Clerk vs Keycloak: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Clerk and Keycloak side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Clerk
Authentication for modern apps
Best for you if:
- • You want beautiful UI components
Keycloak
Open-source identity and access management
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Clerk requires payment)
| At a Glance | Clerk | |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $20/mo, billed yearly Pro plan | Free 100% free |
Category | Identity & Access Developer Tools | Identity & Access Security |
Rating | 4.8/5 G2 4.8 126 reviews | n/a |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | SMS authentication costs $0.01 per message (US/CA), adds up for MFA-heavy apps | n/a |
Choose Clerk or Keycloak?
Choose Clerk if
- You want beautiful UI components
- You want easy setup
Choose Keycloak if
- You want a fully free tool (Clerk requires payment)
- You want open source identity
- You want self-hostable
In-Depth Analysis
Clerk
Authentication for modern apps
Clerk offers the most developer-friendly auth with 50K free users, enough for most startups to reach revenue before paying.
Watch out
SMS authentication costs $0.01 per message (US/CA), adds up for MFA-heavy apps
Strengths
- Pro: Beautiful UI components
- Pro: Easy setup
- Pro: Great DX
Weaknesses
- Con: Vendor lock-in
- Con: Pricing can add up
Key features
Keycloak
Open-source identity and access management
Keycloak's pricing is exceptionally generous, being entirely free as an open-source solution.
Strengths
- Pro: Open source identity
- Pro: Self-hostable
- Pro: Feature rich
- Pro: No per-user cost
- Pro: Enterprise ready
Weaknesses
- Con: Complex to set up
- Con: Requires maintenance
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Java-based
- Con: UI dated
Key features
Plans and prices: Clerk vs Keycloak
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Clerk |
| clerk.com/pricing read Oct 30, 2026 |
| Keycloak |
| keycloak.org read Sep 28, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Clerk pricing and Keycloak pricing.
Key Takeaways
Clerk
- Choose if you want authentication for modern apps
Keycloak
- Choose if you want open-source identity and access management
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- Only Clerk has a published user rating (4.8/5 from 126 reviews); Keycloak has none we can show.
- Clerk starts at $20/mo, billed yearly; Keycloak has no public paid plan price on file.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Clerk and Keycloak compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. Only Clerk has a published user rating (4.8/5 from 126 reviews); Keycloak has none we can show. Clerk starts at $20/mo, billed yearly; Keycloak has no public paid plan price on file. Both have a free plan.
What are Clerk and Keycloak used for?
Clerk: Authentication for modern apps. Keycloak: Open-source identity and access management.
What does Clerk cost vs Keycloak?
Clerk's cheapest paid plan is Pro at $20/mo, billed yearly; it also has a free plan. Keycloak is free. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 30, 2026.
What's the main difference between Clerk and Keycloak?
Clerk's main strength: beautiful UI components. Keycloak's main strength: open source identity.