Cybersecurity · head to head
Authelia vs Kaspersky Total Security
Authelia
Cybersecurity
Open-source authentication and two-factor portal for reverse proxies
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Kaspersky Total Security
Cybersecurity
Complete protection for your digital life
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Authelia depends on a reverse proxy: it is not a standalone identity provider; Kaspersky Total Security uS sales banned since June 2024 with support ending September 29, 2024
- They diverge on capability: Authelia covers Reverse proxy integration, Kaspersky Total Security covers Real-time protection.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Authelia and Kaspersky Total Security actually diverge.
| Attribute | Authelia | Kaspersky Total Security |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Open source, no licence fee | Unknown |
| Platforms | Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Self-hosted | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Founded | Unknown | 1997 |
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 Kaspersky Total Security
- Real-time protection
- Ransomware protection
- Safe Money
- Privacy protection
- Parental controls
- Password manager
- VPN
- File encryption
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 Kaspersky Total Security
- Adding SSO across a small set of internal tools without a full identity platformnot Kaspersky Total Security
- Home and small-team infrastructure behind a single reverse proxynot Kaspersky Total Security
Kaspersky Total Security
- Antivirusnot Authelia
- Internet Securitynot Authelia
- Parental Controlnot 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
Kaspersky Total Security
- US sales banned since June 2024 with support ending September 29, 2024
- VPN limited to 200 MB per day and servers in only 24 countries
- Password manager has privacy concerns with questionable terms and policies
- VPN and password manager only included in Plus and Premium tiers, not in Standard
- Occasionally flags legitimate files as false positives
- Firewall leaves open ports on public networks
Pricing, plan by plan
Authelia
Free- AutheliaFree
- Full functionality
- No usage limits
- Community support
Kaspersky Total Security
Free- FreeFree
- Basic antivirus
- No real-time protection
- Standard$38.99/year
- Antivirus
- Firewall
- Anti-phishing
- Plus$52.99/year
- Standard features
- Password manager
- VPN with limit
- Premium$74.99/year
- Plus features
- Identity protection
- Unlimited VPN
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 Kaspersky Total Security if
- You need real-time protection.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
- You also want ransomware protection.
Questions people ask
- Is Authelia or Kaspersky Total Security better?
- Neither clearly leads. Authelia starts at Free and Kaspersky Total Security at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Authelia or Kaspersky Total Security?
- Authelia starts at Free and Kaspersky Total Security at Free.
- Does Authelia or Kaspersky Total Security run on more platforms?
- Authelia runs on Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Self-hosted. Kaspersky Total Security runs on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
- 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 Kaspersky Total Security is typically brought in for.
- What can Authelia do that Kaspersky Total Security cannot?
- Authelia covers Reverse proxy integration, Two-factor authentication, Access control rules, Lightweight backends. Kaspersky Total Security covers Real-time protection, Ransomware protection, Safe Money, Privacy protection.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Authelia: Is Authelia free?
Yes, open source with no licence fee.
Kaspersky Total Security: What does Kaspersky Total Security include?
Kaspersky Total Security (Premium tier) includes antivirus, firewall, password manager, VPN with 200 MB daily limit, parental controls (Kaspersky Safe Kids), and anti-ransomware protection.
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.
Kaspersky Total Security: How much does Kaspersky Total Security cost?
Kaspersky Standard costs $38.99/year for 3 devices. Plus tier is $52.99/year for 5 devices. Premium is $74.99/year for 10 devices. Multi-year discounts available.
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.
Kaspersky Total Security: Is Kaspersky available in the United States?
No. The U.S. government banned Kaspersky software sales in June 2024, with support and software updates ceasing September 29, 2024, citing national security concerns regarding Russian government ties.
SourceKaspersky Total Security: Does Kaspersky have parental controls?
Yes. Premium and Plus tiers include one year free access to Kaspersky Safe Kids parental controls app, which provides activity reports, app monitoring, usage limits, and geo-fencing with location tracking.
SourceKaspersky Total Security: How much does the VPN provide?
Kaspersky's free VPN (Kaspersky Secure Connection) offers only 200 MB per day of traffic, limiting data usage. Full VPN is included in Plus and Premium plans but with limited servers in only 24 countries.
SourceRelated pages
More on Kaspersky Total Security
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