authentik vs Okta Workforce Identity
authentik
authentik is an open-source identity provider focused on flexibility and versatility. It supports SAML, OAuth2, OpenID Connect, LDAP, SCIM, and RADIUS protocols. It provides a modern UI for user self-service, admin management, and can act as a full identity provider or authentication proxy.
Pros
- Fully open source with active development
- Modern, polished admin UI
- Supports all major identity protocols
- Easy Docker/Kubernetes deployment
- Flexible flow-based authentication engine
Considerations
- Younger project than Keycloak
- Smaller community and ecosystem
- Enterprise features require paid license
- Limited enterprise support options
Pricing: Free (Open Source) / Enterprise from contact
Okta Workforce Identity
Okta is the category-defining cloud identity platform, providing single sign-on, multi-factor authentication, lifecycle management, and API access management. The Okta Integration Network has more than 7,000 pre-built app integrations, and the platform is trusted by roughly half of the Fortune 100. Okta has invested heavily in phishing-resistant authentication (FIDO2, passkeys) and adaptive access policies driven by device and behavior signals.
Pros
- Broadest integration catalog in the industry
- Strong enterprise features and compliance certifications
- Mature admin experience and extensive documentation
- MFA and adaptive access
Considerations
- Expensive at scale (per-user pricing adds up quickly)
- Complex pricing with many add-ons and tiers
- 2022/2023 support-system breaches left lingering trust concerns
- Can feel heavyweight for small teams
Pricing: Workforce Identity from $6 per user/mo (Starter) or $17 per user/mo (Essentials), billed annually, $1,500/yr minimum (vendor list price, 2026).