StrongDM

Infrastructure access platform that brokers connections to databases, servers and clusters with full audit logs.

PaidIdentity security (PAM and IGA)

Updated Nov 7, 2026 · AppBreakup editorial · macOS, Windows, Linux

Visit StrongDM See 5 alternatives

StrongDM has been acquired. Now part of Delinea, according to the StrongDM website.

Is StrongDM free?

No, it's a paid product

3 alternatives with a free option

Switch from StrongDM to

All 5

Teleport
Free plan + paid
Tailscale
Starting price: $8 per user/month (Standard)
Delinea
Paid

Verified facts: 4 of 4
Alternatives ranked: 5
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About StrongDM

StrongDM sits between engineers and the infrastructure they use every day: databases, SSH servers, Kubernetes clusters, RDP hosts and cloud consoles. People sign in through a desktop client (the sdm app and command line), and StrongDM's gateways proxy each connection, so credentials never reach the user's laptop. Admins grant access through roles and just-in-time requests, and every query and session can be logged or recorded for audits. It is a commercial, vendor-hosted service sold to companies rather than individuals, with pricing quoted by sales. StrongDM has since become part of Delinea, and its site now presents it within the Delinea Platform; existing customers keep the same logins and support channels. It suits engineering and security teams who want database and server access governed centrally without running their own bastion hosts, but buyers should expect a sales-led process and should watch how the product evolves inside Delinea's wider PAM suite.

Best for: Security teams that want brokered, audited access to databases and servers without bastion hosts.

What works

Credentials stay on the gateway instead of engineers' machines
Works across databases, SSH, Kubernetes and RDP
Session recording and query logs for audits

Why people leave

No public pricing; you must go through sales
Closed source and not self-hostable
Product direction now depends on Delinea's roadmap

StrongDM vs Teleport, Tailscale and Delinea

From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.

Attribute	StrongDM	Teleport	Tailscale	Delinea
Pricing	Paid	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid	Paid
Verified price	—	—	$8 per user/month (Standard)	—
Free plan	No	Yes	Yes, up to 6 users (Personal)	No
Open source	No	Yes	Yes	No
Self-hostable	No	Yes	No	Yes
Platforms	macOS, Windows, Linux	Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, Self-hosted	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android	Web, Self-hosted

Top StrongDM alternatives

See all 5

1
Teleport
Open-source alternative using short-lived certificates, which you can self-host or buy as a cloud service.
68.8
2
Tailscale
Lightweight mesh VPN with SSH and ACLs for teams that mainly need network-level access.
66.2
3
Delinea
StrongDM's new owner; its platform adds credential vaulting and server privilege controls.
64.8
4
CyberArk (Idira)
Large enterprise PAM suite with vaulting, session isolation and identity governance.
61.8
5
Twingate
Zero-trust network access with per-resource rules and a simpler, self-serve setup.
50.0

Why people left StrongDM

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

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StrongDM: common questions

What is StrongDM?

StrongDM: Infrastructure access platform that brokers connections to databases, servers and clusters with full audit logs. Best for security teams that want brokered, audited access to databases and servers without bastion hosts. Available for macOS, Windows and Linux.

Is StrongDM free?

No, StrongDM is a paid product.

Is StrongDM open source?

No, StrongDM is not open source. Open-source alternatives include Teleport and Tailscale.

What platforms does StrongDM run on?

StrongDM is available for macOS, Windows and Linux.

What are the best alternatives to StrongDM?

The highest-ranked StrongDM alternatives right now are Teleport, Tailscale and Delinea. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

StrongDM vs Teleport: what's the difference?

StrongDM is a paid product; Teleport is free with paid plans. Teleport is open source and StrongDM is not. Only Teleport runs on Web.

See all 5 StrongDM alternatives

StrongDM facts

4 of 4 verified

Owner: Delinea; Checked Nov 8, 2026strongdm.com(opens source in a new tab); “Learn the Delinea Difference StrongDM — Now part of Delinea StrongDM is now part of Delinea”
Just-in-time access: Yes; Checked Nov 8, 2026strongdm.com(opens source in a new tab); “delivering just-in-time access and runtime authorization”
Session recording: Yes; Checked Nov 8, 2026strongdm.com(opens source in a new tab); “Security audit & compliance Capture session recording and audit-ready evidence across every identity.”
Existing customers: Logins and support unchanged; Checked Nov 8, 2026strongdm.com(opens source in a new tab); “Your deployment, login and support channels work the same way today.”