Developer Tools · head to head
Keycloak vs RAD Studio
Keycloak
Developer Tools
Open-source identity and access management server.
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
RAD Studio
Developer Tools
Cross-platform native app development with Delphi and C++Builder
- From
- $2000/perpetual
- 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; RAD Studio professional edition costs $2,000 for the perpetual license plus $599 for year one maintenance, totaling $2,599 before tax
- Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Keycloak and RAD Studio actually diverge.
| Attribute | Keycloak | RAD Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $2000/perpetual |
| Pricing model | open-source | one-time |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Self-hosted, Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Windows, API | Web |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Developer Tools).
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 RAD Studio
- Companies with existing LDAP/Active Directory systems needing federated authenticationnot RAD Studio
- Open-source projects and communities requiring free IAM without licensing costsnot RAD Studio
- Enterprises building custom identity workflows requiring fine-grained authorisationnot RAD Studio
- Teams with sufficient operational expertise to manage infrastructurenot RAD Studio
RAD Studio
- Building Windows desktop applications with VCL componentsnot Keycloak
- Creating iOS and Android apps from shared Delphi codebasenot Keycloak
- Connecting to Oracle databases through FireDAC connectivitynot Keycloak
- Building REST web services that run on Linux serversnot 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
RAD Studio
- Professional edition costs $2,000 for the perpetual license plus $599 for year one maintenance, totaling $2,599 before tax
- Enterprise edition steps up to $3,400 license plus $1,199 maintenance, and Architect edition to $4,416 license plus $2,183 maintenance
- The perpetual license only entitles the buyer to updates for one year; continued access to new updates and upgrades requires an annually renewable Update Subscription
Pricing, plan by plan
Keycloak
Free- Open-sourceFree
- Full platform functionality
- Self-hosted deployment
- Community support
RAD Studio
$2000/perpetual- Professional Edition$2000/perpetual
- Perpetual License
- First year maintenance $599
- Total $2,599 + Tax
- Enterprise Edition$3400/perpetual
- Perpetual License
- First year maintenance $1,199
- Total $4,599 + Tax
- Architect Edition$4416/perpetual
- Perpetual License
- First year maintenance $2,183
- Total $6,599 + Tax
Which should you pick?
Choose Keycloak if
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Self-hosted, Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Windows, API.
Choose RAD Studio if
Nothing in the data separates RAD Studio from Keycloak on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Questions people ask
- Is Keycloak or RAD Studio better?
- Neither clearly leads. Keycloak starts at Free and RAD Studio at $2000/perpetual, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Keycloak or RAD Studio?
- Keycloak has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Keycloak and $2000/perpetual for RAD Studio.
- Does Keycloak or RAD Studio run on more platforms?
- Keycloak runs on Self-hosted, Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Windows, API. RAD Studio runs on Web.
- Can I use Keycloak for free?
- Yes. Keycloak has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. RAD Studio starts at $2000/perpetual.
- 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 RAD Studio 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.
SourceRAD Studio: How much does RAD Studio cost?
RAD Studio uses perpetual licensing: Professional Edition $2,000 perpetual license + $599 first year maintenance ($2,599 total + tax). Enterprise Edition $3,400 license + $1,199 maintenance ($4,599 total + tax). Architect Edition $4,416 license + $2,183 maintenance ($6,599 total + tax).
SourceKeycloak: 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.
SourceRAD Studio: What is the difference between RAD Studio editions?
Professional Edition ($2,599 total + tax) targets individual developers. Enterprise Edition ($4,599 total + tax) adds multi-tier app capabilities. Architect Edition ($6,599 total + tax) includes advanced database and cloud features. All three include perpetual licenses.
SourceKeycloak: Is Keycloak free?
Yes. Keycloak is fully open-source and free to deploy and use. No licensing fees are required.
SourceRAD Studio: Does RAD Studio offer Kai AI integration and discounts?
Yes, adding Kai AI to any edition provides discounts: 25% off Professional ($2,136 + tax), 30% off Enterprise ($3,394 + tax), and 40% off Architect ($4,109 + tax). This promotion is active through August 31, 2026.
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- RAD Studio vs Visual Studio
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