Alternatives / Okta

14 open-source alternatives

14 Best Open Source Okta Alternatives in 2026

Looking for an open source Okta alternative? We compared 14 open source identity, authentication, and authorization tools by license, SSO, passkeys, and maintenance. Keycloak and Authentik are the full identity providers, while Better Auth, Hanko, and Logto fit app developers.

Maxime DERAME's profile

Written by Maxime DERAME

Last updated:

Best Okta alternatives at a glance

AlternativeBest forLicense
HankoPasskey-first authenticationAGPL-3.0
KeycloakComprehensive IAM, CNCF projectApache-2.0
Better AuthTypeScript auth frameworkMIT
authentikFlexible identity provider with app proxyMIT core
ZITADELIdentity suite with multi-tenancyAGPL-3.0 with limited directory exceptions
LogtoCustomizable login and user managementMPL-2.0
SuperTokensSelf-hosted sessions and passwordlessApache-2.0 core / Enterprise components
OryModular identity stackApache-2.0 core
Pocket IDPasskey-only OIDC providerBSD-2-Clause
HexclaveAuth, payments, email, and analytics modulesMIT clients / AGPL-3.0 servers
PermifyAuthorization service (not authentication)AGPL-3.0
CerbosPolicy-based authorization (not authentication)Apache-2.0 core
DefguardWireGuard VPN with MFA and SSOAGPL core + Enterprise license
AuthgearIAM for B2C and B2B appsApache-2.0

How we chose these Okta alternatives

We looked for open-source tools that provide login, SSO, and user management like Okta. We verified each project's license, recent activity, stars, and self-hosting in its repository, and flag the entries that cover only authorization or VPN access. See our methodology for the full criteria.

Closest to Okta

Keycloak is the most comprehensive: SSO, LDAP and Active Directory, SAML and OIDC, and clustering, as a CNCF project, though it is complex to configure. Authentik is a flexible self-hosted identity provider with MFA, conditional access, and an app proxy, and Zitadel is an identity suite with multi-tenancy and gRPC and REST APIs.

For application developers

Better Auth is a TypeScript auth framework with 2FA and multi-tenancy, Hanko is passkey-first authentication, and Logto is an identity platform with customizable login. SuperTokens offers self-hosted sessions and passwordless login, Ory is a modular identity stack, and Authgear is IAM for B2C and B2B apps.

Simple and focused tools

Pocket ID is a passkey-only OIDC provider with LDAP sync and SCIM that does less than heavier platforms and has no password fallback. Hexclave is a set of self-hosted modules for auth, payments, email, and analytics.

Not identity providers

Permify and Cerbos handle authorization only, not authentication. Defguard is a WireGuard VPN with mandatory MFA and OIDC SSO, so it is a VPN product rather than a general identity platform.

Important: open core

Authentik, SuperTokens, Ory, Cerbos, and Defguard keep some features in enterprise or paid editions. Zitadel is AGPL-3.0 with limited directory exceptions, and Hexclave mixes MIT clients with AGPL-3.0 servers.

License details

Keycloak, Authgear, SuperTokens, Ory, and Cerbos are Apache-2.0, and Logto is MPL-2.0. Better Auth and Authentik's core are MIT. Hanko, Permify, Zitadel, and Hexclave's servers are AGPL-3.0, and Pocket ID is BSD-2-Clause.

Maintenance status

All 14 had commits within days or weeks of this update.

Why look for a Okta alternative?

Okta is a proprietary identity platform priced per user and per feature, so costs rise with SSO, MFA, and lifecycle add-ons. Open-source identity tools avoid per-user pricing and keep credentials on your infrastructure, but you take on security operations, upgrades, and compliance.

keycloak.org
1

Keycloak

Established open-source identity and access management

Apache-2.0 IAM platform providing SSO, social login, LDAP and Active Directory federation, OpenID Connect, OAuth 2.0, SAML, MFA, user management, authorization policies, and customizable authentication flows.

