Authelia vs HashiCorp Vault: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Authelia and HashiCorp Vault comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: HashiCorp Vault is our overall pick for security workflows. Pick Authelia if you need identity & access.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Authelia
Open-source authentication and authorization server
Best for you if:
- • You need something completely free
- • You need identity & access features specifically
- • Authelia is an open-source authentication server providing SSO and 2FA for applications
- • It works as a reverse proxy companion to protect internal services with access control
HashiCorp Vault
Securely store, manage, and encrypt secrets and credentials
Best for you if:
- • You need security features specifically
- • Secrets management and data encryption platform
- • Dynamic secrets and identity-based access
| At a Glance |  Authelia |  HashiCorp Vault |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Identity & Access | Security |
Rating | - | 4.5/5 |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Authelia or HashiCorp Vault?
Choose Authelia if
Open-source authentication and authorization server
- Open source SSO
- Self-hostable
- 2FA support
- You want a fully free tool (HashiCorp Vault requires payment)
- Your work is identity & access-shaped, not security-shaped
Choose HashiCorp Vault if
Securely store, manage, and encrypt secrets and credentials
- Industry standard
- Feature-rich
- Open source option
- Your work is security-shaped, not identity & access-shaped
| Feature | Authelia | HashiCorp Vault |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Freemium |
| User Rating | No ratings yet | ★4.5/5 62 reviews |
| Categories | Identity & AccessSecurity | SecurityDeveloper Tools |
In-Depth Analysis
Authelia
Open-source authentication and authorization server
Authelia offers an incredibly generous pricing model as it is entirely free and open-source.
Watch out
Requires self-hosting infrastructure
Strengths
- +Open source SSO
- +Self-hostable
- +2FA support
- +Good documentation
- +Privacy focused
Weaknesses
- -Setup complexity
- -Self-managed only
- -Learning curve
- -Smaller community
- -Maintenance needed
Key features
HashiCorp Vault
Securely store, manage, and encrypt secrets and credentials
HashiCorp Vault has one of the widest pricing spreads in infrastructure software, from $0 (Community Edition) to $50,000+/year (Enterprise).
Watch out
Per-client fees on HCP Vault Dedicated add $72.92/month per client on Essentials and Standard tiers. With 50 clients (applications or services authenticating to Vault), this alone adds $3,646/month on top of the cluster cost.
Strengths
- +Industry standard
- +Feature-rich
- +Open source option
Weaknesses
- -Complex setup
- -Learning curve
Key features
Pricing: Authelia vs HashiCorp Vault
| Plan | Authelia | HashiCorp Vault |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Free | Free Free |
| Tier 2 | N/A | $0.5 Standard |
| Tier 3 | N/A | $0.95 Plus |
| Tier 4 | N/A | Custom Enterprise |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Authelia pricing and HashiCorp Vault pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Authelia is free. HashiCorp Vault is freemium.
Go with: Authelia
Want the highest-rated option?
HashiCorp Vault is rated 4.5/5. Authelia has no ratings yet.
Go with: HashiCorp Vault
Value user reviews?
Authelia: no ratings yet. HashiCorp Vault: 62 reviews (4.5/5).
Go with: HashiCorp Vault
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Authelia is free. HashiCorp Vault is freemium. Go with Authelia if free matters most.
What's your use case?
Authelia is a identity & access tool. HashiCorp Vault is in security. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
HashiCorp Vault is rated 4.5/5; Authelia has no ratings yet.
Key Takeaways
HashiCorp Vault
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Authelia
- Completely free
- Better fit for identity & access
The Bottom Line
HashiCorp Vault is our pick. That said, Authelia is free, hard to beat on price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Authelia or HashiCorp Vault better?
HashiCorp Vault is rated in our evaluation. Authelia is free and HashiCorp Vault is freemium.
What are Authelia and HashiCorp Vault used for?
Authelia: Open-source authentication and authorization server. HashiCorp Vault: Securely store, manage, and encrypt secrets and credentials.
What does Authelia cost vs HashiCorp Vault?
Authelia is completely free. HashiCorp Vault is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.