Ory vs smallstep: 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 Ory and smallstep 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:
Ory
Open-source identity infrastructure
Best for you if:
- • You want open source identity
smallstep
Zero-trust access and certificate management
Best for you if:
- • You want zero trust security
| At a Glance | Ory | smallstep |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $29/mo, billed monthly Growth plan | Free plan |
Category | Identity & Access Security | Identity & Access Security |
Rating | 4.5/5 G2 4.5 50 reviews | 4.2/5 G2 4.2 10 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | Overage fees for users beyond Growth tier's included amount | n/a |
Choose Ory or smallstep?
Choose Ory if
- You want open source identity
- You want self-hostable
Choose smallstep if
- You want zero trust security
- You want certificate management
In-Depth Analysis
Ory
Open-source identity infrastructure
Ory's pricing is quite fair, offering a generous Free tier for up to 25,000 users, which is significantly higher than many competitors.
Watch out
Overage fees for users beyond Growth tier's included amount
Strengths
- Pro: Open source identity
- Pro: Self-hostable
- Pro: Good documentation
- Pro: Active development
- Pro: Cloud option
Weaknesses
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Setup complexity
- Con: Enterprise features paid
- Con: Smaller community
- Con: Multiple products confusing
Key features
smallstep
Zero-trust access and certificate management
Smallstep's Enterprise-only pricing, with custom quotes, positions it as an expensive solution, especially for smaller organizations.
Strengths
- Pro: Zero trust security
- Pro: Certificate management
- Pro: Open source option
- Pro: Active development
- Pro: Good documentation
Weaknesses
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Complex setup
- Con: Enterprise features paid
- Con: Smaller community
- Con: Niche use case
Key features
Plans and prices: Ory vs smallstep
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ory |
| ory.sh/pricing read Oct 15, 2026 |
| smallstep |
| smallstep.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 Ory pricing and smallstep pricing.
Key Takeaways
Ory
- Choose if you want open-source identity infrastructure
smallstep
- Choose if you want zero-trust access and certificate 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.
- User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.5/5 from 50 reviews for Ory, 4.2/5 from 10 reviews for smallstep; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides).
- Ory starts at $29/mo, billed monthly; smallstep 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 Ory and smallstep 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. User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.5/5 from 50 reviews for Ory, 4.2/5 from 10 reviews for smallstep; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides). Ory starts at $29/mo, billed monthly; smallstep has no public paid plan price on file. Both have a free plan.
What are Ory and smallstep used for?
Ory: Open-source identity infrastructure. smallstep: Zero-trust access and certificate management.
What does Ory cost vs smallstep?
Ory's cheapest paid plan is Growth at $29/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. smallstep has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 15, 2026.
What's the main difference between Ory and smallstep?
Ory's main strength: open source identity. smallstep's main strength: zero trust security.