authentik vs Ping 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
Cons
- Younger project than Keycloak
- Smaller community and ecosystem
- Enterprise features require paid license
- Limited enterprise support options
Pricing: Free (Open Source) / Enterprise from contact
Ping Identity
Ping Identity is an enterprise-grade identity platform focused on large, regulated organizations. It supports workforce, customer, and non-human identities, with strong federation capabilities, hybrid/self-hosted deployment options, and FedRAMP-authorized offerings. After the Thoma Bravo acquisition and merger with ForgeRock, Ping's PingOne platform is one of the most comprehensive enterprise IAM suites available.
Pros
- Mature platform with deep federation capabilities
- Flexible deployment options (cloud, self-hosted, hybrid)
- FedRAMP High authorization for government use
- Unified workforce and customer identity after ForgeRock merger
Cons
- Complex to configure and deploy
- Pricing is enterprise-only (no published tiers)
- Product lineup is confusing post-merger
- Administrative UI is less polished than Okta's
Pricing: Contact sales (typical enterprise deployments from $50k/year)