smallstep 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 smallstep 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:
smallstep
Zero-trust access and certificate management
Best for you if:
- • You want zero trust security
Zitadel
Open-source identity management
Best for you if:
- • You want open source IAM
| At a Glance | smallstep | Zitadel |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan | Free plan |
Category | Identity & Access Security | Identity & Access Security |
Rating | 4.2/5 G2 4.2 10 reviews | n/a |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose smallstep or Zitadel?
Choose smallstep if
- You want zero trust security
- You want certificate management
Choose Zitadel if
- You want open source IAM
- You want self-hostable
In-Depth Analysis
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
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: smallstep vs Zitadel
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| smallstep |
| smallstep.com/pricing read Sep 29, 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 smallstep pricing and Zitadel pricing.
Key Takeaways
smallstep
- Choose if you want zero-trust access and certificate 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.
- Only smallstep has a published user rating (4.2/5 from 10 reviews); Zitadel has none we can show.
- 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 smallstep 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. Only smallstep has a published user rating (4.2/5 from 10 reviews); Zitadel has none we can show. Both have a free plan.
What are smallstep and Zitadel used for?
smallstep: Zero-trust access and certificate management. Zitadel: Open-source identity management.
What does smallstep cost vs Zitadel?
smallstep has no public paid-plan price on file. 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 smallstep and Zitadel?
smallstep's main strength: zero trust security. Zitadel's main strength: open source IAM.