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Government · head to head

Mark43 vs Ory Kratos

Mark43 logo

Mark43

Government

Modern Public Safety Software

From
$2000/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: Mark43 no published pricing on homepage; sales contact required for all cost details; Ory Kratos headless means you build every screen, which is significant work compared with a hosted login page
  • They diverge on capability: Mark43 covers Computer-Aided Dispatch, Ory Kratos covers Headless API.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Mark43 and Ory Kratos actually diverge.

Attributes where Mark43 and Ory Kratos differ
AttributeMark43Ory Kratos
Starting price$2000/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionOpen-source self-hosted, with a paid managed network
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidLinux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted
CategoryGovernmentCybersecurity
Founded2012Unknown

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 Mark43

  • Computer-Aided Dispatch
  • Records Management
  • Evidence Management
  • Analytics
  • Mobile
  • FBI CJIS
  • NCIC
  • State Systems

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.

Mark43

  • 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 Mark43
  • Applications that must not hand user identity data to a third partynot Mark43
  • Teams building identity as infrastructure across several servicesnot Mark43

Where each one falls short

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

Mark43

  • No published pricing on homepage; sales contact required for all cost details
  • Only reference to pricing is 'early bird pricing' for 2027 conference registration
  • No transparent pricing structure visible for public evaluation

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

Mark43

$2000/month
  • Public Safety Suite$2000/month
    • CAD
    • RMS
    • Analytics

Ory Kratos

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Mark43 if

  • You need computer-aided dispatch.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want records management.
Mark43 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 Mark43 or Ory Kratos better?
Neither clearly leads. Mark43 starts at $2000/month and Ory Kratos at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Mark43 or Ory Kratos?
Ory Kratos has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $2000/month for Mark43 and Free for Ory Kratos.
Does Mark43 or Ory Kratos run on more platforms?
Mark43 runs on Web, Ios, Android. 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. Mark43 starts at $2000/month.
What is Mark43 best used for?
Mark43 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 Mark43 do that Ory Kratos cannot?
Mark43 covers Computer-Aided Dispatch, Records Management, Evidence Management, Analytics. Ory Kratos covers Headless API, Self-service flows, Multi-factor authentication, Pluggable identity schemas.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Mark43: Does Mark43 publish pricing online?

No, Mark43 pricing is not published on the public website. The only pricing reference is early bird conference registration. Prospective customers must contact Mark43 through 'Book A Demo' or 'Let's Connect' for pricing consultation.

Source
Ory Kratos: Is Ory Kratos free?

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

Mark43: What payment methods or financing options does Mark43 offer?

No information about payment methods or financing options is disclosed on the public homepage. Pricing and payment details are handled through direct sales consultations.

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.

Mark43: Are there volume discounts or specialized pricing for different agency sizes?

Mark43 website does not disclose any volume pricing, per-user costs, or specialized rates for agencies of different sizes. All pricing inquiries require direct contact with sales team.

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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