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Web Development · head to head

Drupal vs Keycloak

D

Drupal

Web Development

Open-source CMS for complex, structured content sites

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
Keycloak logo

Keycloak

Developer Tools

Open-source identity and access management server.

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Drupal steep learning curve: concepts that are implicit in WordPress are explicit and must be configured; Keycloak requires self-hosted deployment and operational expertise to install, configure and maintain
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Drupal and Keycloak actually diverge.

Attributes where Drupal and Keycloak differ
AttributeDrupalKeycloak
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feeopen-source
PlatformsWeb, Linux, Self-hostedSelf-hosted, Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Windows, API
CategoryWeb DevelopmentDeveloper Tools

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 Drupal

  • Structured content modelling
  • Granular permissions
  • Multilingual
  • Views

Only in Keycloak

Nothing recorded that Drupal does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Drupal

  • Government and university sites with complex content models and strict permissionsnot Keycloak
  • Multilingual sites where translation is structural rather than a pluginnot Keycloak
  • Publishers needing custom content types and editorial workflownot Keycloak

Keycloak

  • Organisations requiring self-hosted identity infrastructure for compliance or data residencynot Drupal
  • Companies with existing LDAP/Active Directory systems needing federated authenticationnot Drupal
  • Open-source projects and communities requiring free IAM without licensing costsnot Drupal
  • Enterprises building custom identity workflows requiring fine-grained authorisationnot Drupal
  • Teams with sufficient operational expertise to manage infrastructurenot Drupal

Where each one falls short

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

Drupal

  • Steep learning curve: concepts that are implicit in WordPress are explicit and must be configured
  • Smaller developer pool than WordPress, and correspondingly higher build costs
  • Major version upgrades have historically been substantial projects, not routine updates
  • Considerably more machinery than a straightforward marketing site needs

Keycloak

  • Requires self-hosted deployment and operational expertise to install, configure and maintain
  • No managed cloud option provided by Red Hat; organisations must operate infrastructure themselves or use third-party distributions
  • Clustering and high-availability configurations require additional operational knowledge
  • Community support only; commercial support requires third-party vendors or distributions

Pricing, plan by plan

Drupal

Free
  • DrupalFree
    • Full functionality
    • Commercial use permitted
    • Community support

Keycloak

Free
  • Open-sourceFree
    • Full platform functionality
    • Self-hosted deployment
    • Community support

Which should you pick?

Choose Drupal if

  • You need structured content modelling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Linux, Self-hosted.
  • You also want granular permissions.
Drupal review

Choose Keycloak if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Self-hosted, Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Windows, API.
Keycloak review

Questions people ask

Is Drupal or Keycloak better?
Neither clearly leads. Drupal starts at Free and Keycloak at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Drupal or Keycloak?
Drupal starts at Free and Keycloak at Free.
Does Drupal or Keycloak run on more platforms?
Drupal runs on Web, Linux, Self-hosted. Keycloak runs on Self-hosted, Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Windows, API.
Can I use Drupal for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Drupal best used for?
Drupal is most often used for government and university sites with complex content models and strict permissions, multilingual sites where translation is structural rather than a plugin, publishers needing custom content types and editorial workflow. Of those, government and university sites with complex content models and strict permissions and multilingual sites where translation is structural rather than a plugin are not what Keycloak is typically brought in for.
What can Drupal do that Keycloak cannot?
Drupal covers Structured content modelling, Granular permissions, Multilingual, Views.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Drupal: Is Drupal free?

Yes, open source under the GPL. Costs are hosting, development and any commercial modules.

Keycloak: What protocols does Keycloak support?

Keycloak supports OpenID Connect, OAuth 2.0 and SAML 2.0 protocols for authentication and authorisation.

Source
Drupal: Drupal or WordPress?

WordPress is faster to launch, cheaper to staff and has a much larger plugin ecosystem. Drupal is stronger when the content model is genuinely complex and permissions are strict, which is why institutions favour it.

Keycloak: Can Keycloak integrate with existing user directories?

Yes. Keycloak supports user federation with LDAP and Active Directory systems, allowing organisations to leverage existing user directories.

Source
Drupal: Why is Drupal common in government and universities?

Structured content modelling, granular access control and multilingual support are core rather than bolted on, and those are exactly the requirements those sectors have.

Keycloak: Is Keycloak free?

Yes. Keycloak is fully open-source and free to deploy and use. No licensing fees are required.

Source
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