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Auth0 vs Ory Kratos

Auth0 logo

Auth0

Technology

Secure access for everyone

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Ory Kratos logo

Ory Kratos

Cybersecurity

Headless identity and user management API

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Auth0 free tier limited to 25,000 monthly active users, requiring upgrade for growth beyond that; Ory Kratos headless means you build every screen, which is significant work compared with a hosted login page
  • They diverge on capability: Auth0 covers Universal login, Ory Kratos covers Headless API.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Auth0 and Ory Kratos actually diverge.

Attributes where Auth0 and Ory Kratos differ
AttributeAuth0Ory Kratos
Pricing modelUnknownOpen-source self-hosted, with a paid managed network
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidLinux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted
CategoryTechnologyCybersecurity
Founded2013Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Auth0

  • Universal login
  • Social login
  • Passwordless
  • User management
  • Anomaly detection
  • Extensibility
  • Machine to machine
  • Slack

Only in Ory Kratos

  • Headless API
  • Self-service flows
  • Pluggable identity schemas

Both cover

  • Multi-factor authentication

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Auth0

  • B2C authenticationnot Ory Kratos
  • B2B authenticationnot Ory Kratos
  • B2E authenticationnot Ory Kratos
  • API securitynot Ory Kratos
  • Mobile app securitynot Ory Kratos

Ory Kratos

  • Products needing complete control over the look and flow of authenticationnot Auth0
  • Applications that must not hand user identity data to a third partynot Auth0
  • Teams building identity as infrastructure across several servicesnot Auth0

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Auth0

  • Free tier limited to 25,000 monthly active users, requiring upgrade for growth beyond that
  • Advanced features like MFA and RBAC only available on paid Essentials tier and above
  • Ownership by Okta introduces risk that independent product roadmap may change

Ory Kratos

  • Headless means you build every screen, which is significant work compared with a hosted login page
  • More moving parts than a monolithic IAM: Kratos handles identity, and OAuth2 needs Ory Hydra alongside
  • Documentation assumes real familiarity with identity concepts and is not a gentle introduction
  • Self-hosting identity carries the security and availability burden that hosted providers absorb

Pricing, plan by plan

Auth0

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 25,000 monthly active users
    • Basic authentication
    • Email/password login
  • Essentials (B2C)$35/month
    • Unlimited MAUs beyond free tier
    • Multi-Factor Authentication
    • Role-Based Access Control
  • Professional (B2C)$240/month
    • All Essentials features
    • Advanced security
    • Custom branding

Ory Kratos

Free
  • Self-hostedFree
    • Full identity server
    • All flows
    • Community support

Which should you pick?

Choose Auth0 if

  • You need universal login.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want social login.
Auth0 review

Choose Ory Kratos if

  • You need headless api.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted.
  • You also want self-service flows.
Ory Kratos review

Questions people ask

Is Auth0 or Ory Kratos better?
Neither clearly leads. Auth0 starts at Free and Ory Kratos at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Auth0 or Ory Kratos?
Auth0 starts at Free and Ory Kratos at Free.
Does Auth0 or Ory Kratos run on more platforms?
Auth0 runs on Web, iOS, Android. Ory Kratos runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted.
Can I use Auth0 for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Auth0 best used for?
Auth0 is most often used for b2c authentication, b2b authentication, b2e authentication, api security. Of those, b2c authentication and b2b authentication are not what Ory Kratos is typically brought in for.
What can Auth0 do that Ory Kratos cannot?
Auth0 covers Universal login, Social login, Passwordless, User management. Ory Kratos covers Headless API, Self-service flows, Pluggable identity schemas. Both handle Multi-factor authentication.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Auth0: How much does Auth0 cost?

Auth0 has a Free tier for up to 25,000 monthly active users (MAUs). Paid plans start at $35/month (Essentials B2C) and scale to $240/month (Professional B2C) and higher for Enterprise. Pricing scales with MAU usage.

Source
Ory Kratos: Is Ory Kratos free?

Yes, open source and free to self-host. Ory Network is a paid managed service.

Auth0: Does Auth0 include Multi-Factor Authentication?

No. MFA, RBAC (Role-Based Access Control), and premium support are not included in the free tier and require upgrading to paid Essentials plans or higher.

Source
Ory Kratos: What does headless mean here?

Kratos provides identity flows as APIs and no user interface. You build the login, registration and recovery screens yourself.

Auth0: Is Auth0 independent or part of a larger company?

Auth0 was acquired by Okta in May 2021 for $6.5 billion. It now operates as a subsidiary business unit within Okta, but maintains its own brand and operations.

Source
Ory Kratos: Does Kratos do OAuth2?

No. Kratos handles user identity; OAuth2 and OpenID Connect provider functionality is Ory Hydra, a separate component.

Auth0: Who should use Auth0 vs Okta?

Auth0 is developer-focused and serves customer identity use cases (B2C). Okta serves workforce identity (B2B) and has broader enterprise features. Auth0 now serves both markets post-acquisition but maintains its developer-friendly positioning.

Source
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