Softwr

Developer Tools · head to head

Keycloak vs OneTrust

Keycloak logo

Keycloak

Developer Tools

Open-source identity and access management server.

From
Free
Rated
-
OneTrust logo

OneTrust

Cybersecurity

Enterprise AI governance and data compliance platform.

From
On request
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Keycloak has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Keycloak requires self-hosted deployment and operational expertise to install, configure and maintain; OneTrust complex usage-based pricing model with multiple meters (admin users, inventory size, daily visitors, data subjects) making total cost unpredictable

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Keycloak and OneTrust actually diverge.

Attributes where Keycloak and OneTrust differ
AttributeKeycloakOneTrust
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelopen-sourceusage-based
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsSelf-hosted, Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Windows, APIWeb, API, Cloud
CategoryDeveloper ToolsCybersecurity

Identical on both: 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 OneTrust
  • Companies with existing LDAP/Active Directory systems needing federated authenticationnot OneTrust
  • Open-source projects and communities requiring free IAM without licensing costsnot OneTrust
  • Enterprises building custom identity workflows requiring fine-grained authorisationnot OneTrust
  • Teams with sufficient operational expertise to manage infrastructurenot OneTrust

OneTrust

  • Fortune 500 enterprises managing multi-framework compliance (GDPR, SOC 2, EU AI Act, DORA, NIS2)not Keycloak
  • Organisations implementing responsible AI governance and monitoring AI systemsnot Keycloak
  • Companies with global data operations requiring consent and privacy automation at scalenot Keycloak
  • Enterprises managing complex vendor ecosystems with third-party risk assessmentnot Keycloak
  • Regulated industries (finance, healthcare, insurance) requiring continuous compliancenot Keycloak

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

OneTrust

  • Complex usage-based pricing model with multiple meters (admin users, inventory size, daily visitors, data subjects) making total cost unpredictable
  • No published pricing examples or per-unit costs; all pricing requires custom quotes
  • Each solution area uses different pricing metrics, requiring complex calculations for multi-solution purchases
  • Enterprise-only positioning (Fortune 500 focus) suggests premium pricing, discouraging mid-market or startup adoption
  • Platform complexity and multiple solution areas may result in significant implementation and ongoing costs not disclosed upfront

Pricing, plan by plan

Keycloak

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

OneTrust

On request
  • AI Governance$undefined/variable
    • Pricing by admin users and AI inventory size
    • AI compliance lifecycle management
    • Control enforcement and monitoring
  • Consent & Preferences$undefined/variable
    • CMP Base: priced by average daily visitors
    • CMP Suite: expanded privacy experiences
    • Universal Consent: metered by data subject profiles
  • Privacy Automation$undefined/variable
    • Priced by users and privacy asset inventory
    • Internal operations automation
    • Data subject request handling
  • Tech Risk & Compliance$undefined/variable
    • Governance and risk management across 50+ standards
    • Priced by admin users and asset inventory

Which should you pick?

Choose Keycloak if

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

Choose OneTrust if

  • You work on Web, API, Cloud.

Questions people ask

Is Keycloak or OneTrust better?
Neither clearly leads. Keycloak starts at Free and OneTrust at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Keycloak or OneTrust?
Keycloak has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Keycloak and On request for OneTrust.
Does Keycloak or OneTrust run on more platforms?
Keycloak runs on Self-hosted, Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Windows, API. OneTrust runs on Web, API, Cloud.
Can I use Keycloak for free?
Yes. Keycloak has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. OneTrust starts at On request.
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 OneTrust 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
OneTrust: How many case studies does OneTrust have?

OneTrust showcases 74+ customer case studies across multiple industries and regions, with examples from banking, insurance, hospitality and technology.

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
OneTrust: What compliance standards does OneTrust support?

OneTrust covers tech risk and compliance across 50+ standards including GDPR, SOC 2, EU AI Act, DORA and NIS2.

Source
Keycloak: Is Keycloak free?

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

Source
OneTrust: Does OneTrust automate data detection?

Yes. OneTrust automatically detects and classifies sensitive data across 200+ connectors, identifying where data lives and what regulatory requirements apply.

Source
Share

Related pages

Other head to heads