Keycloak vs Zitadel: 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 Zitadel 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 (Zitadel requires payment)
Zitadel
Open-source identity management
Best for you if:
- • You want open source IAM
| At a Glance | Zitadel | |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free 100% free | Free plan |
Category | Identity & Access Security | Identity & Access Security |
Rating | n/a | n/a |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Keycloak or Zitadel?
Choose Keycloak if
- You want a fully free tool (Zitadel requires payment)
- You want open source identity
- You want self-hostable
Choose Zitadel if
- You want open source IAM
- You want self-hostable
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
Zitadel
Open-source identity management
Zitadel's pricing is quite generous, especially with its robust open-source offering at $0.
Strengths
- Pro: Open source IAM
- Pro: Self-hostable
- Pro: Good features
- Pro: Active development
- Pro: Cloud option
Weaknesses
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Setup complexity
- Con: Documentation improving
- Con: Smaller community
- Con: Still maturing
Key features
Plans and prices: Keycloak vs Zitadel
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Keycloak |
| keycloak.org read Sep 28, 2026 |
| Zitadel | No plan prices on file | zitadel.com/pricing read Oct 19, 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 Zitadel pricing.
Key Takeaways
Keycloak
- Choose if you want open-source identity and access management
Zitadel
- Choose if you want open-source identity 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.
- 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 Zitadel 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 Zitadel used for?
Keycloak: Open-source identity and access management. Zitadel: Open-source identity management.
What does Keycloak cost vs Zitadel?
Keycloak is free. Zitadel has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 19, 2026.
What's the main difference between Keycloak and Zitadel?
Keycloak's main strength: open source identity. Zitadel's main strength: open source IAM.