What are the best open source alternatives to Azure AD?

The top open source alternatives to Azure AD include Keycloak and Authgear. These tools offer similar functionality while being free and open source.

Why choose an open source alternative to Azure AD?

Open source alternatives provide transparency, community support, no vendor lock-in, and often cost savings. You can customize the software to your needs and have full control over your data.

Are these Azure AD alternatives really free?

Yes, all listed alternatives are open source and free to use. You may need to pay for hosting if you self-host, but the software itself is free.

2 Best Open Source Azure AD Alternatives in 2026

Keycloak simplifies application security by providing a complete identity and access management solution. With built-in single sign-on (SSO), users authenticate once to access multiple applications, eliminating repetitive logins and logouts.

The platform offers robust identity features including:

Social login integration with popular providers
LDAP and Active Directory federation
OpenID Connect, OAuth 2.0, and SAML 2.0 protocol support
Fine-grained authorization policies
Two-factor authentication
User account management

Administrators benefit from a centralized console to manage users, configure authentication flows, and set security policies. Users get a self-service portal to manage their profiles, passwords, and linked accounts.

Enterprise-ready capabilities include high performance, clustering support for scalability, customizable themes, and extensive APIs for integration. As a Cloud Native Computing Foundation project, Keycloak maintains high standards for security, reliability, and community-driven development.

Authgear is a managed IAM platform handling authentication, SSO, and user management for B2C and B2B apps, with biometrics, MFA, and zero-trust support.

Authgear is a managed authentication and SSO platform built for developers who need to handle complex identity requirements without building auth infrastructure from scratch. It covers the full range: login flows, multi-factor authentication, biometrics, Single Sign-On, and fine-grained access control, all through a low-code setup that keeps integration overhead low.

It's designed to work for both B2C products (where you're managing large volumes of end users) and B2B setups with multi-tenant hierarchies, role-based permissions, and enterprise identity providers. Real-world deployments include integrating Azure AD for internal staff while routing external users through WhatsApp OTP, or adding biometric login to mobile apps without rearchitecting the backend.

Key capabilities include:

Multiple login methods: passwords, biometrics, phone OTP, social login, and passkeys
SSO across services: users authenticate once and move between microservices without re-logging in
JWT-based access control: tokens issued per request, aligned with zero-trust principles
Granular authorization: role- and permission-based access controls tied to user context
Centralized identity for microservices: one identity layer instead of fragmented auth per service
MFA and 2FA: configurable second factors including biometrics and OTP
Custom branding: white-label login flows to match your product

Compared to self-hosted options like Keycloak or authentik, Authgear trades configuration depth for operational simplicity. It's ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II certified, which matters for enterprise procurement. If you're evaluating managed alternatives to Okta or AWS Cognito, Authgear positions itself as a developer-friendly middle ground with enterprise compliance built in.

A free trial is available for teams evaluating it before committing.