Open-source alternatives to Okta

Security & Passwords · 3 free & open-source options

Looking to replace Okta with something free and open-source? These 3 tools are the best open alternatives in 2026 — most are self-hostable, so you keep full control of your data and pay no subscription.

Keycloak ›Apache-2.0
Open-source SSO and identity management.
Self-hosted identity provider with SAML and OAuth.
Zitadel ›Apache-2.0
Cloud-native identity and access management.

At a glance: how they compare

Click a column to sort — the best one depends on what matters to you.

AlternativeStarsLanguageLicenseLast commitIn one line
KeycloakApache-2.0Open-source SSO and identity management.
AuthentikMITSelf-hosted identity provider with SAML and OAuth.
ZitadelApache-2.0Cloud-native identity and access management.

Which one should you pick?

Keycloak

Open-source SSO and identity management. Its Apache-2.0 license is permissive — free to use commercially, embed and modify. Because it is self-hostable, your data can stay entirely on your own infrastructure.

Authentik

Self-hosted identity provider with SAML and OAuth. Its MIT license is permissive — free to use commercially, embed and modify. Because it is self-hostable, your data can stay entirely on your own infrastructure.

Zitadel

Cloud-native identity and access management. Its Apache-2.0 license is permissive — free to use commercially, embed and modify. Because it is self-hostable, your data can stay entirely on your own infrastructure.

Switching from Okta without the drama

  1. Export your data from Okta first — most tools above can import standard formats.
  2. Run your top pick in parallel for a week or two before committing; self-hosted options can be tried locally in minutes.
  3. Migrate one team or one project at a time, keeping the old account read-only until everything checks out.

FAQ

What is the best open-source alternative to Okta?

The top open-source alternative is Keycloak — Open-source SSO and identity management. The full ranked list is above.

Are these Okta alternatives free?

Yes. Every tool listed is open-source and free to use; most can be self-hosted so you keep full control of your data.

Can I self-host an alternative to Okta?

Most of these tools are designed to run on your own server or machine, giving you privacy and no subscription fees.

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