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Cybersecurity · head to head

Ory Kratos vs Storybook

Ory Kratos logo

Ory Kratos

Cybersecurity

Headless identity and user management API

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Storybook logo

Storybook

Technology

Build component driven UIs faster

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; Storybook requires JavaScript framework knowledge for full utilization
  • They diverge on capability: Ory Kratos covers Headless API, Storybook covers Component isolation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Ory Kratos and Storybook differ
AttributeOry KratosStorybook
Pricing modelOpen-source self-hosted, with a paid managed networkUnknown
PlatformsLinux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hostedWeb, React Native, iOS, Android, Flutter
CategoryCybersecurityTechnology
FoundedUnknown2017

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

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

Only in Storybook

  • Component isolation
  • Interactive development
  • Visual testing
  • Documentation generation
  • Accessibility testing
  • Interaction testing
  • Addons ecosystem
  • Hot module reloading

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

Storybook

  • Component developmentnot Ory Kratos
  • Design system documentationnot Ory Kratos
  • Visual regression testingnot Ory Kratos
  • UI component showcasenot Ory Kratos
  • Team collaborationnot 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

Storybook

  • Requires JavaScript framework knowledge for full utilization
  • Limited native support for non-web platforms compared to specialized tools

Pricing, plan by plan

Ory Kratos

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

Storybook

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Storybook review.

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.
Ory Kratos review

Choose Storybook if

  • You need component isolation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, React Native, iOS, Android, Flutter.
  • You also want interactive development.
Storybook review

Questions people ask

Is Ory Kratos or Storybook better?
Neither clearly leads. Ory Kratos starts at Free and Storybook at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Ory Kratos or Storybook?
Ory Kratos starts at Free and Storybook at Free.
Does Ory Kratos or Storybook run on more platforms?
Ory Kratos runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted. Storybook runs on Web, React Native, iOS, Android, Flutter.
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 Storybook is typically brought in for.
What can Ory Kratos do that Storybook cannot?
Ory Kratos covers Headless API, Self-service flows, Multi-factor authentication, Pluggable identity schemas. Storybook covers Component isolation, Interactive development, Visual testing, Documentation generation.

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.

Storybook: Is Storybook free and open source?

Yes, Storybook is completely free and open source with source code hosted on GitHub. It has 2,282 contributors and approximately 83.58 million monthly installations.

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.

Storybook: What frameworks does Storybook support?

Storybook integrates with React, Vue, Angular, Svelte, and has been extended to support React Native, Android, iOS, and Flutter for mobile development.

Source
Ory Kratos: Does Kratos do OAuth2?

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

Storybook: What are the main capabilities of Storybook?

Storybook enables component development in isolation, interaction testing, visual testing, documentation, and sharing components with designers and stakeholders.

Source
Storybook: How is Storybook maintained?

Storybook is maintained by a community of 2,282 contributors. It originated from a startup called Kadira, was handed to the community in 2017, and has been community-driven since Storybook 3.0.

Source
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