What is the main difference between Keycloak and Zitadel?

Keycloak and Zitadel are both authentication & sso providers but differ in their approach, features, and target audience. Compare their GitHub stats, technology stack, and community adoption to make the best choice.

Which is better: Keycloak or Zitadel?

The choice between Keycloak and Zitadel depends on your specific needs, technical requirements, and team preferences. Both are quality open source solutions with active communities.

Can I migrate from Keycloak to Zitadel?

Migration between Keycloak and Zitadel is possible but requires careful planning. Consider data export/import capabilities, feature parity, and potential workflow changes.

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Keycloak vs Zitadel

Learn how Keycloak and Zitadel differ in their key features, development activity, technology stack and community adoption, so you can decide which of these authentication & sso providers is best for you.

Keycloak

Comprehensive open source identity management solution offering single sign-on, social login, and fine-grained authorization for applications and services.

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Stars
34,155
Forks
8,298
Last commit
8 hours ago
Repository age
13 years
License
Apache-2.0

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Zitadel

ZITADEL provides a comprehensive identity management solution with easy APIs, customizable workflows, and serverless deployment options.

Visit Zitadel Read more

Stars
13,665
Forks
1,048
Last commit
21 hours ago
Repository age
6 years
License
AGPL-3.0
Self-hosted
Yes

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Detailed Comparison

Both Keycloak and Zitadel have their unique strengths and serve similar purposes effectively. Consider your specific needs regarding popularity, activity, technology, maturity, licensing and features when making your decision.

Keycloak wins

Community & Popularity

Keycloak leads in popularity with 34,155 stars vs 13,665 stars for Zitadel. The 150% higher star count indicates stronger community adoption. In terms of developer contributions, Keycloak has 8,298 forks, indicating strong developer engagement.

Comparable

Development Activity

Both projects show recent activity, with Keycloak last updated 8 hours ago and Zitadel 21 hours ago.

Comparable

Technology Stack

Both tools share common technology foundations, being built with JavaScript, CSS, Bash, Typescript, JSX. However, they differ in their additional technology choices: Keycloak uses Python, C, Java while Zitadel leverages Next.js, SCSS, Golang, Lua.

Keycloak wins

Project Maturity

Keycloak has been in development longer, starting 13 years ago, compared to Zitadel which began 6 years ago. This 6.8-year head start suggests Keycloak may have more mature features and established processes.

Comparable

Licensing

The projects use different licenses: Keycloak is licensed under Apache-2.0 while Zitadel uses AGPL-3.0. Consider the licensing requirements when choosing for your project.

Comparable

Use Cases & Features

Both tools serve similar use cases in Authentication & SSO, Authorization & Permissions.

Zitadel wins

Hosting & Deployment

Zitadel provides self-hosting options for complete data control and customization, while Keycloak may be primarily cloud-based or require different deployment approaches.