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Flagsmith vs Ory Kratos

Flagsmith logo

Flagsmith

Software Development

Open-source feature flag and remote config platform

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: Flagsmith the Free plan supports only a single team member, limiting collaboration for small teams.; Ory Kratos headless means you build every screen, which is significant work compared with a hosted login page
  • They diverge on capability: Flagsmith covers Feature flags, Ory Kratos covers Headless API.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Flagsmith and Ory Kratos actually diverge.

Attributes where Flagsmith and Ory Kratos differ
AttributeFlagsmithOry Kratos
Pricing modelfreemiumOpen-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 Flagsmith

  • Feature flags
  • Segments
  • A/B testing
  • Scheduled flags
  • SDKs
  • SAML/SSO

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.

Flagsmith

  • Gradual feature rollouts across environmentsnot Ory Kratos
  • Remote configuration without redeploying codenot Ory Kratos
  • Running A/B tests tied to feature flagsnot Ory Kratos
  • Self-hosting feature flags for data residency requirementsnot Ory Kratos

Ory Kratos

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

Where each one falls short

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

Flagsmith

  • The Free plan supports only a single team member, limiting collaboration for small teams.
  • Exceeding request limits triggers overage charges after a one-time 30-day grace period.
  • Enterprise-grade SSO and governance are locked behind the Scale-Up and Enterprise tiers.
  • Self-hosting requires operating and updating the platform yourself, unlike a fully managed SaaS competitor.

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

Flagsmith

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 50,000 requests/month
    • 1 team member
    • Unlimited feature flags, environments, identities and segments
  • Start-Up$45/month
    • Up to 1,000,000 requests/month
    • 3 team members
    • Scheduled flags, 2FA, A/B testing, integrations, email support
  • Scale-Up$300/month
    • 5,000,000+ requests/month
    • 5-20 team members
    • SAML/SSO, governance features, priority support

Ory Kratos

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Flagsmith if

  • You need feature flags.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, api.
  • You also want segments.
Flagsmith 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 Flagsmith or Ory Kratos better?
Neither clearly leads. Flagsmith 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, Flagsmith or Ory Kratos?
Flagsmith starts at Free and Ory Kratos at Free.
Does Flagsmith or Ory Kratos run on more platforms?
Flagsmith runs on web, api. Ory Kratos runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted.
Can I use Flagsmith for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Flagsmith best used for?
Flagsmith is most often used for gradual feature rollouts across environments, remote configuration without redeploying code, running a/b tests tied to feature flags, self-hosting feature flags for data residency requirements. Of those, gradual feature rollouts across environments and remote configuration without redeploying code are not what Ory Kratos is typically brought in for.
What can Flagsmith do that Ory Kratos cannot?
Flagsmith covers Feature flags, Segments, A/B testing, Scheduled flags. Ory Kratos covers Headless API, Self-service flows, Multi-factor authentication, Pluggable identity schemas.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Flagsmith: What does Flagsmith cost?

Flagsmith has a Free plan, a Start-Up plan from $40-45/month, a Scale-Up plan from $250-300/month, and custom Enterprise pricing.

Source
Ory Kratos: Is Ory Kratos free?

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

Flagsmith: Is there a free plan, and what are its limits?

The Free plan supports up to 50,000 requests per month and 1 team member, with unlimited feature flags, environments, identities and segments.

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.

Flagsmith: How is usage metered?

Usage is metered by monthly API requests; exceeding a plan's limit triggers overage charges starting around $50 per million requests, with a 30-day grace period the first time a paid plan exceeds its limit.

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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