37.4K9.1KApache-2.0Self-hosted

Pricing: Free and open source; self-hosted or operated through third-party services.

  • OIDC, OAuth, SAML, LDAP, and Active Directory
  • SSO, social login, MFA, federation, and fine-grained authorization
  • Mature ecosystem and enterprise adoption
  • Complex configuration and steep learning curve
  • Heavier operational footprint than auth libraries
  • Custom themes and flows can require significant expertise
better-auth.com
2

Better Auth

TypeScript-first authentication framework for applications

MIT authentication and authorization framework that runs inside a TypeScript application rather than as a standalone identity service. Supports email/password, social login, two-factor authentication, organizations, sessions, and an extensible plugin ecosystem.

30.3K3KMITIntegrated in application

Pricing: Open-source framework; you operate the application and its infrastructure.

  • MIT license and TypeScript-first design
  • Framework-agnostic with email/password, social login, and 2FA
  • Organizations, sessions, plugins, and type-safe API without a separate identity server
  • Not a managed Auth0-style service by itself
  • Authentication responsibilities remain in your application
  • Enterprise federation may require additional setup
goauthentik.io
3

authentik

Self-hosted identity provider for SSO and enterprise IAM

Identity provider with an MIT-licensed core and a separate Enterprise offering. Supports OAuth2/OIDC, SAML, LDAP, RADIUS, SCIM, proxy authentication, MFA, conditional flows, and application access management.

26K2.1KMIT coreSelf-hosted

Pricing: Self-hosted open-source core; Enterprise features and support are commercial.

  • OIDC, OAuth2, SAML, LDAP, RADIUS, and SCIM
  • MFA, proxy provider, and custom authentication flows
  • Docker and Kubernetes support with broad homelab and enterprise adoption
  • More infrastructure than an in-app authentication library
  • Enterprise functionality exists separately
  • Configuration can become complex
supertokens.com
4

SuperTokens

Developer-oriented authentication platform and SDKs

Open-core authentication platform with Apache-2.0 core and separately licensed Enterprise code under ee/. Supports password and passwordless login, social sign-in, sessions, user management, access control, multi-tenancy, and backend and frontend SDKs.

15.4K834Apache-2.0 core / Enterprise componentsSelf-hosted

Pricing: Self-hosted open-source core and managed cloud; Enterprise components are separately licensed.

  • Apache-2.0 core with self-hosting and managed cloud
  • Password, passwordless, and social authentication with session management
  • Multi-tenancy and developer-friendly frontend/backend SDKs
  • Enterprise components use separate licensing
  • Less complete workforce IAM than Keycloak
  • SAML and enterprise federation are not central to the open-source core
zitadel.com
5

ZITADEL

Identity infrastructure for SaaS and B2B applications

AGPL-3.0 identity platform with limited directory exceptions, providing OIDC, OAuth2, SAML, SCIM, MFA, passkeys, organizations, multi-tenancy, audit logs, roles, APIs, managed cloud, and self-hosting.

15.3K1.4KAGPL-3.0 with limited directory exceptionsSelf-hosted

Pricing: Managed cloud and self-hosted deployment options.

  • OIDC, OAuth2, SAML, and SCIM
  • Passkeys, MFA, organizations, multi-tenancy, and audit logs
  • API-first B2B SaaS fit with hosted cloud and self-hosting
  • More complex than lightweight authentication libraries
  • AGPL terms require consideration for modified network deployments
  • Smaller integration ecosystem than Auth0
logto.io
6

Logto

OIDC and OAuth 2.1 authentication and authorization platform

MPL-2.0 platform with login flows, social authentication, MFA, organizations, SSO, RBAC, machine-to-machine authentication, connectors, and SDKs for many frameworks. Supports self-hosting and hosted service.

14.7K1.2KMPL-2.0Self-hosted

Pricing: Self-hosted open-source edition and hosted cloud service; some advanced services are cloud-oriented.

