Softwr

Government · head to head

Laserfiche vs Ory Kratos

Laserfiche logo

Laserfiche

Government

Intelligent Content Management

From
$50/month
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite
Ory Kratos logo

Ory Kratos

Cybersecurity

Headless identity and user management API

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Ory Kratos has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Laserfiche self-hosted deployment requires dedicated IT resources and infrastructure management; Ory Kratos headless means you build every screen, which is significant work compared with a hosted login page
  • They diverge on capability: Laserfiche covers Document Capture, Ory Kratos covers Headless API.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Laserfiche and Ory Kratos differ
AttributeLaserficheOry Kratos
Starting price$50/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionOpen-source self-hosted, with a paid managed network
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Mobile, Windows, macOS, LinuxLinux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted
CategoryGovernmentCybersecurity
Founded1976Unknown

Identical on both: 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 Laserfiche

  • Document Capture
  • Workflow Automation
  • Records Management
  • Electronic Forms
  • Process Automation
  • Microsoft Office
  • SharePoint
  • Salesforce

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.

Laserfiche

  • Citizen Servicesnot Ory Kratos
  • Records Managementnot Ory Kratos
  • Public Safetynot Ory Kratos
  • Civic Engagementnot Ory Kratos

Ory Kratos

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

Where each one falls short

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

Laserfiche

  • Self-hosted deployment requires dedicated IT resources and infrastructure management
  • Complex implementation often requires significant upfront customization
  • High total cost of ownership for on-premises deployments due to infrastructure needs

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

Laserfiche

$50/month
  • Cloud$50/month
    • Document Management
    • Workflow Automation
    • Records Management

Ory Kratos

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Laserfiche if

  • You need document capture.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want workflow automation.
Laserfiche 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 Laserfiche or Ory Kratos better?
Neither clearly leads. Laserfiche starts at $50/month and Ory Kratos at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Laserfiche or Ory Kratos?
Ory Kratos has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $50/month for Laserfiche and Free for Ory Kratos.
Does Laserfiche or Ory Kratos run on more platforms?
Laserfiche runs on Web, Mobile, Windows, macOS, Linux. Ory Kratos runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted.
Can I use Ory Kratos for free?
Yes. Ory Kratos has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Laserfiche starts at $50/month.
What is Laserfiche best used for?
Laserfiche is most often used for citizen services, records management, public safety, civic engagement. Of those, citizen services and records management are not what Ory Kratos is typically brought in for.
What can Laserfiche do that Ory Kratos cannot?
Laserfiche covers Document Capture, Workflow Automation, Records Management, Electronic Forms. Ory Kratos covers Headless API, Self-service flows, Multi-factor authentication, Pluggable identity schemas.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Laserfiche: Does Laserfiche offer both cloud and self-hosted options?

Yes. Laserfiche Cloud offers three tiers (Starter $53/user/month, Professional $73, Business $93). Laserfiche 12 provides self-hosted deployment for organizations requiring on-premise infrastructure or with strict security and regulatory constraints.

Source
Ory Kratos: Is Ory Kratos free?

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

Laserfiche: What does Laserfiche capture from documents?

Laserfiche provides document capture, electronic forms, workflow automation, case management, mobile access, and government-certified records management with automatic filing and retention schedules.

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.

Laserfiche: Can Laserfiche track document workflows automatically?

Yes. Laserfiche includes workflow automation that tracks and fulfills processes like FOIA requests, with access controls, audit trails, and automated recordkeeping for compliance.

Source
Ory Kratos: Does Kratos do OAuth2?

No. Kratos handles user identity; OAuth2 and OpenID Connect provider functionality is Ory Hydra, a separate component.

Share

Related pages

More on Laserfiche

More on Ory Kratos

Keep looking

Other head to heads