10 Best Identity & Access Tools in 2026

Let's Encrypt provides free TLS certificates automatically. HTTPS for everyone—the nonprofit that made encrypted web the default instead of the exception. The certificates are free. The automation works. The web is more secure because of it. Anyone wanting HTTPS uses Let's Encrypt because certificates shouldn't cost money.

1Password is a password manager that securely stores passwords, credit cards, and sensitive documents with end-to-end encryption for individuals and teams.

Tailscale is a zero-config VPN built on WireGuard that creates secure networks between devices and servers. Connect devices like they're on the same network, anywhere. No port forwarding or firewall rules needed. SSO integration with your identity provider. ACLs control who can access what. Networking that just works, so you can focus on building.

Auth0 is an identity platform that makes authentication easy for developers. Add login, signup, and MFA with just a few lines of code. Support for social logins, enterprise SSO, and passwordless. Universal Login provides a customizable, secure login experience. SDKs for every major platform and framework. Authentication that developers can implement in minutes, not months.

Keycloak provides identity and access management you can self-host. SSO, identity federation, user management—enterprise IAM from Red Hat, open source. The features rival commercial IAM. Self-hosting keeps control with you. The protocol support is comprehensive. Organizations wanting enterprise IAM they control choose Keycloak for self-hosted identity management.

Bitwarden is an open-source password manager for individuals and teams. Secure vault syncs across all devices. Self-host for complete control over your data. Send securely shares sensitive information. Enterprise features include SSO and directory sync. Password security that doesn't require trusting a closed system.

Clerk is a developer-first authentication and user management platform offering pre-built UI components, social logins, MFA, and organization management for modern applications.

Ory provides open-source identity infrastructure. Authentication, authorization, and user management—identity services you can self-host. The open-source model provides freedom. The features are comprehensive. The architecture is modern. Teams wanting open-source identity infrastructure choose Ory for self-hosted auth.

HashiCorp Vault secures secrets, tokens, and encryption keys. Store sensitive data, control access, rotate credentials—secrets management that enterprises trust. The access control is sophisticated. Dynamic secrets rotate automatically. The audit trail is complete. Organizations with serious secrets management needs choose Vault for enterprise-grade security infrastructure.

Secrets Manager stores sensitive information—API keys, database credentials, certificates—and rotates them automatically. Applications retrieve secrets at runtime instead of baking them into config files. Automatic rotation changes credentials on a schedule without application changes. Audit logs show who accessed what. Encryption at rest and in transit is handled automatically. Production applications that take security seriously use Secrets Manager to keep credentials out of code and configuration files.