  • OIDC and OAuth 2.1
  • Password and passwordless login, social auth, MFA, organizations, and SSO
  • RBAC, machine-to-machine auth, connectors, and 30+ framework SDKs
  • Younger than Keycloak
  • Smaller enterprise ecosystem
  • Some advanced services are cloud-oriented
ory.sh
7

Ory

Modular open-source identity and access infrastructure

Apache-2.0 core identity stack including Kratos for identity and authentication, Hydra for OAuth2/OIDC, and Keto for authorization. Provides headless APIs, passkeys, social login, MFA, cloud-native deployment, Kubernetes support, and self-hosting; some enterprise features use commercial agreements.

13.9K1.2KApache-2.0 coreSelf-hosted

Pricing: Self-hosted open-source components and managed services; enterprise features are commercial.

  • Modular components for authentication, OAuth/OIDC, and authorization
  • Apache-2.0 core with passkeys, social login, MFA, and headless APIs
  • Cloud-native and Kubernetes-friendly with self-hosting
  • Requires more architecture decisions
  • Multiple components may be needed
  • Enterprise functionality is separately licensed and less turnkey than Auth0
pocket-id.org
8

Pocket ID

Lightweight self-hosted OIDC provider centered on passkeys

BSD-2-Clause OpenID Connect and OAuth 2.0 identity provider that deliberately keeps its feature set small and uses passkeys as the only user authentication method. Includes LDAP synchronization, SCIM, groups, audit logs, REST API, and simple Docker deployment.

9.6K337BSD-2-ClauseSelf-hosted

Pricing: Free and open source; self-hosted deployment.

  • Lightweight passkey-only login and OIDC certification
  • OAuth 2.0, LDAP synchronization, SCIM, and groups
  • Audit logs, REST API, and simple Docker deployment
  • Intentionally limited scope
  • Passkeys only
  • Less suitable for complex B2C flows or a broad hosted-login ecosystem
hanko.io
9

Hanko

Authentication platform built around passkeys

AGPL-3.0 authentication platform for passwords and passwordless login, email passcodes, social sign-in, SSO, MFA, WebAuthn passkeys, web components, and self-service profiles. Available as self-hosted software or Hanko Cloud.

9K1KAGPL-3.0Self-hosted

Pricing: Open-source self-hosted option and managed cloud service.

  • Passkeys are a first-class feature alongside passwords
  • Email passcodes, social login, SSO, and MFA
  • Web components, self-service profiles, self-hosting, and cloud option
  • Smaller ecosystem than Keycloak
  • Less extensive enterprise federation
  • More focused on authentication than workforce IAM
hexclave.com
10

Hexclave

Self-hostable user infrastructure for SaaS products

Open-source-codebase self-hostable platform combining authentication and authorization with teams, multi-tenancy, payments, billing, transactional email, analytics, passkeys, and API keys. Broader than a conventional identity provider.

6.9K525MIT clients / AGPL-3.0 serversSelf-hosted

Pricing: Open source and self-hostable; enterprise licenses and a hosted service are available.

  • Authentication, authorization, teams, and multi-tenancy
  • Payments, billing, email, analytics, passkeys, and API keys
  • Designed as broader infrastructure for SaaS applications
  • Much broader than Auth0
  • Younger project with smaller ecosystem
  • Extra modules may be unnecessary for teams needing only authentication
permify.co
11

Permify

Fine-grained authorization service inspired by Zanzibar

AGPL-3.0 self-hosted authorization service for RBAC, ABAC, and relationship-based access control. It evaluates what authenticated users may do; it does not provide Auth0-style authentication or user login.

6K329AGPL-3.0Self-hosted

Pricing: Open-source self-hosted service; hosted offerings may be separate.

