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Cybersecurity · head to head

Authelia vs LastPass

Authelia logo

Authelia

Cybersecurity

Open-source authentication and two-factor portal for reverse proxies

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
LastPass logo

LastPass

Cybersecurity

Simplify online life with LastPass password manager

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Authelia depends on a reverse proxy: it is not a standalone identity provider; LastPass free plan limited to 1 device type only
  • They diverge on capability: Authelia covers Reverse proxy integration, LastPass covers Password vault.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Authelia and LastPass actually diverge.

Attributes where Authelia and LastPass differ
AttributeAutheliaLastPass
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feefreemium
PlatformsDocker, Kubernetes, Linux, Self-hostedWeb, Desktop, Mobile
FoundedUnknown2008

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 LastPass

  • Password vault
  • Password generator
  • Autofill
  • Security dashboard
  • Dark web monitoring
  • Emergency access
  • Secure notes
  • Digital wallet

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 LastPass
  • Adding SSO across a small set of internal tools without a full identity platformnot LastPass
  • Home and small-team infrastructure behind a single reverse proxynot LastPass

LastPass

  • Password management and vault storagenot Authelia
  • Multi-device access and autofillnot Authelia
  • Dark web monitoring and security dashboardnot Authelia
  • Team collaboration with shared folders and policiesnot 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

LastPass

  • Free plan limited to 1 device type only
  • Premium plan costs ~$3/month annually (30% discount applied)
  • Business Teams plan limited to up to 50 users maximum
  • Teams plan offers only 25 security policies
  • Business plan pricing ~$4/user/month
  • Business Max plan costs ~$7/user/month for advanced features

Pricing, plan by plan

Authelia

Free
  • AutheliaFree
    • Full functionality
    • No usage limits
    • Community support

LastPass

Free
  • Free$undefined/mo
    • Unlimited password storage
    • Autofill
    • Dark web monitoring
  • Premium$undefined/month
    • Unlimited passwords
    • All devices
    • Password generator
  • Families$undefined/month
    • Premium features
    • Shared folders
    • Family manager dashboard

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.
Authelia review

Choose LastPass if

  • You need password vault.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
  • You also want password generator.
LastPass review

Questions people ask

Is Authelia or LastPass better?
Neither clearly leads. Authelia starts at Free and LastPass at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Authelia or LastPass?
Authelia starts at Free and LastPass at Free.
Does Authelia or LastPass run on more platforms?
Authelia runs on Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Self-hosted. LastPass runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
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 LastPass is typically brought in for.
What can Authelia do that LastPass cannot?
Authelia covers Reverse proxy integration, Two-factor authentication, Access control rules, Lightweight backends. LastPass covers Password vault, Password generator, Autofill, Security dashboard.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Authelia: Is Authelia free?

Yes, open source with no licence fee.

LastPass: Does LastPass have a free version?

Yes, LastPass offers a free plan with unlimited password storage, autofill, dark web monitoring, and basic password sharing, but it is limited to 1 device type.

Source
Authelia: 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.

LastPass: What devices does the free plan support?

The free plan is limited to 1 device type, meaning you must choose either desktop or mobile, not both.

Source
Authelia: 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.

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