Cybersecurity · head to head
Authelia vs CrowdStrike Falcon
Authelia
Cybersecurity
Open-source authentication and two-factor portal for reverse proxies
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
CrowdStrike Falcon
Cybersecurity
Stop breaches with AI-native cybersecurity
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Authelia depends on a reverse proxy: it is not a standalone identity provider; CrowdStrike Falcon falcon Go device limit: capped at 100 devices maximum, forcing mid-market/enterprise customers to upgrade despite lower cost
- They diverge on capability: Authelia covers Reverse proxy integration, CrowdStrike Falcon covers Next-gen antivirus.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Authelia and CrowdStrike Falcon actually diverge.
| Attribute | Authelia | CrowdStrike Falcon |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Open source, no licence fee | subscription |
| Platforms | Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Self-hosted | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Founded | Unknown | 2011 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Cybersecurity).
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 Authelia
- Reverse proxy integration
- Two-factor authentication
- Access control rules
- Lightweight backends
Only in CrowdStrike Falcon
- Next-gen antivirus
- Endpoint detection and response
- Threat intelligence
- IT hygiene
- USB device control
- Firewall management
- Threat graph
- Real-time response
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Authelia
- Putting a login and 2FA in front of self-hosted services that have nonenot CrowdStrike Falcon
- Adding SSO across a small set of internal tools without a full identity platformnot CrowdStrike Falcon
- Home and small-team infrastructure behind a single reverse proxynot CrowdStrike Falcon
CrowdStrike Falcon
- Endpoint detection and response for enterprise cybersecuritynot Authelia
- Malware prevention and threat huntingnot Authelia
- Managed detection and response (MDR) servicesnot Authelia
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Authelia
- Depends on a reverse proxy: it is not a standalone identity provider
- Configuration is YAML-first with no administrative interface, so changes mean editing files
- Not a full IAM: user management, provisioning and federation are limited compared with Keycloak
- Scales poorly as an organisation-wide identity solution, which is not its target
CrowdStrike Falcon
- Falcon Go device limit: capped at 100 devices maximum, forcing mid-market/enterprise customers to upgrade despite lower cost
- EDR locked behind Enterprise tier: endpoint detection and response available only at $19.99/device/month tier; not available in Pro
- Managed service pricing opaque: Falcon Complete Next-Gen MDR requires contacting sales; no pricing range for 24/7 MDR services published
- Annual discount modest: 17-24% savings on annual vs. monthly create minimal incentive to prepay
Pricing, plan by plan
Authelia
Free- AutheliaFree
- Full functionality
- No usage limits
- Community support
CrowdStrike Falcon
Free- Falcon Go$undefined/mo
- Falcon Pro$undefined/mo
- Falcon Enterprise$undefined/mo
- Falcon Complete Next-Gen MDR$custom quote/mo
Which should you pick?
Choose Authelia if
- You need reverse proxy integration.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Self-hosted.
- You also want two-factor authentication.
Choose CrowdStrike Falcon if
- You need next-gen antivirus.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
- You also want endpoint detection and response.
Questions people ask
- Is Authelia or CrowdStrike Falcon better?
- Neither clearly leads. Authelia starts at Free and CrowdStrike Falcon at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Authelia or CrowdStrike Falcon?
- Authelia starts at Free and CrowdStrike Falcon at Free.
- Does Authelia or CrowdStrike Falcon run on more platforms?
- Authelia runs on Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Self-hosted. CrowdStrike Falcon runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
- Can I use Authelia for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Authelia best used for?
- Authelia is most often used for putting a login and 2fa in front of self-hosted services that have none, adding sso across a small set of internal tools without a full identity platform, home and small-team infrastructure behind a single reverse proxy. Of those, putting a login and 2fa in front of self-hosted services that have none and adding sso across a small set of internal tools without a full identity platform are not what CrowdStrike Falcon is typically brought in for.
- What can Authelia do that CrowdStrike Falcon cannot?
- Authelia covers Reverse proxy integration, Two-factor authentication, Access control rules, Lightweight backends. CrowdStrike Falcon covers Next-gen antivirus, Endpoint detection and response, Threat intelligence, IT hygiene.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Authelia: Is Authelia free?
Yes, open source with no licence fee.
CrowdStrike Falcon: How much does CrowdStrike Falcon cost per device?
Falcon Go costs $7.99/device/month ($59.99/year), Falcon Pro costs $14.99/device/month ($99.99/year), and Falcon Enterprise costs $19.99/device/month ($184.99/year).
SourceAuthelia: Does Authelia need a reverse proxy?
Yes. It integrates through forward authentication with Nginx, Traefik, Caddy or HAProxy rather than sitting in front of traffic itself.
CrowdStrike Falcon: What is the device limit for Falcon Go?
Falcon Go is limited to a maximum of 100 devices. Organizations with more than 100 devices must upgrade to Pro or Enterprise tiers.
SourceAuthelia: Authelia or Keycloak?
Authelia is far lighter and aimed at protecting self-hosted services behind a proxy. Keycloak is a full identity and access management platform, and much more to run.
CrowdStrike Falcon: What is the difference between Falcon Pro and Enterprise?
Falcon Pro ($14.99/device/month) includes firewall management and advanced device control. Falcon Enterprise ($19.99/device/month) adds endpoint detection and response (EDR), threat hunting services, and expert threat intelligence.
SourceCrowdStrike Falcon: How much does the managed detection and response service cost?
Falcon Complete Next-Gen MDR pricing is custom. It provides 24/7 expert-led detection and response with AI acceleration and continuous investigations by expert threat teams. Contact CrowdStrike sales for a quote.
SourceRelated pages
More on CrowdStrike Falcon
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