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Cybersecurity · head to head

authentik vs SafeCity

authentik logo

authentik

Cybersecurity

Open-source identity provider with flexible authentication flows

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
S

SafeCity

Government

Integrated Public Safety Platform

From
$2000/month
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite

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; SafeCity the vendor's own homepage as captured by the Internet Archive in December 2021/January 2022 confirms Safecity is run by Red Dot Foundation, presenting itself as a community safety initiative with blog content and no commercial pricing page, product tier, or subscription anywhere on the site, consistent with a not-for-profit rather than a commercially sold product
  • They diverge on capability: authentik covers Configurable flows, SafeCity covers Video Surveillance.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which authentik and SafeCity actually diverge.

Attributes where authentik and SafeCity differ
AttributeauthentikSafeCity
Starting priceFree$2000/month
Pricing modelOpen-source core with a paid enterprise tiersubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsDocker, Kubernetes, Linux, Self-hostedWeb, Desktop, Mobile
CategoryCybersecurityGovernment
FoundedUnknown2014

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 SafeCity

  • Video Surveillance
  • AI Analytics
  • Command Center
  • Incident Management
  • Emergency Response
  • Camera Systems
  • CAD
  • GIS

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

SafeCity

  • 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

SafeCity

  • The vendor's own homepage as captured by the Internet Archive in December 2021/January 2022 confirms Safecity is run by Red Dot Foundation, presenting itself as a community safety initiative with blog content and no commercial pricing page, product tier, or subscription anywhere on the site, consistent with a not-for-profit rather than a commercially sold product

Pricing, plan by plan

authentik

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

SafeCity

$2000/month
  • City Platform$2000/month
    • Video Analytics
    • Command Center
    • Incident 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 SafeCity if

  • You need video surveillance.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
  • You also want ai analytics.
SafeCity review

Questions people ask

Is authentik or SafeCity better?
Neither clearly leads. authentik starts at Free and SafeCity at $2000/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, authentik or SafeCity?
authentik has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for authentik and $2000/month for SafeCity.
Does authentik or SafeCity run on more platforms?
authentik runs on Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Self-hosted. SafeCity runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
Can I use authentik for free?
Yes. authentik has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. SafeCity starts at $2000/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 SafeCity is typically brought in for.
What can authentik do that SafeCity cannot?
authentik covers Configurable flows, Protocol support, Application proxy, Modern admin interface. SafeCity covers Video Surveillance, AI Analytics, Command Center, Incident 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.

SafeCity: Is Safecity free to use?

Safecity is operated by the Red Dot Foundation, a non-profit organization (Sec 8, Not for Profit in India). The platform itself is presented as a free service that allows users to safely report incidents of abuse anonymously.

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.

SafeCity: How is Safecity funded?

Safecity's parent organization, the Red Dot Foundation, relies on donations to support its operations. The website includes a donation option for those who wish to contribute to the organization's mission.

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.

SafeCity: Is there a paid tier or premium features?

The available content does not disclose any paid tiers, premium features, or subscription models. Safecity appears to operate as a free service with no tiered pricing.

Source
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