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Cybersecurity · head to head

Ory Kratos vs RoboForm

Ory Kratos logo

Ory Kratos

Cybersecurity

Headless identity and user management API

From
Free
Rated
-
RoboForm logo

RoboForm

Cybersecurity

Password manager and form filler

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Ory Kratos headless means you build every screen, which is significant work compared with a hosted login page; RoboForm free plan is restricted to a single device; syncing across multiple devices requires the Premium plan
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Ory Kratos and RoboForm differ
AttributeOry KratosRoboForm
Pricing modelOpen-source self-hosted, with a paid managed networkfreemium
PlatformsLinux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hostedWeb

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Ory Kratos

  • Headless API
  • Self-service flows
  • Multi-factor authentication
  • Pluggable identity schemas

Only in RoboForm

Nothing recorded that Ory Kratos does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Ory Kratos

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

RoboForm

  • Auto-filling passwords across multiple devices and websitesnot Ory Kratos
  • Sharing family passwords securely with household membersnot Ory Kratos
  • Receiving alerts when credentials appear in data breachesnot Ory Kratos
  • Granting emergency access to trusted contacts for account recoverynot Ory Kratos
  • Enforcing multi-factor authentication across online accountsnot Ory Kratos

Where each one falls short

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

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

RoboForm

  • Free plan is restricted to a single device; syncing across multiple devices requires the Premium plan
  • Premium's advertised $2.49 per month rate is a first-year discount that renews at $29.88 per year
  • Family plan covers only up to 5 accounts and likewise renews at a higher $47.75 per year after the first-year discount

Pricing, plan by plan

Ory Kratos

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

RoboForm

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited passwords on single device
    • Advanced 2FA
    • Password breach monitoring 5 emails
  • Premium$2.49/month
    • Billed annually
    • All Free features
    • Unlimited devices
  • Family$3.98/month
    • Billed annually
    • Up to 5 Premium accounts
    • 30-day money-back guarantee

Which should you pick?

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.

Choose RoboForm if

  • You want to start without paying.

Questions people ask

Is Ory Kratos or RoboForm better?
Neither clearly leads. Ory Kratos starts at Free and RoboForm at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Ory Kratos or RoboForm?
Ory Kratos starts at Free and RoboForm at Free.
Does Ory Kratos or RoboForm run on more platforms?
Ory Kratos runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted. RoboForm runs on Web.
Can I use Ory Kratos for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Ory Kratos best used for?
Ory Kratos is most often used for products needing complete control over the look and flow of authentication, applications that must not hand user identity data to a third party, teams building identity as infrastructure across several services. Of those, products needing complete control over the look and flow of authentication and applications that must not hand user identity data to a third party are not what RoboForm is typically brought in for.
What can Ory Kratos do that RoboForm cannot?
Ory Kratos covers Headless API, Self-service flows, Multi-factor authentication, Pluggable identity schemas.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Ory Kratos: Is Ory Kratos free?

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

RoboForm: How much does RoboForm cost?

Premium plan is $2.49 per month when billed annually ($29.88/year renewal rate). Family plan supports up to 5 Premium accounts at $3.98 per month annual. Free plan is available with basic password management.

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.

RoboForm: Is there a money-back guarantee?

Yes, RoboForm offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all paid plans.

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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