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Developer Tools · head to head

Keycloak vs Langfuse

Keycloak logo

Keycloak

Developer Tools

Open-source identity and access management server.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Langfuse logo

Langfuse

Software Development

Simple pricing for projects of all sizes

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Keycloak requires self-hosted deployment and operational expertise to install, configure and maintain; Langfuse free Hobby plan limited to 2 users and 30-day data retention

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Keycloak and Langfuse actually diverge.

Attributes where Keycloak and Langfuse differ
AttributeKeycloakLangfuse
Pricing modelopen-sourcefreemium
PlatformsSelf-hosted, Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Windows, APIWeb
CategoryDeveloper ToolsSoftware Development

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What people use each for

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

Keycloak

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

Langfuse

No use cases recorded yet. See the Langfuse review.

Where each one falls short

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

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

Langfuse

  • Free Hobby plan limited to 2 users and 30-day data retention
  • Overage pricing applies beyond included units; graduated rates from $8.00 per 100k units down to $6.00 per 100k units at 50M+ volume

Pricing, plan by plan

Keycloak

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

Langfuse

Free
  • HobbyFree
    • 50k units/month
    • 30-day data retention
    • 2 users maximum
  • Core$29/month
    • 100k units/month
    • 90-day data retention
    • Unlimited users
  • Pro$199/month
    • 100k units/month
    • 3-year data retention
    • SOC2 & ISO27001 compliance
  • Enterprise$2499/month
    • Custom rate limits
    • Dedicated support engineer
    • SCIM API & audit logs

Which should you pick?

Choose Keycloak if

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

Choose Langfuse if

  • You want to start without paying.
Langfuse review

Questions people ask

Is Keycloak or Langfuse better?
Neither clearly leads. Keycloak starts at Free and Langfuse at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Keycloak or Langfuse?
Keycloak starts at Free and Langfuse at Free.
Does Keycloak or Langfuse run on more platforms?
Keycloak runs on Self-hosted, Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Windows, API. Langfuse runs on Web.
Can I use Keycloak for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Keycloak best used for?
Keycloak is most often used for organisations requiring self-hosted identity infrastructure for compliance or data residency, companies with existing ldap/active directory systems needing federated authentication, open-source projects and communities requiring free iam without licensing costs, enterprises building custom identity workflows requiring fine-grained authorisation. Of those, organisations requiring self-hosted identity infrastructure for compliance or data residency and companies with existing ldap/active directory systems needing federated authentication are not what Langfuse is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Keycloak: What protocols does Keycloak support?

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

Source
Langfuse: What does Langfuse cost?

Langfuse starts at $29/month for the Core plan (100k units/month). Pro costs $199/month with 3-year data retention. Enterprise costs $2499/month for custom rate limits and dedicated support.

Source
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
Langfuse: Does Langfuse have a free plan?

Yes, the Hobby plan is free with 50k units/month, 30-day data retention, and support for up to 2 users.

Source
Keycloak: Is Keycloak free?

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

Source
Langfuse: What happens if I exceed my unit limits on Langfuse?

Overage pricing applies with graduated rates: $8.00 per 100k units for 100k-1M units, $7.00 per 100k units for 1M-10M units, $6.50 per 100k units for 10M-50M units, and $6.00 per 100k units for 50M+ units.

Source
Langfuse: Are there discounts available on Langfuse?

Early-stage startups receive 50% off the first year. Research and student accounts qualify for up to 100% off. Non-profits receive $199 monthly credits.

Source
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