SAML Jackson vs Janssen Project
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted identity & sso options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | SAML Jackson | Janssen Project |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 80 · Excellent | 80 · Excellent |
| Category | Identity & SSO | Identity & SSO |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 4,096 MB |
| Deployment | docker | kubernetes, helm |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,266 | ★ 649 |
| First released | 2022 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Auth0, WorkOS | Okta, Auth0 |
What are SAML Jackson and Janssen Project?
SAML Jackson
BoxyHQ Jackson (SAML Jackson) is a self-hosted service that abstracts SAML and OIDC enterprise single sign-on behind a simple OAuth 2.0 API. It lets apps add enterprise SSO without per-provider code.
- SAML and OIDC abstraction
- OAuth 2.0 API
- Directory sync (SCIM)
- Self-hostable
Janssen Project
The Janssen Project is a Linux Foundation effort delivering a scalable, cloud-native identity and access management platform. It implements OpenID Connect, OAuth 2.0, and FIDO standards for authentication and authorization.
- OpenID Connect provider
- OAuth 2.0 server
- FIDO2 and passkeys
- Cloud-native deployment
SAML Jackson vs Janssen Project: key differences
SAML Jackson is written in TypeScript, while Janssen Project is built with Java. SAML Jackson is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 4,096 MB for Janssen Project. Janssen Project is the more established project (first released 2020), while SAML Jackson arrived in 2022. SAML Jackson has the considerably larger community, at 2,266 GitHub stars versus 649. SAML Jackson lists first-class Docker deployment; Janssen Project does not.
Why pick each one
Choose SAML Jackson if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (2.3k GitHub stars)
- Written in TypeScript
Choose Janssen Project if…
- Standards complete
- Built for scale
Watch out for
- Complex to operate
- Heavy resource needs
Frequently asked questions
Is SAML Jackson or Janssen Project better?
SAML Jackson is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Janssen Project if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are SAML Jackson and Janssen Project free and open-source?
Yes. SAML Jackson is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Janssen Project under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run SAML Jackson and Janssen Project with Docker?
SAML Jackson: yes. Janssen Project: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, SAML Jackson or Janssen Project?
SAML Jackson has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 4,096 MB for Janssen Project. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.