Keycloak vs SpiceDB: 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 Keycloak and SpiceDB 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:
Keycloak
Open-source identity and access management
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (SpiceDB requires payment)
SpiceDB
Stop building authorization, start building value with battle-tested permissions infrastructure.
Best for you if:
- • You want eliminates the need for custom authorization development, saving engineering time
| At a Glance | SpiceDB | |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free 100% free | Free plan |
Category | Identity & Access Security | Security Data & Databases |
Rating | n/a | n/a |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Keycloak or SpiceDB?
Choose Keycloak if
- You want a fully free tool (SpiceDB requires payment)
- You want open source identity
- You want self-hostable
- You work in identity & access, not security
Choose SpiceDB if
- You want eliminates the need for custom authorization development, saving engineering time
- You want offers battle-tested infrastructure with industry-leading reliability
- You work in security, not identity & access
In-Depth Analysis
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
SpiceDB
Stop building authorization, start building value with battle-tested permissions infrastructure.
SpiceDB offers a very generous free open-source tier, making it accessible for developers and small projects.
Strengths
- Pro: Eliminates the need for custom authorization development, saving engineering time.
- Pro: Offers battle-tested infrastructure with industry-leading reliability.
- Pro: Supports highly complex and granular permission models without custom code.
- Pro: Scales to handle billions of objects and millions of users from day one.
- Pro: Provides strong consistency guarantees for data integrity and security.
Weaknesses
- Con: Requires understanding of Zanzibar-based authorization models.
- Con: Enterprise features and dedicated support are part of higher-tier paid plans.
Key features
Plans and prices: Keycloak vs SpiceDB
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Keycloak |
| keycloak.org read Sep 28, 2026 |
| SpiceDB |
| authzed.com/pricing read Sep 29, 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 Keycloak pricing and SpiceDB pricing.
Key Takeaways
Keycloak
- Choose if you want open-source identity and access management
SpiceDB
- Choose if you want stop building authorization, start building value with battle-tested permissions infrastructure
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 Keycloak and SpiceDB 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 Keycloak and SpiceDB used for?
Keycloak: Open-source identity and access management. SpiceDB: Stop building authorization, start building value with battle-tested permissions infrastructure.
What does Keycloak cost vs SpiceDB?
Keycloak is free. SpiceDB has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Sep 29, 2026.
What's the main difference between Keycloak and SpiceDB?
Keycloak's main strength: open source identity. SpiceDB's main strength: eliminates the need for custom authorization development, saving engineering time.