Is authentik or CentralSquare better?

Neither clearly leads. authentik starts at Free and CentralSquare at $1500/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.

Which is cheaper, authentik or CentralSquare?

authentik has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for authentik and $1500/month for CentralSquare.

Does authentik or CentralSquare run on more platforms?

authentik runs on Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Self-hosted. CentralSquare runs on Web, Desktop, Ios, Android.

Can I use authentik for free?

Yes. authentik has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. CentralSquare starts at $1500/month.

What is authentik best used for?

authentik is most often used for self-hosted sso across internal services without commercial identity pricing, putting authentication in front of applications that have none, via the proxy, teams who tried keycloak and wanted something less heavy. Of those, self-hosted sso across internal services without commercial identity pricing and putting authentication in front of applications that have none, via the proxy are not what CentralSquare is typically brought in for.

What can authentik do that CentralSquare cannot?

authentik covers Configurable flows, Protocol support, Application proxy, Modern admin interface. CentralSquare covers Computer-Aided Dispatch, Records Management, Jail Management, Fire RMS.

Cybersecurity · head to head

authentik vs CentralSquare

authentik

Cybersecurity

Open-source identity provider with flexible authentication flows

From: Free
Free plan: Yes

Full review Website

CentralSquare

Government

Public Safety and Administration Software

From: $1500/month
Free plan: No

Full review Website

The short version

Only authentik has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
Each has a real cost: authentik smaller project than Keycloak, with a correspondingly smaller community and fewer integration guides; CentralSquare no pricing information is published on the website
They diverge on capability: authentik covers Configurable flows, CentralSquare covers Computer-Aided Dispatch.
Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which authentik and CentralSquare actually diverge.

Attributes where authentik and CentralSquare differ
Attribute	authentik	CentralSquare
Starting price	Free	$1500/month
Pricing model	Open-source core with a paid enterprise tier	subscription
Free tier	Yes	No
Platforms	Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Self-hosted	Web, Desktop, Ios, Android
Category	Cybersecurity	Government
Founded	Unknown	2018

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 authentik

Configurable flows
Protocol support
Application proxy
Modern admin interface

Only in CentralSquare

Computer-Aided Dispatch
Records Management
Jail Management
Fire RMS
Community Development
Esri ArcGIS
FBI CJIS
NCIC

What people use each for

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

authentik

Self-hosted SSO across internal services without commercial identity pricingnot CentralSquare
Putting authentication in front of applications that have none, via the proxynot CentralSquare
Teams who tried Keycloak and wanted something less heavynot CentralSquare

CentralSquare

Citizen Servicesnot authentik
Records Managementnot authentik
Public Safetynot authentik
Civic Engagementnot authentik

Where each one falls short

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

authentik

Smaller project than Keycloak, with a correspondingly smaller community and fewer integration guides
The flow model is flexible but conceptually unfamiliar, and simple setups can feel over-abstracted
Enterprise support and some governance features sit behind the paid tier
Self-hosted identity is still yours to secure, patch and keep available

CentralSquare

No pricing information is published on the website
Pricing model is not disclosed; visitors are directed to request a demo or contact sales

Pricing, plan by plan

authentik

Free

Open sourceFree
- Full identity provider
- All protocols
- Community support

CentralSquare

$1500/month

Public Safety Suite$1500/month
- CAD
- Records Management
- Mobile Solutions

Which should you pick?

Choose authentik if

You need configurable flows.
You want to start without paying.
You work on Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Self-hosted.
You also want protocol support.

authentik review

Choose CentralSquare if

You need computer-aided dispatch.
You work on Web, Desktop, Ios, Android.
You also want records management.

CentralSquare review

Questions people ask

Is authentik or CentralSquare better?: Neither clearly leads. authentik starts at Free and CentralSquare at $1500/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, authentik or CentralSquare?: authentik has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for authentik and $1500/month for CentralSquare.
Does authentik or CentralSquare run on more platforms?: authentik runs on Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Self-hosted. CentralSquare runs on Web, Desktop, Ios, Android.
Can I use authentik for free?: Yes. authentik has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. CentralSquare starts at $1500/month.
What is authentik best used for?: authentik is most often used for self-hosted sso across internal services without commercial identity pricing, putting authentication in front of applications that have none, via the proxy, teams who tried keycloak and wanted something less heavy. Of those, self-hosted sso across internal services without commercial identity pricing and putting authentication in front of applications that have none, via the proxy are not what CentralSquare is typically brought in for.
What can authentik do that CentralSquare cannot?: authentik covers Configurable flows, Protocol support, Application proxy, Modern admin interface. CentralSquare covers Computer-Aided Dispatch, Records Management, Jail Management, Fire RMS.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

authentik: Is authentik free?

The open-source edition is free and complete for most use. An enterprise tier adds support and additional features.

CentralSquare: How much does CentralSquare cost?

CentralSquare does not publish pricing on its website. The company directs customers to request a demo or schedule a call with their sales team to discuss pricing.

Source

authentik: authentik or Keycloak?

authentik is generally reported as easier to run and administer; Keycloak is more established with a larger community and Red Hat behind it.

CentralSquare: What is CentralSquare's pricing model?

The pricing model is not disclosed. CentralSquare appears to use a custom quote or consultation-based approach, as the website does not mention subscription plans or tier-based pricing.

Source

authentik: Can authentik protect apps with no login of their own?

Yes. Its application proxy places authentication in front of services that have no built-in authentication.

CentralSquare: Is there a free tier or trial?

No information about free tiers or trials is available on the website.

Source

CentralSquare: How do I get a pricing quote?

Contact CentralSquare through their website to request a demo or schedule a call with their sales team.

Source

authentik vs CentralSquare

authentik

CentralSquare

The short version

Where they differ

What each one covers

Only in authentik

Only in CentralSquare

What people use each for

authentik

CentralSquare

Where each one falls short

authentik

CentralSquare

Pricing, plan by plan

authentik

CentralSquare

Which should you pick?

Choose authentik if

Choose CentralSquare if

Questions people ask

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Related pages

More on authentik

More on CentralSquare

Keep looking

Other head to heads