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Cybersecurity · head to head

authentik vs Ring Neighbors

authentik logo

authentik

Cybersecurity

Open-source identity provider with flexible authentication flows

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
Ring Neighbors logo

Ring Neighbors

Government

Community Safety Network

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: authentik smaller project than Keycloak, with a correspondingly smaller community and fewer integration guides; Ring Neighbors neighbors by Ring is a free app only available in the US, per the vendor's own page (Internet Archive capture, 1 January 2023)
  • They diverge on capability: authentik covers Configurable flows, Ring Neighbors covers Video Request Portal.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which authentik and Ring Neighbors actually diverge.

Attributes where authentik and Ring Neighbors differ
AttributeauthentikRing Neighbors
Pricing modelOpen-source core with a paid enterprise tierfreemium
PlatformsDocker, Kubernetes, Linux, Self-hostedWeb, Ios, Android
CategoryCybersecurityGovernment
FoundedUnknown2013

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Ring Neighbors

  • Video Request Portal
  • Community Alerts
  • Geographic Requests
  • Case Management
  • Resident Opt-in
  • Ring Devices
  • CAD Systems
  • Social Media

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 Ring Neighbors
  • Putting authentication in front of applications that have none, via the proxynot Ring Neighbors
  • Teams who tried Keycloak and wanted something less heavynot Ring Neighbors

Ring Neighbors

  • 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

Ring Neighbors

  • Neighbors by Ring is a free app only available in the US, per the vendor's own page (Internet Archive capture, 1 January 2023)

Pricing, plan by plan

authentik

Free
  • Open sourceFree
    • Full identity provider
    • All protocols
    • Community support

Ring Neighbors

Free
  • Public Safety PortalFree
    • Video Requests
    • Community Alerts
    • Case Management

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 Ring Neighbors if

  • You need video request portal.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want community alerts.
Ring Neighbors review

Questions people ask

Is authentik or Ring Neighbors better?
Neither clearly leads. authentik starts at Free and Ring Neighbors at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, authentik or Ring Neighbors?
authentik starts at Free and Ring Neighbors at Free.
Does authentik or Ring Neighbors run on more platforms?
authentik runs on Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Self-hosted. Ring Neighbors runs on Web, Ios, Android.
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 Ring Neighbors is typically brought in for.
What can authentik do that Ring Neighbors cannot?
authentik covers Configurable flows, Protocol support, Application proxy, Modern admin interface. Ring Neighbors covers Video Request Portal, Community Alerts, Geographic Requests, Case Management.

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.

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.

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.

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