What is Authentik?

It provides a self-hosted alternative to services like Azure/Entra ID for organizations that prioritize control over their identity infrastructure. ‍

How It Works

Core architecture and protocol support

Authentik supports industry-standard protocols such as SAML2, OAuth2, OpenID Connect, and LDAP. This broad compatibility enables integration with a wide range of applications and services, though complex environments may require additional configuration.

Its extensible “flow” system underpins configurable user journeys, allowing you to define login, registration, and MFA steps to match your security requirements.

Deployment methods

While Docker Compose is enough for smaller setups, Authentik can also be run using tools like Kubernetes or Terraform for infrastructure as code support.

Each approach provides a consistent configuration model, so you can easily orchestrate or scale Authentik across different hosting infrastructures without rewriting your deployment strategies.

Access controls and policies

Administrators can create granular policies for user access to various applications. Policies factor in attributes like group membership, time-based restrictions, or IP addresses.

These capabilities simplify single sign-on across diverse services while maintaining robust governance.

Conditional access—enforced via flows and policy checks—ensures that only the right users see or modify the right resources at the right time.

Why choose Authentik over alternatives?

Self-host anywhere

Unlike fully managed services (Azure/Entra ID or Okta) that keep your user data in external clouds, Authentik stays under your direct control.

Lower complexity than Keycloak

Authentik aims to be simpler regarding setup and resource footprint, making it more accessible for small to mid-range organizations.

Keycloak is known for enterprise-grade scalability but can feel heavyweight for straightforward IAM needs.

However, Keycloak may be better suited for large enterprises requiring advanced scalability and complex configurations.

Full transparency and adaptability

As open-source software, Authentik lets you inspect and adapt every line of code.

Broad protocol coverage

Authentik offers strong protocol compatibility that meets the needs of most organizations. Whether you need to connect an older LDAP-based system or enable modern SSO flows with SAML2 or OIDC, Authentik has you covered.

Cost and licensing

Commercial IAM offerings can become expensive as your user count grows. Authentik’s open-source license allows you to run it freely on your own hardware or in your preferred cloud, paying only for the underlying infrastructure.

Streamlined, customizable user experience

Authentik’s templates and APIs enable administrators to tailor everything from login pages to enrollment flows.

You can unify branding and user experiences across numerous applications. While highly customizable, it may require additional effort compared to managed services like Okta for advanced branding needs.

Authentik at a glance

Authentik delivers a practical path to regain control over your organization’s identity and access management. With Docker Compose, Kubernetes, and other deployment options, it easily fits most infrastructure stacks.

For teams seeking a flexible, open-source alternative to Azure/Entra ID, Keycloak, or Okta, Authentik is a compelling solution that balances security, transparency, and ease of use.