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Drizzle ORM vs Ory Kratos

Drizzle ORM logo

Drizzle ORM

Software Development

Headless TypeScript ORM and SQL query builder

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Ory Kratos logo

Ory Kratos

Cybersecurity

Headless identity and user management API

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Drizzle ORM it is entirely community/sponsor-funded with no official paid support tier for enterprises needing SLAs.; Ory Kratos headless means you build every screen, which is significant work compared with a hosted login page
  • They diverge on capability: Drizzle ORM covers Type-safe query builder, Ory Kratos covers Headless API.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Drizzle ORM and Ory Kratos actually diverge.

Attributes where Drizzle ORM and Ory Kratos differ
AttributeDrizzle ORMOry Kratos
Pricing modelopen-sourceOpen-source self-hosted, with a paid managed network
Platformsweb, apiLinux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted
CategorySoftware DevelopmentCybersecurity

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 Drizzle ORM

  • Type-safe query builder
  • Schema migrations
  • Drizzle Studio
  • Multi-database support
  • Serverless-ready drivers
  • Zero dependencies

Only in Ory Kratos

  • Headless API
  • Self-service flows
  • Multi-factor authentication
  • Pluggable identity schemas

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Drizzle ORM

  • Type-safe database access in TypeScript backendsnot Ory Kratos
  • Serverless and edge applications needing lightweight database driversnot Ory Kratos
  • Teams migrating from raw SQL for better type safetynot Ory Kratos
  • Projects wanting SQL-like control without a heavy ORM abstractionnot Ory Kratos

Ory Kratos

  • Products needing complete control over the look and flow of authenticationnot Drizzle ORM
  • Applications that must not hand user identity data to a third partynot Drizzle ORM
  • Teams building identity as infrastructure across several servicesnot Drizzle ORM

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Drizzle ORM

  • It is entirely community/sponsor-funded with no official paid support tier for enterprises needing SLAs.
  • The relational query API is newer than the SQL-like API and has historically had fewer advanced features.
  • Documentation and ecosystem tooling are less mature than Prisma's, which has a larger community and GUI ecosystem.
  • MSSQL and CockroachCB support are newer additions still stabilizing toward a 1.0 release.

Ory Kratos

  • Headless means you build every screen, which is significant work compared with a hosted login page
  • More moving parts than a monolithic IAM: Kratos handles identity, and OAuth2 needs Ory Hydra alongside
  • Documentation assumes real familiarity with identity concepts and is not a gentle introduction
  • Self-hosting identity carries the security and availability burden that hosted providers absorb

Pricing, plan by plan

Drizzle ORM

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Full ORM and query builder
    • drizzle-kit migrations
    • Drizzle Studio

Ory Kratos

Free
  • Self-hostedFree
    • Full identity server
    • All flows
    • Community support

Which should you pick?

Choose Drizzle ORM if

  • You need type-safe query builder.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, api.
  • You also want schema migrations.
Drizzle ORM review

Choose Ory Kratos if

  • You need headless api.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted.
  • You also want self-service flows.
Ory Kratos review

Questions people ask

Is Drizzle ORM or Ory Kratos better?
Neither clearly leads. Drizzle ORM starts at Free and Ory Kratos at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Drizzle ORM or Ory Kratos?
Drizzle ORM starts at Free and Ory Kratos at Free.
Does Drizzle ORM or Ory Kratos run on more platforms?
Drizzle ORM runs on web, api. Ory Kratos runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted.
Can I use Drizzle ORM for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Drizzle ORM best used for?
Drizzle ORM is most often used for type-safe database access in typescript backends, serverless and edge applications needing lightweight database drivers, teams migrating from raw sql for better type safety, projects wanting sql-like control without a heavy orm abstraction. Of those, type-safe database access in typescript backends and serverless and edge applications needing lightweight database drivers are not what Ory Kratos is typically brought in for.
What can Drizzle ORM do that Ory Kratos cannot?
Drizzle ORM covers Type-safe query builder, Schema migrations, Drizzle Studio, Multi-database support. Ory Kratos covers Headless API, Self-service flows, Multi-factor authentication, Pluggable identity schemas.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Drizzle ORM: What does Drizzle ORM cost?

Drizzle ORM is completely free and open-source with no licensing fees; the team accepts community sponsorships and contributions rather than charging for the software.

Source
Ory Kratos: Is Ory Kratos free?

Yes, open source and free to self-host. Ory Network is a paid managed service.

Drizzle ORM: Which databases does Drizzle support?

Drizzle supports PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, MSSQL, CockroachDB and SingleStore, with specialized drivers for providers like Neon, Supabase, Vercel Postgres and Turso.

Source
Ory Kratos: What does headless mean here?

Kratos provides identity flows as APIs and no user interface. You build the login, registration and recovery screens yourself.

Drizzle ORM: Does Drizzle include migration tooling?

Yes, the drizzle-kit CLI provides generate, push, pull and check commands for managing schema migrations, and Drizzle Studio offers a visual way to browse and edit data.

Source
Ory Kratos: Does Kratos do OAuth2?

No. Kratos handles user identity; OAuth2 and OpenID Connect provider functionality is Ory Hydra, a separate component.

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