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Cybersecurity · head to head

authentik vs Springbrook Software

authentik logo

authentik

Cybersecurity

Open-source identity provider with flexible authentication flows

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit authentikFull review
Springbrook Software logo

Springbrook Software

Government

Cloud ERP built only for small and mid-sized local governments and utility districts

From
On request
Free plan
No
Visit Springbrook SoftwareFull review

The short version

  • authentik is free; Springbrook Software prices on request.
  • Only authentik lists configurable flows; only Springbrook Software lists cirrus cloud platform.
  • Where authentik falls short: smaller project than Keycloak, with a correspondingly smaller community and fewer integration guides.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which authentik and Springbrook Software actually diverge.

Attributes where authentik and Springbrook Software differ
AttributeauthentikSpringbrook Software
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelOpen-source core with a paid enterprise tierQuote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsSelf-hosted, LinuxWeb
CategoryCybersecurityGovernment

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 Springbrook Software

  • Cirrus cloud platform
  • Fund accounting
  • Utility billing
  • Payroll and human resources
  • Cashless payments
  • Permitting and land management

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

Springbrook Software

  • A city of a few thousand residents retiring an on-premises finance server nobody on staff can maintainnot authentik
  • A water and sewer district needing meter-based utility billing tied directly to the general ledgernot authentik
  • A town that must produce GASB-compliant annual financial reports without a full-time systems accountantnot authentik
  • Adding online resident payment for utility bills and licences without integrating a third-party gateway by handnot 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

Springbrook Software

  • Nothing is publicly priced, and public sector quotes bundle licence, implementation and conversion so tightly that comparing two vendors requires a formal procurement
  • It is scoped for small and mid-sized agencies, so grant accounting, capital project tracking and human resources depth fall short for larger cities
  • Data conversion from a legacy municipal system is the largest risk and cost in the project, and historical utility billing data in particular frequently converts badly
  • The integration list is short compared with entrenched public sector vendors, so agencies already committed to a large incumbent ecosystem will have gaps to bridge
  • Being cloud-native means the agency cannot defer upgrades, which is an advantage for security but removes control over timing from finance teams working to a fiscal calendar

Pricing, plan by plan

authentik

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

Springbrook Software

On request
  • Springbrook CirrusOn request
    • Cloud ERP for local government
    • Priced by population, module selection and user count
    • Implementation, data conversion and training quoted separately

Which should you pick?

Choose authentik if

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

Choose Springbrook Software if

  • You need cirrus cloud platform.
  • You also want fund accounting.
Springbrook Software review

Questions people ask

Is authentik or Springbrook Software better?
Neither clearly leads. authentik starts at Free and Springbrook Software at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, authentik or Springbrook Software?
authentik has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for authentik and On request for Springbrook Software.
Does authentik or Springbrook Software run on more platforms?
authentik runs on Self-hosted, Linux. Springbrook Software runs on Web.
Can I use authentik for free?
Yes. authentik has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Springbrook Software 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 Springbrook Software is typically brought in for.
What can authentik do that Springbrook Software cannot?
authentik covers Configurable flows, Protocol support, Application proxy, Modern admin interface. Springbrook Software covers Cirrus cloud platform, Fund accounting, Utility billing, Payroll and human resources.

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.

Springbrook Software: Who is Springbrook for?

Small and mid-sized cities, towns, water and sewer agencies and special districts, not counties or states.

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.

Springbrook Software: Is Cirrus really cloud-native?

Yes, it is a multi-tenant rebuild rather than a hosted version of the older client-server product, which is the main reason agencies switch to 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.

Springbrook Software: Is pricing published?

No. Local government ERP is quoted through procurement, bundling licence, implementation and data conversion.

Springbrook Software: What is the hardest part of implementation?

Converting historical data, particularly utility billing history, from the outgoing system.

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