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Authentik

February 22, 2026

What it is

Authentik is an open source identity provider (IdP) with a modern UI and a visual flow/expression builder. It supports OIDC, OAuth 2.0, SAML, and LDAP/AD integration. Suited for teams that want a full IdP without the complexity of Keycloak’s admin console.

Usage

  • SSO for internal apps — One login for dashboards, Git, and internal tools.
  • Custom login/signup flows — Build flows with the built-in flow editor.
  • LDAP/AD proxy — Connect to existing directories.
  • Proxy provider — Forward auth for apps that don’t speak OIDC/SAML natively.

Pros and cons

ProsCons
Clean, modern admin UIRequires PostgreSQL and Redis
Visual flow builder for auth journeysSmaller ecosystem than Keycloak
OIDC + SAML in one productModerate resource use (~600MB–1GB RAM)
Active development and growing adoption
Good balance of features and usability

Alternatives

  • Keycloak — More enterprise features, LDAP/SAML depth; heavier.
  • Zitadel — Cloud-native, multi-tenant; different architecture.
  • Authelia — Lighter; forward auth only, not a full IdP.

Why choose Authentik

Best when you want a full IdP with a friendly UI and custom flows without the overhead of Keycloak. Strong fit for SMBs and tech teams that prefer configuration over raw XML/JSON.

Suggested tech stack

  • Runtime: Docker or Kubernetes; PostgreSQL + Redis.
  • Reverse proxy: Traefik, Nginx, or Caddy for TLS and routing.

When to use it

  • You need OIDC and/or SAML with a manageable admin experience.
  • You want to design custom login/signup flows visually.
  • You don’t need the maximum enterprise depth of Keycloak.

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