAP and AD federation
    • Mature, widely deployed and well understood

    Cons

    • You run, scale and upgrade it yourself
    • Admin concepts and theming have a steep learning curve
    • Login pages look dated without custom themes
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Keycloak a good Okta Workforce Identity alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    Apache-2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Protocols
    OpenID Connect, OAuth 2.0, SAML
    Checked Oct 25, 2026keycloak.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Directory federation
    LDAP and Active Directory
    Checked Oct 25, 2026keycloak.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Deployment
    Container image for Docker, Podman, Kubernetes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026keycloak.org(opens source in a new tab)
  2. authentik logo

    2. authentik

    Best for: Self-hosters and IT teams who want one identity provider for web apps, LDAP and VPNs

    Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Okta Workforce Identity

    Open-source identity provider with SSO, LDAP and RADIUS, much cheaper for smaller organisations.

    Pros

    • Covers OIDC, SAML, LDAP, RADIUS and proxy auth in one tool
    • Visual flows and Python policies for custom logic
    • Free open-source edition with no user limits

    Cons

    • Flow and stage concepts take time to learn
    • No managed cloud; you operate it yourself
    • Some enterprise features need a paid licence
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is authentik a good Okta Workforce Identity alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    Open-source edition, free
    Checked Oct 25, 2026goauthentik.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Protocols
    OIDC, SAML, LDAP, SCIM, RADIUS, Kerberos
    Checked Oct 25, 2026goauthentik.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Enterprise price
    $5 per user/month, billed annually
    Checked Oct 25, 2026goauthentik.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Self-hosting
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026goauthentik.io(opens source in a new tab)

The best Okta Workforce Identity alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Microsoft Entra ID logo

Best Okta Workforce Identity alternative for most people

Microsoft Entra ID

Often already included with Microsoft 365, making it the cheaper choice for Microsoft-centric companies.

Keycloak logo

Best Okta Workforce Identity alternative for a free option

Keycloak

Free and self-hosted SSO for teams willing to run their own identity server.

Microsoft Entra ID logo

Best Okta Workforce Identity alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Microsoft Entra ID

Often already included with Microsoft 365, making it the cheaper choice for Microsoft-centric companies.

authentik logo

Best Okta Workforce Identity alternative for open source

authentik

Open-source identity provider with SSO, LDAP and RADIUS, much cheaper for smaller organisations.

Keycloak logo

Best Okta Workforce Identity alternative for self-hosting

Keycloak

Free and self-hosted SSO for teams willing to run their own identity server.

JumpCloud logo

Best Okta Workforce Identity alternative for Mac

JumpCloud

Bundles SSO with device management, a good fit for smaller IT teams that want one tool.

Microsoft Entra ID logo

Best Okta Workforce Identity alternative for Windows

Microsoft Entra ID

Often already included with Microsoft 365, making it the cheaper choice for Microsoft-centric companies.

JumpCloud logo

Best Okta Workforce Identity alternative for Linux

JumpCloud

Bundles SSO with device management, a good fit for smaller IT teams that want one tool.

Ping Identity logo

Best Okta Workforce Identity alternative for iPhone and Android

Ping Identity

Another enterprise IAM suite, strong in hybrid and on-premises environments.

Microsoft Entra ID logo

Best Okta Workforce Identity alternative for working in the browser

Microsoft Entra ID

Often already included with Microsoft 365, making it the cheaper choice for Microsoft-centric companies.

Okta Workforce Identity alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Okta Workforce Identity?

Microsoft Entra ID ranks first right now. Often already included with Microsoft 365, making it the cheaper choice for Microsoft-centric companies. JumpCloud and Ping Identity follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Okta Workforce Identity?

Yes. Microsoft Entra ID (free plan + paid), Keycloak (open source) and authentik (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Okta Workforce Identity?

Yes: Keycloak and authentik. Keycloak and authentik can also be self-hosted.

Which Okta Workforce Identity alternatives work on Linux?

JumpCloud and Keycloak run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Okta Workforce Identity?

The complaints we hear most: annual billing with a contract minimum shuts out tiny teams; governance and privileged access cost extra; can overlap with Entra ID if you already pay for Microsoft 365.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Okta Workforce Identity, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.