Tag
Identity tools
4 reviewed tools: 3 free or open source, 1 hosted with a real free tier.
Order: free and open source first, then hosted products with a real free tier, then paid-led; catalog order inside each group, with quiet or archived repos last. Not a score, and no tool pays for its place.
4 tools
- LogtoMPL-2.0 identity platform with a 50k-MAU free Cloud
Free / OSS · Freemium · 14.7k GitHub stars
VerdictThe MPL-2.0 Auth0-shaped stack. Use it when Clerk MAUs are the product.
CatchCloud Free is for starting out. Passkeys, hiding branding, orgs, MFA, and enterprise SSO live as Pro add-ons. MPL-2.0 is file-level copyleft, not MIT.
- authentikMIT-core self-hosted IdP; enterprise/ is not MIT
Free / OSS · OSS/MIT · 26k GitHub stars
VerdictMIT-core IdP. Self-host is the free path; there is no authentik Cloud.
Catchenterprise/ is not MIT — EE license, paid seats. No hosted hatch: goauthentik.io/pricing says they do not currently provide a hosted version. You run Postgres and the stack.
- ZITADELAGPLv3 identity Cloud at US$0/Month — 100 DAU, not Logto 50k MAU
Free / OSS · Freemium · 15.4k GitHub stars
VerdictAGPL identity with a real $0 Cloud. 100 DAU is the meter; self-host if that is a joke.
Catchthe wall is 100 DAU, not Logto 50k MAU. AGPLv3 is network copyleft — Cloud or self-host, the license is loud. Pro is US$100/Month for 25k DAU. Distinct from Hanko passkeys-first Cloud and authentik no-hosted-hatch.
- HexclaveMIT clients / AGPLv3 server auth; Cloud Free ≤10k forever
Free tier · Freemium · 6.9k GitHub stars
VerdictPitch as Hexclave, not Stack Auth. Cloud Free ≤10k forever or self-host; AGPL server is the loud license.
CatchMid-rename — Docker images still stackauth/server. Cloud Free is PostHog-shaped 10k auth users, not a trial clock. Self-host is heavy (Postgres + ClickHouse + cron + email). AGPLv3 server — commercial license if AGPL does not fit. Vs Better Auth / Clerk / Logto / ZITADEL / Pocket ID.
FAQ
- What is the top free pick among Identity tools?
- Logto leads the Stack Gems list for Identity tools. Verdict: The MPL-2.0 Auth0-shaped stack. Use it when Clerk MAUs are the product.
- How many Identity tools does Stack Gems review?
- 4: 3 free or open source, 1 hosted with a real free tier. Each review has a verdict and an honest Catch; no tool pays for its spot.
- Which Identity tools can I self-host for free?
- Logto, authentik and ZITADEL.
- Which Identity tools have the most GitHub stars?
- authentik (26k), ZITADEL (15.4k), Logto (14.7k), per GitHub on 2026-10-21. Stars measure attention, not fit; read the Catch.
- What is the catch with Logto?
- Cloud Free is for starting out.