Cybersecurity · head to head
authentik vs CrowdStrike Falcon
authentik
Cybersecurity
Open-source identity provider with flexible authentication flows
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
CrowdStrike Falcon
Cybersecurity
Stop breaches with AI-native cybersecurity
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: authentik smaller project than Keycloak, with a correspondingly smaller community and fewer integration guides; 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: authentik covers Configurable flows, CrowdStrike Falcon covers Next-gen antivirus.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which authentik and CrowdStrike Falcon actually diverge.
| Attribute | authentik | CrowdStrike Falcon |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Open-source core with a paid enterprise tier | 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 authentik
- Configurable flows
- Protocol support
- Application proxy
- Modern admin interface
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.
authentik
- Self-hosted SSO across internal services without commercial identity pricingnot CrowdStrike Falcon
- Putting authentication in front of applications that have none, via the proxynot CrowdStrike Falcon
- Teams who tried Keycloak and wanted something less heavynot CrowdStrike Falcon
CrowdStrike Falcon
- Endpoint detection and response for enterprise cybersecuritynot authentik
- Malware prevention and threat huntingnot authentik
- Managed detection and response (MDR) servicesnot 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
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 $19.99/device/month tier; not available in Pro
- Managed service pricing opaque: Falcon Complete Next-Gen MDR requires contacting sales; no pricing range for 24/7 MDR services published
- Annual discount modest: 17-24% savings on annual vs. monthly create minimal incentive to prepay
Pricing, plan by plan
authentik
Free- Open sourceFree
- Full identity provider
- All protocols
- Community support
CrowdStrike Falcon
Free- Falcon Go$undefined/mo
- Falcon Pro$undefined/mo
- Falcon Enterprise$undefined/mo
- Falcon Complete Next-Gen MDR$custom quote/mo
Which should you pick?
Choose 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.
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 authentik or CrowdStrike Falcon better?
- Neither clearly leads. authentik 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, authentik or CrowdStrike Falcon?
- authentik starts at Free and CrowdStrike Falcon at Free.
- Does authentik or CrowdStrike Falcon run on more platforms?
- authentik runs on Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Self-hosted. CrowdStrike Falcon runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
- Can I use authentik for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- 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 CrowdStrike Falcon is typically brought in for.
- What can authentik do that CrowdStrike Falcon cannot?
- authentik covers Configurable flows, Protocol support, Application proxy, Modern admin interface. CrowdStrike Falcon covers Next-gen antivirus, Endpoint detection and response, Threat intelligence, IT hygiene.
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.
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).
Sourceauthentik: 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.
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.
Sourceauthentik: 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.
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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