OpenFGA
UnclaimedFine-grained authorization inspired by Google's Zanzibar, built for scalability and flexibility.
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Tracked since2026
0 reviews trackedThe Bottom Line
Entry price
Free, no paid tier
Biggest pro
Highly scalable and performant for authorization checks.
Biggest con
Requires Docker for quick local setup, which might be an initial barrier for some.
TL;DR - OpenFGA
- Implements fine-grained authorization inspired by Google's Zanzibar.
- Supports ReBAC, RBAC, and ABAC with a flexible modeling language.
- Offers high performance and scalability with SDKs for easy integration.
Pricing: Free forever
Best for: Individuals & startups
What is OpenFGA?
OpenFGA is an open-source authorization system that allows developers to define and enforce fine-grained access control policies for their applications. It draws inspiration from Google's Zanzibar paper, providing a robust Relationship-Based Access Control (ReBAC) model, while also supporting Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) and Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) use cases. The system is designed for high performance, capable of answering authorization checks in milliseconds, making it suitable for applications ranging from small startups to large-scale enterprise platforms.
OpenFGA provides a powerful yet accessible modeling language for defining authorization policies, enabling both engineers and other stakeholders to understand and contribute. It offers SDKs for popular programming languages to facilitate easy integration into existing applications and encourages community contributions for new SDKs. As a Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) incubating project, OpenFGA emphasizes transparency and community-driven development, with an RFC process and governance model that invites broad participation to shape its future.
Available on: Web
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Highly scalable and performant for authorization checks.
- Flexible modeling language supports various access control paradigms.
- Open-source and backed by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF).
- Easy integration with existing applications via SDKs.
Cons
- Requires Docker for quick local setup, which might be an initial barrier for some.
- New users may need to learn the specific modeling language and concepts.
Preview
Key Features
Relationship-Based Access Control (ReBAC)Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)Extensible authorization modeling languageSDKs for popular programming languagesMillisecond authorization check response timesCommunity-driven development and RFC process
Pricing Plans
OpenFGA
Free
- Model any authorization system
- Works with your code (SDKs)
- Blazing fast
- Built in the open
- CNCF Incubation Project
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OpenFGA FAQ
What is the core inspiration behind OpenFGA's authorization model?
OpenFGA's core authorization model is inspired by Google's Zanzibar paper, which focuses on Relationship-Based Access Control (ReBAC) to define who can access what based on their relationships.
What types of access control does OpenFGA support?
OpenFGA supports Relationship-Based Access Control (ReBAC), Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), and Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC use cases), offering a comprehensive solution for various authorization needs.
How fast are authorization checks with OpenFGA?
OpenFGA is designed for blazing fast performance, capable of answering authorization check calls in milliseconds, ensuring scalability for projects of any size.
Is OpenFGA an open-source project?
Yes, OpenFGA is an open-source project and an incubating project of the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), emphasizing transparency and community contributions.
How can developers integrate OpenFGA into their applications?
Developers can integrate OpenFGA into their applications using readily available SDKs for most popular programming languages, with the option to contribute new SDKs for other languages.
What resources are available for learning more about OpenFGA and ReBAC?
Users can explore the project's extensive documentation, join the active Slack and GitHub community, review existing RFCs, and access ReBAC resources like Zanzibar Academy and the Auth0 FGA Playground.
Source: openfga.dev