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Cybersecurity · head to head

Authelia vs NetDocuments

Authelia logo

Authelia

Cybersecurity

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
NetDocuments logo

NetDocuments

Legal

Cloud document management for law firms

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Authelia has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Authelia depends on a reverse proxy: it is not a standalone identity provider; NetDocuments quote-only pricing per user with no published rates
  • They diverge on capability: Authelia covers Reverse proxy integration, NetDocuments covers Matter-centric filing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Authelia and NetDocuments actually diverge.

Attributes where Authelia and NetDocuments differ
AttributeAutheliaNetDocuments
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feequote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsDocker, Kubernetes, Linux, Self-hostedWeb, Windows, iOS, Android, Cloud
CategoryCybersecurityLegal

Identical on both: 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 Authelia

  • Reverse proxy integration
  • Two-factor authentication
  • Access control rules
  • Lightweight backends

Only in NetDocuments

  • Matter-centric filing
  • Ethical walls
  • Email management
  • Version control
  • Search
  • Retention

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

NetDocuments

  • Firms needing enforceable ethical walls rather than folder permissionsnot Authelia
  • Capturing email into the matter record instead of individual inboxesnot Authelia
  • Moving document management off on-premise serversnot 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

NetDocuments

  • Quote-only pricing per user with no published rates
  • Migrating an existing document store is a substantial project, and legacy metadata rarely survives cleanly
  • Aimed at mid-size and large firms; solo practices find it heavier than needed
  • Adoption depends on fee earners filing correctly, and habits are the hard part

Pricing, plan by plan

Authelia

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

NetDocuments

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the NetDocuments review.

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 NetDocuments if

  • You need matter-centric filing.
  • You work on Web, Windows, iOS, Android, Cloud.
  • You also want ethical walls.
NetDocuments review

Questions people ask

Is Authelia or NetDocuments better?
Neither clearly leads. Authelia starts at Free and NetDocuments at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Authelia or NetDocuments?
Authelia has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Authelia and On request for NetDocuments.
Does Authelia or NetDocuments run on more platforms?
Authelia runs on Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Self-hosted. NetDocuments runs on Web, Windows, iOS, Android, Cloud.
Can I use Authelia for free?
Yes. Authelia has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. NetDocuments starts at On request.
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 NetDocuments is typically brought in for.
What can Authelia do that NetDocuments cannot?
Authelia covers Reverse proxy integration, Two-factor authentication, Access control rules, Lightweight backends. NetDocuments covers Matter-centric filing, Ethical walls, Email management, Version control.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Authelia: Is Authelia free?

Yes, open source with no licence fee.

NetDocuments: What does NetDocuments cost?

It quotes per user and does not publish rates.

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.

NetDocuments: Why not just use SharePoint or Dropbox?

Neither expresses matter-centric security or ethical walls in an auditable way, which is a professional obligation rather than a preference in legal practice.

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.

NetDocuments: Does it handle email?

Yes, capturing correspondence into the matter record, which is where most legal email otherwise fails to land.

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