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Cybersecurity · head to head

OneTrust vs Ory Kratos

OneTrust logo

OneTrust

Cybersecurity

Enterprise AI governance and data compliance platform.

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Ory Kratos logo

Ory Kratos

Cybersecurity

Headless identity and user management API

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Ory Kratos has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: OneTrust complex usage-based pricing model with multiple meters (admin users, inventory size, daily visitors, data subjects) making total cost unpredictable; Ory Kratos headless means you build every screen, which is significant work compared with a hosted login page

Where they differ

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

Attributes where OneTrust and Ory Kratos differ
AttributeOneTrustOry Kratos
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelusage-basedOpen-source self-hosted, with a paid managed network
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, API, CloudLinux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Cybersecurity).

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 OneTrust

Nothing recorded that Ory Kratos does not also cover.

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.

OneTrust

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

Ory Kratos

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

Where each one falls short

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

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

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

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

Ory Kratos

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

Which should you pick?

Choose OneTrust if

  • You work on Web, API, Cloud.
OneTrust 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 OneTrust or Ory Kratos better?
Neither clearly leads. OneTrust starts at On request and Ory Kratos at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OneTrust or Ory Kratos?
Ory Kratos has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for OneTrust and Free for Ory Kratos.
Does OneTrust or Ory Kratos run on more platforms?
OneTrust runs on Web, API, Cloud. 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. OneTrust starts at On request.
What is OneTrust best used for?
OneTrust is most often used for fortune 500 enterprises managing multi-framework compliance (gdpr, soc 2, eu ai act, dora, nis2), organisations implementing responsible ai governance and monitoring ai systems, companies with global data operations requiring consent and privacy automation at scale, enterprises managing complex vendor ecosystems with third-party risk assessment. Of those, fortune 500 enterprises managing multi-framework compliance (gdpr, soc 2, eu ai act, dora, nis2) and organisations implementing responsible ai governance and monitoring ai systems are not what Ory Kratos is typically brought in for.
What can OneTrust do that Ory Kratos cannot?
Ory Kratos covers Headless API, Self-service flows, Multi-factor authentication, Pluggable identity schemas.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Ory Kratos: Is Ory Kratos free?

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

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
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.

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
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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