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Tracked since2025
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The Bottom Line

Entry price

Free, no paid tier

Biggest pro

Open source SSO

Biggest con

Setup complexity

TL;DR - Authelia

  • Authelia is an open-source authentication server providing SSO and 2FA for applications
  • It works as a reverse proxy companion to protect internal services with access control
  • Completely free and open-source
Pricing: Free forever
Best for: Individuals & startups

What is Authelia?

Editorial review
Authelia provides authentication, single sign-on, and access control you can self-host. Add 2FA, SSO, and fine-grained permissions to applications that don't have them, all running on your infrastructure. The reverse proxy integration model means existing applications don't need modification. Policies control who can access what based on users, groups, and network conditions. Teams who need enterprise-grade identity features without cloud dependencies deploy Authelia as their authentication layer.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Open source SSO
  • Self-hostable
  • 2FA support
  • Good documentation
  • Privacy focused

Cons

  • Setup complexity
  • Self-managed only
  • Learning curve
  • Smaller community
  • Maintenance needed

Key Features

SSO2FAAccess controlSelf-hostedLDAP supportOpen source

Pricing Plans

Pricing checked Jul 9, 2026

Most Popular

Free

Free

Open source

  • SSO/2FA
  • Self-hosted
  • LDAP/AD support
  • Apache 2.0 license

Reviews

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Authelia FAQ

How does Authelia provide authentication and authorization for existing applications?

Authelia integrates with existing applications through a reverse proxy model, which means applications do not need to be modified to gain authentication, single sign-on, and access control capabilities. It adds features like two-factor authentication and fine-grained permissions to applications that lack them natively. Policies determine access based on users, groups, and network conditions.

Which teams benefit most from deploying Authelia?

Teams that require enterprise-grade identity features without relying on cloud dependencies are the best fit for Authelia. It serves as an authentication layer for organizations that prefer self-hosted solutions for identity and access management.

How is Authelia's pricing structured?

Authelia is free to use, as it is an open-source project and does not require a paid plan. Users can deploy and manage it without any licensing costs.

What kind of trade-offs should users consider before implementing Authelia?

Users should be aware of Authelia's setup complexity and learning curve, as it requires self-management. It also necessitates ongoing maintenance due to its self-hosted nature and has a smaller community compared to some alternatives.

Can Authelia be used to secure access to internal tools and services?

Yes, Authelia can be used to secure access to internal tools and services by adding 2FA, SSO, and fine-grained permissions. It allows organizations to control who can access what based on defined policies, all running on their own infrastructure.

How does Authelia compare to Keycloak for identity and access management?

Authelia offers open-source, self-hostable authentication and authorization with a focus on privacy, similar to Keycloak. However, Authelia emphasizes a reverse proxy integration model for existing applications and is noted for its setup complexity and learning curve, requiring self-management.

Source: authelia.com

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