authentik
Self-hosted open-source identity provider with SSO, LDAP, RADIUS and an application proxy.
- Verified facts
- 4 of 4
- Alternatives ranked
- 5
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About authentik
authentik is an open-source identity provider written in Python and Go that you run yourself, usually with Docker Compose or Kubernetes. It acts as an OIDC and SAML provider for modern apps, an LDAP and RADIUS server for older systems and network gear, and a proxy that adds login in front of apps with no authentication of their own. Flows and stages let you design enrolment, login and recovery steps in the admin UI, and policies written in Python allow detailed conditions. It is a favourite in homelab and self-hosting circles as a more approachable alternative to Keycloak, and it is increasingly used by companies too. The open-source edition is free with community support; the Enterprise edition adds features such as remote access, device trust connectors and support, priced per internal user and per external user. Expect to spend some time learning its flow model before it feels natural.
Best for: Self-hosters and IT teams who want one identity provider for web apps, LDAP and VPNs.
Pros and cons
What works
- 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
Why people leave
- Flow and stage concepts take time to learn
- No managed cloud; you operate it yourself
- Some enterprise features need a paid licence
Top authentik alternatives
See all 5- 1
Keycloak66.5More widely deployed in enterprises, with a large body of documentation.
- 2
Authelia62.6Much lighter option when you mainly need SSO and 2FA in front of a reverse proxy.
- 3
Pocket ID59.6Far simpler passkey-only OIDC provider for small teams and homelabs.
- 4
Zitadel57.2Open-source with a managed cloud option if you want to stop self-hosting.
- 5
Kanidm55.3Rust-based identity server with Linux login and SSH key distribution built in.
Why people left authentik
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authentik: common questions
Is authentik free?
Yes. authentik is free, open-source software that you can host yourself.
Is authentik open source?
Yes. The source code is on GitHub at goauthentik/authentik. You can also run it on your own server.
What platforms does authentik run on?
authentik is available for Self-hosted.
What are the best alternatives to authentik?
The highest-ranked authentik alternatives right now are Keycloak, Authelia and Pocket ID. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.