Cybersecurity · head to head
Sysdig vs Authelia

Sysdig
Cybersecurity
Cloud-native runtime security platform with real-time detection and response
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -

Authelia
Cybersecurity
Open-source authentication and two-factor portal for reverse proxies
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Authelia has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Sysdig custom pricing requires sales contact, difficult to compare costs; Authelia depends on a reverse proxy: it is not a standalone identity provider
- They diverge on capability: Sysdig covers Real-time threat detection and response, Authelia covers Reverse proxy integration.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Sysdig and Authelia actually diverge.
| Attribute | Sysdig | Authelia |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Pricing model | Custom pricing based on number of hosts, events processed, or time series data | Open source, no licence fee |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Kubernetes, Docker, AWS, GCP, Azure, Cloud-native | Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Self-hosted |
| Founded | 2013 | Unknown |
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 Sysdig
- Real-time threat detection and response
- Runtime intelligence
- AI-powered security agents
- Vulnerability management
- Cloud Security Posture Management
- Container and Kubernetes security
- Infrastructure as Code security
- Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management
Only in Authelia
- Reverse proxy integration
- Two-factor authentication
- Access control rules
- Lightweight backends
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Sysdig
- Real-time threat detection in Kubernetes clustersnot Authelia
- Container workload vulnerability prioritizationnot Authelia
- Cloud security posture compliance monitoringnot Authelia
- Infrastructure entitlement and permission analysisnot Authelia
- AI workload security and threat remediationnot Authelia
Authelia
- Putting a login and 2FA in front of self-hosted services that have nonenot Sysdig
- Adding SSO across a small set of internal tools without a full identity platformnot Sysdig
- Home and small-team infrastructure behind a single reverse proxynot Sysdig
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Sysdig
- Custom pricing requires sales contact, difficult to compare costs
- No published pricing tiers or calculator available
- Primarily focused on cloud-native environments
- Requires integration with existing SIEM or monitoring tools for full visibility
- Steep learning curve for runtime security concepts
Authelia
- Depends on a reverse proxy: it is not a standalone identity provider
- Configuration is YAML-first with no administrative interface, so changes mean editing files
- Not a full IAM: user management, provisioning and federation are limited compared with Keycloak
- Scales poorly as an organisation-wide identity solution, which is not its target
Pricing, plan by plan
Sysdig
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Sysdig review.
Authelia
Free- AutheliaFree
- Full functionality
- No usage limits
- Community support
Which should you pick?
Choose Sysdig if
- You need real-time threat detection and response.
- You work on Kubernetes, Docker, AWS, GCP, Azure, Cloud-native.
- You also want runtime intelligence.
Choose Authelia if
- You need reverse proxy integration.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Self-hosted.
- You also want two-factor authentication.
Questions people ask
- Is Sysdig or Authelia better?
- Neither clearly leads. Sysdig starts at On request and Authelia at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Sysdig or Authelia?
- Authelia has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Sysdig and Free for Authelia.
- Does Sysdig or Authelia run on more platforms?
- Sysdig runs on Kubernetes, Docker, AWS, GCP, Azure, Cloud-native. Authelia runs on Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Self-hosted.
- Can I use Authelia for free?
- Yes. Authelia has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Sysdig starts at On request.
- What is Sysdig best used for?
- Sysdig is most often used for real-time threat detection in kubernetes clusters, container workload vulnerability prioritization, cloud security posture compliance monitoring, infrastructure entitlement and permission analysis. Of those, real-time threat detection in kubernetes clusters and container workload vulnerability prioritization are not what Authelia is typically brought in for.
- What can Sysdig do that Authelia cannot?
- Sysdig covers Real-time threat detection and response, Runtime intelligence, AI-powered security agents, Vulnerability management. Authelia covers Reverse proxy integration, Two-factor authentication, Access control rules, Lightweight backends.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Sysdig: How does Sysdig achieve real-time threat detection?
Sysdig uses runtime intelligence with kernel-level system visibility, capturing live system calls to detect threats at machine speed, typically within 2 seconds.
SourceAuthelia: Is Authelia free?
Yes, open source with no licence fee.
Sysdig: What is runtime intelligence and how does it differ from configuration-based security?
Runtime intelligence reveals what is actually executing in cloud environments through kernel-level visibility, rather than relying on theoretical risks from configuration analysis alone.
SourceAuthelia: Does Authelia need a reverse proxy?
Yes. It integrates through forward authentication with Nginx, Traefik, Caddy or HAProxy rather than sitting in front of traffic itself.
Sysdig: What cloud platforms does Sysdig support?
Sysdig supports AWS, GCP, Azure, and IBM Cloud with multiple regional data centers across US, EU, and other regions.
SourceAuthelia: Authelia or Keycloak?
Authelia is far lighter and aimed at protecting self-hosted services behind a proxy. Keycloak is a full identity and access management platform, and much more to run.
Sysdig: Does Sysdig integrate with existing security tools?
Yes, Sysdig integrates with existing SIEM and monitoring tools to provide unified security visibility across cloud infrastructure.
SourceRelated pages
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