Descope 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 Descope 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:
Descope
Passwordless authentication and user management
Keycloak
Open-source identity and access management
| At a Glance | Descope | |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $249/mo, billed monthly Pro plan | Free 100% free |
Category | Identity & Access Security | Identity & Access Security |
Rating | 4.8/5 G2 4.8 86 reviews | n/a |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | Overage fees for MAUs beyond tier limits | n/a |
Choose Descope or Keycloak?
Choose Descope if
- You need identity & access features specifically.
Choose Keycloak if
- You need identity & access features specifically.
In-Depth Analysis
Descope
Passwordless authentication and user management
Descope's pricing is quite generous, especially with a robust Free tier offering 7,500 MAUs and all auth methods.
Watch out
Overage fees for MAUs beyond tier limits
Strengths
- Pro: Modern auth methods
- Pro: Easy implementation
- Pro: Good free tier
Weaknesses
- Con: Newer platform
- Con: Limited ecosystem
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: Descope vs Keycloak
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Descope |
| descope.com/pricing read Nov 8, 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 Descope pricing and Keycloak pricing.
Key Takeaways
Descope
- Worth considering for identity & access
Keycloak
- Worth considering for identity & access
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 Descope has a published user rating (4.8/5 from 86 reviews); Keycloak has none we can show.
- Descope starts at $249/mo, billed monthly; 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 Descope 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 Descope has a published user rating (4.8/5 from 86 reviews); Keycloak has none we can show. Descope starts at $249/mo, billed monthly; Keycloak has no public paid plan price on file. Both have a free plan.
What are Descope and Keycloak used for?
Descope: Passwordless authentication and user management. Keycloak: Open-source identity and access management.
What does Descope cost vs Keycloak?
Descope's cheapest paid plan is Pro at $249/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Keycloak is free. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 8, 2026.
What's the main difference between Descope and Keycloak?
Descope's main strength: modern auth methods. Keycloak's main strength: open source identity.
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