Cybersecurity · head to head
authentik vs Splunk Enterprise Security
authentik
Cybersecurity
Open-source identity provider with flexible authentication flows
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Splunk Enterprise Security
Cybersecurity
The platform for operational intelligence
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
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; Splunk Enterprise Security splunk Enterprise Security is licensed separately from the Splunk platform, so a SIEM deployment needs both
- They diverge on capability: authentik covers Configurable flows, Splunk Enterprise Security covers Security monitoring.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which authentik and Splunk Enterprise Security actually diverge.
| Attribute | authentik | Splunk Enterprise Security |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | Open-source core with a paid enterprise tier | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Self-hosted | Web, Api |
| Founded | Unknown | 2003 |
Identical on both: 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 Splunk Enterprise Security
- Security monitoring
- Incident review
- Risk-based alerting
- Threat intelligence
- Investigation workbench
- MITRE ATT&CK mapping
- Automated response
- Compliance reporting
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 Splunk Enterprise Security
- Putting authentication in front of applications that have none, via the proxynot Splunk Enterprise Security
- Teams who tried Keycloak and wanted something less heavynot Splunk Enterprise Security
Splunk Enterprise Security
- Running a security operations centre on Splunk indexed log datanot authentik
- Correlation searches, risk based alerting and incident investigationnot authentik
- Compliance reporting from pooled security telemetrynot 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
Splunk Enterprise Security
- Splunk Enterprise Security is licensed separately from the Splunk platform, so a SIEM deployment needs both
- Splunk publishes no rate for Enterprise Security and directs buyers to contact a pricing expert
- UEBA, SOAR and automated threat analysis require the Premier edition rather than Essentials
- The platform underneath can be billed by ingest volume, workload or activity, so the total cost depends on a pricing model chosen at contract time rather than a list price
Pricing, plan by plan
authentik
Free- Open sourceFree
- Full identity provider
- All protocols
- Community support
Splunk Enterprise Security
On request- Workload PricingFree
- Pay per compute
- Flexible scaling
- All features
- Ingest PricingFree
- Pay per GB ingested
- Predictable costs
- All features
- Entity PricingFree
- Pay per monitored entity
- Security focused
- All features
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 Splunk Enterprise Security if
- You need security monitoring.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want incident review.
Questions people ask
- Is authentik or Splunk Enterprise Security better?
- Neither clearly leads. authentik starts at Free and Splunk Enterprise Security at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, authentik or Splunk Enterprise Security?
- authentik has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for authentik and On request for Splunk Enterprise Security.
- Does authentik or Splunk Enterprise Security run on more platforms?
- authentik runs on Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Self-hosted. Splunk Enterprise Security runs on Web, Api.
- Can I use authentik for free?
- Yes. authentik has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Splunk Enterprise Security starts at On request.
- 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 Splunk Enterprise Security is typically brought in for.
- What can authentik do that Splunk Enterprise Security cannot?
- authentik covers Configurable flows, Protocol support, Application proxy, Modern admin interface. Splunk Enterprise Security covers Security monitoring, Incident review, Risk-based alerting, Threat intelligence.
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.
Splunk Enterprise Security: How much does Splunk Enterprise Security cost?
Splunk Enterprise Security pricing is not published. The product is available in Essentials Edition with threat detection, investigation, and response capabilities, and Premier Edition with UEBA, SOAR, and Automated Threat Analysis. Customers must contact Splunk sales for pricing quotes on either edition.
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.
Splunk Enterprise Security: What editions of Splunk Enterprise Security are available?
Splunk Enterprise Security offers Essentials Edition with threat detection, investigation, and response capabilities, and Premier Edition which adds UEBA (User and Entity Behavior Analytics), SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation and Response), and Automated Threat Analysis.
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.
Related pages
More on Splunk Enterprise Security
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