  • RBAC, ABAC, and ReBAC with Zanzibar-style relationships
  • Centralized policy engine and API-based permission checks
  • Self-hosted authorization service
  • Does not authenticate users
  • Not a direct Auth0 replacement
  • Must be paired with an identity provider and adds infrastructure
cerbos.dev
12

Cerbos

Policy-as-code authorization engine

Apache-2.0 core authorization engine that evaluates policies through local or remote decision points. Supports RBAC, ABAC, YAML policies, GitOps workflows, language-agnostic SDKs, and self-hosting; enterprise management features are separate.

4.6K216Apache-2.0 coreSelf-hosted

Pricing: Open-source self-hosted engine; enterprise management features are separate.

  • RBAC and ABAC policies as code
  • YAML policies and GitOps workflows
  • Language-agnostic SDKs and stateless low-latency decision points
  • Does not provide user authentication
  • Requires an existing identity provider
  • Enterprise management features are separate
defguard.net
13

Defguard

Self-hosted WireGuard VPN with identity, MFA, and access control.

Defguard is an AGPL-core WireGuard access platform combining identity management, OpenID Connect, MFA, device management, access policies, and security auditing. Enterprise functionality uses a separate license.

2.9K121AGPL core + Enterprise licenseSelf-hosted

Pricing: AGPL core is self-hostable; Enterprise functionality and support may be paid.

  • WireGuard and self-hosting
  • Built-in MFA and OpenID Connect
  • Identity, devices, policies, and audits
  • Open core
  • More identity-oriented than ZeroTier
  • More infrastructure to operate
authgear.com
14

Authgear

Open-source identity and access management for B2B and B2C

Apache-2.0 authentication and IAM server with passwords, passwordless and social login, MFA, biometrics, passkeys, SSO, user management, and authorization. Can be self-hosted or used through Oursky's managed service.

2.1K130Apache-2.0Self-hosted

Pricing: Self-hosted server and managed service options.

  • Apache-2.0 with password and passwordless sign-in
  • Social login, MFA, biometrics, passkeys, and SSO
  • B2B and B2C user management, authorization, and self-hosting
  • Much smaller community and fewer integrations than Auth0
  • Managed-product documentation is more prominent
  • Smaller ecosystem than Keycloak or ZITADEL

Compare Okta alternatives

AlternativeTypeLicenseSelf-hostedBest for
HankoAuth platformAGPL-3.0YesPasskey logins
KeycloakIdentity providerApache-2.0YesClosest replacement
Better AuthAuth libraryMITIn your appTypeScript apps
authentikIdentity providerMIT core + enterpriseYesSelf-hosted SSO
ZITADELIdentity providerAGPL-3.0 with exceptionsYesB2B SaaS
LogtoIdentity platformMPL-2.0YesProduct teams
SuperTokensAuth platformApache-2.0 core + enterpriseYesData ownership
OryIdentity stackApache-2.0 coreYesScalable platforms
Pocket IDOIDC providerBSD-2-ClauseYesHomelabs and small teams
HexclaveApp backend modulesMIT clients / AGPL-3.0 serversYesFewer vendors
PermifyAuthorizationAGPL-3.0YesFine-grained permissions
CerbosAuthorizationApache-2.0 coreYesYAML policies
DefguardVPN with identityAGPL-3.0 core + EnterpriseYesVPN access
AuthgearIdentity platformApache-2.0YesLow-code setup

Which one should you choose?

Want a full-featured identity provider

Keycloak supports SSO, LDAP, SAML, and OIDC, with clustering, though it is complex to configure.

Keycloak

Want a flexible self-hosted IdP

Authentik offers MFA, conditional access, and an app proxy with Docker and Kubernetes deployment.

authentik

Want authentication inside a TypeScript app

Better Auth is MIT with 2FA and multi-tenancy for TypeScript apps.

Better Auth

Want passkeys only

Pocket ID is a lightweight passkey-only OIDC provider.

Pocket ID

Need fine-grained authorization

Cerbos externalizes permissions with YAML policies and audit trails.

Cerbos