Open source vs Proprietary
Keycloak vs Kinde: Which One Should You Choose in 1970?
Keycloak is a open source Authentication & User Management tool priced as 100% Free Open-Source (Red Hat Community), starting at $0 (Free Self-Hosted). Kinde is proprietary, priced as per MAU tier plus enterprise features, starting at $25/mo (Pro).
Quick verdict
- Choose Keycloak for
- Keycloakcomplete enterprise SSO, LDAP/Active Directory sync, Kerberos, OpenID Connect
- Choose Kinde for
- Kindefast setup with prebuilt sign-in, sign-up and billing flows
Keycloak vs Kinde: feature comparison
| Feature | KeycloakOpen SourceSelf-Hostable | KindeProprietary |
|---|---|---|
| Open-Source Available | Yes | No |
| Self-Hostable | Yes | No |
| Self-Hosting Difficulty | High (Java/Quarkus container, DB setup) | N/A |
| Pricing Model | 100% Free Open-Source (Red Hat Community) | Per MAU tier plus enterprise features |
| Starting Price | $0 (Free Self-Hosted) | $25/mo (Pro) |
| Free Tier | Unlimited users, unlimited realms, 100% free | Free up to 10,500 MAU |
| GitHub Stars | 24k | N/A |
Pricing takeaway
Keycloak starts at $0 (Free Self-Hosted) (unlimited users, unlimited realms, 100% free). Kinde starts at $25/mo (Pro) (free up to 10,500 MAU).
- Keycloak
- 100% Free Open-Source (Red Hat Community). Starts at $0 (Free Self-Hosted). Unlimited users, unlimited realms, 100% free.Full Keycloak pricing breakdown
- Kinde
- Per MAU tier plus enterprise features. Starts at $25/mo (Pro). Free up to 10,500 MAU.Full Kinde pricing breakdown
Pros and cons
Keycloak
Visit KeycloakPros
- Complete enterprise SSO, LDAP/Active Directory sync, Kerberos, OpenID Connect
- Multi-tenancy realms out of the box with zero user license fees
- No vendor lock-in; ideal for on-premise and sensitive regulated data
Cons
- High DevOps maintenance burden and Java memory footprint
- Default login UI is dated and requires custom theme development
- Major-version upgrades regularly need migration work on custom themes and providers
Kinde
Visit KindePros
- Fast setup with prebuilt sign-in, sign-up and billing flows
- B2B organisations, roles and permissions on standard plans
- Generous free MAU allowance for early products
Cons
- Closed source with no self-hosting option
- Advanced enterprise SSO and audit features cost extra
- Newer ecosystem with fewer integrations than Auth0
Keycloak vs Kinde: FAQ
Is Kinde a good alternative to Keycloak?
Keycloak is a open source Authentication & User Management tool priced as 100% Free Open-Source (Red Hat Community), starting at $0 (Free Self-Hosted). Kinde is proprietary, priced as per MAU tier plus enterprise features, starting at $25/mo (Pro).
Which is cheaper, Keycloak or Kinde?
Keycloak starts at $0 (Free Self-Hosted) (unlimited users, unlimited realms, 100% free). Kinde starts at $25/mo (Pro) (free up to 10,500 MAU).
Is Keycloak or Kinde open source?
Keycloak is open source (github.com/keycloak/keycloak). Kinde is proprietary.
Can I self-host Keycloak or Kinde?
Keycloak can be self-hosted. Difficulty: High (Java/Quarkus container, DB setup). Kinde cannot be self-hosted.
Do Keycloak and Kinde have a free tier?
Keycloak: Unlimited users, unlimited realms, 100% free. Kinde: Free up to 10,500 MAU.