Keel vs OpenFGA: 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 Keel and OpenFGA 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:
Keel
Enforce action-level rules before AI agents execute calls
Best for you if:
- • Teams whose agents take consequential actions (payments, writes, messages) and who must show afterward that each action was authorized
OpenFGA
Fine-grained authorization inspired by Google's Zanzibar, built for scalability and flexibility.
Best for you if:
- • You want highly scalable and performant for authorization checks
| At a Glance | Keel | OpenFGA |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free 100% free | Free 100% free |
Category | Security Identity & Access | Security Identity & Access |
Rating | n/a | n/a |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Keel or OpenFGA?
Choose Keel if
- Teams whose agents take consequential actions (payments, writes, messages) and who must show afterward that each action was authorized
- You want decides on the specific action and its arguments, not just the agent's identity
- You want a review holds the action until a person approves that exact request
Choose OpenFGA if
- You want highly scalable and performant for authorization checks
- You want flexible modeling language supports various access control paradigms
In-Depth Analysis
Keel
Enforce action-level rules before AI agents execute calls
Keel is currently free with no paid tiers, which is extremely generous compared to competitors that charge per seat or per action.
Strengths
- Pro: Decides on the specific action and its arguments, not just the agent's identity
- Pro: A review holds the action until a person approves that exact request
- Pro: Works alongside your identity provider, gateway and observability tools
- Pro: Open AI Permit specification (Apache-2.0) and MIT-licensed verifier
Weaknesses
- Con: Covers only actions routed through Keel; agents and tools it can't see aren't governed
- Con: Requires integrating Keel's SDK or API; it isn't a drop-in agent
- Con: A product from a small team
Key features
OpenFGA
Fine-grained authorization inspired by Google's Zanzibar, built for scalability and flexibility.
OpenFGA's pricing is exceptionally generous, as it is entirely free.
Strengths
- Pro: Highly scalable and performant for authorization checks.
- Pro: Flexible modeling language supports various access control paradigms.
- Pro: Open-source and backed by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF).
- Pro: Easy integration with existing applications via SDKs.
Weaknesses
- Con: Requires Docker for quick local setup, which might be an initial barrier for some.
- Con: New users may need to learn the specific modeling language and concepts.
Key features
Plans and prices: Keel vs OpenFGA
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Keel | No plan prices on file | keelapi.com/pricing |
| OpenFGA |
| openfga.dev read Oct 8, 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 Keel pricing and OpenFGA pricing.
Key Takeaways
Keel
- Choose if you want enforce action-level rules before AI agents execute calls
OpenFGA
- Choose if you want fine-grained authorization inspired by Google's Zanzibar, built for scalability and flexibility
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.
- 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 Keel and OpenFGA 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. Both have a free plan.
What are Keel and OpenFGA used for?
Keel: Enforce action-level rules before AI agents execute calls. OpenFGA: Fine-grained authorization inspired by Google's Zanzibar, built for scalability and flexibility.
What does Keel cost vs OpenFGA?
Keel is free. OpenFGA is free. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 8, 2026.
What's the main difference between Keel and OpenFGA?
Keel's main strength: decides on the specific action and its arguments, not just the agent's identity. OpenFGA's main strength: highly scalable and performant for authorization checks.