Keycloak vs Okta: What are the differences?

Keycloak and Okta are both identity and access management (IAM) solutions that provide features such as single sign-on, user provisioning, and multi-factor authentication. However, there are key differences between these two platforms that differentiate their offerings and capabilities.

1. Architecture: Keycloak is an open-source IAM solution that can be self-hosted on-premises or in a cloud environment. It offers a flexible and customizable architecture, allowing organizations to tailor the solution to their specific needs. On the other hand, Okta is a cloud-based IAM platform, which means it is hosted by Okta and accessible via the internet. This cloud-native architecture allows for easy deployment and maintenance without the need for hardware or software installations.

2. Integration and Compatibility: Keycloak, being an open-source platform, provides extensive support for various protocols and standards such as SAML, OpenID Connect, OAuth, and LDAP. It integrates well with other open-source technologies, allowing seamless integration with existing systems. Okta, being a commercial product, also supports these protocols but may offer additional proprietary protocols and services to enhance integration with enterprise applications and systems.

3. Pricing and Licensing: Keycloak is a free and open-source IAM solution, meaning there are no licensing costs associated with using the platform. It provides the freedom to use, modify, and distribute the software according to an organization's requirements. On the other hand, Okta is a commercially licensed product that offers different pricing plans based on the number of users and features required. This means organizations using Okta may need to budget for licensing costs based on their usage and requirements.

4. Community Support: Keycloak benefits from being an open-source platform with an active developer community. This ensures regular updates, bug fixes, and a wealth of online resources, forums, and community-driven support. Okta, being a commercial product, provides dedicated customer support as part of the licensing agreement. This dedicated support can be advantageous for organizations that require prompt and specialized assistance in managing their IAM system.

5. Customization and Extensibility: Keycloak's open-source nature allows organizations to fully customize and extend the platform according to their unique needs. This flexibility enables businesses to adapt the functionality and user experience of Keycloak to align with their specific requirements. Okta, on the other hand, provides a more standardized and consolidated experience, focusing on ease of use and user-friendly interfaces. While Okta offers some customization options, the level of customization may be more limited compared to Keycloak.

6. Enterprise Features and Ecosystem: Okta is a mature and widely adopted enterprise IAM solution trusted by many large organizations. It offers a range of advanced features and integrations specifically designed for enterprise environments. Okta's ecosystem includes various partner integrations, pre-built connectors, and a marketplace of extension apps that complement the core functionality. Keycloak, being an open-source platform, may have a smaller ecosystem by comparison, but it still provides a solid foundation for implementing basic IAM functionalities in a cost-effective manner.

In summary, Keycloak and Okta are both powerful IAM solutions, but they differ in terms of architecture, pricing, customization, support, and focus on enterprise features.