Cerbos vs Permit.io: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Cerbos and Permit.io 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.
By Toolradar Team · Last updated February 22, 2026 · Methodology
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Cerbos
Fine-grained, contextual, and continuous authorization for enterprise software and AI systems.
Best for you if:
- • Provides fine-grained, contextual authorization for enterprise software and AI.
- • Offers a complete platform with policy definition, enforcement, and centralized management.
Permit.io
End-to-end authorization platform for the AI era, with no-code policy editing and GitOps.
Best for you if:
- • Provides an end-to-end authorization platform with no-code and policy-as-code options.
- • Supports RBAC, ABAC, and ReBAC models, generating policies based on OPA Rego or AWS Cedar.
| At a Glance |  Cerbos | |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Free + Paid |
Best For | Identity & Access | Identity & Access |
Rating | —/100 | —/100 |
| Feature | Cerbos | Permit.io |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Editorial Score | — | — |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | Identity & AccessCompliance | Identity & Access |
How Cerbos and Permit.io Compare
Cerbos
Fine-grained, contextual, and continuous authorization for enterprise software and AI systems.
Free tier available
Permit.io
End-to-end authorization platform for the AI era, with no-code policy editing and GitOps.
Free tier available
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Cerbos
Want the highest-rated option?
Neither has been rated yet.
Go with: Cerbos
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Cerbos
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are freemium. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Both are identity & access tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Not all tools have been rated yet.
Key Takeaways
Cerbos
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Permit.io
The Bottom Line
Cerbos is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cerbos or Permit.io better?
Cerbos scores high/100 in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Cerbos and Permit.io used for?
Cerbos: Fine-grained, contextual, and continuous authorization for enterprise software and AI systems.. Permit.io: End-to-end authorization platform for the AI era, with no-code policy editing and GitOps..
What does Cerbos cost vs Permit.io?
Cerbos is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Permit.io is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.