Apache Syncope vs authentik
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted apps from related categories — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Apache Syncope
Open-source system for managing digital identities
VS
authentik
Open-source identity provider with proxy outpost
| Feature | Apache Syncope | authentik |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Identity & SSO | Reverse Proxy & Gateways |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | Java | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, kubernetes, bare-metal | docker, kubernetes, helm |
| GitHub stars | ★ 336 | ★ 23,666 |
| First released | 2012 | 2020 |
| Replaces | SailPoint, Okta | Okta, Auth0 |
Why pick each one
Choose authentik if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Kubernetes-ready with Helm charts available
- Mature project with 23.7k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is Apache Syncope or authentik better?
authentik is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Apache Syncope if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Apache Syncope and authentik free and open-source?
Yes. Apache Syncope is licensed under Apache-2.0 and authentik under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Apache Syncope and authentik with Docker?
Apache Syncope: yes. authentik: yes.