Kanidm vs Samba Active Directory DC
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted identity & sso options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Kanidm
Modern, simple and secure identity management server
VS
Samba Active Directory DC
Open-source Active Directory compatible domain controller
| Feature | Kanidm | Samba Active Directory DC |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Identity & SSO | Identity & SSO |
| License | MPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Rust | C |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 5,214 | ★ 1,000 |
| First released | 2019 | 1992 |
| Replaces | Active Directory, Okta | Active Directory, Windows Server |
Why pick each one
Choose Samba Active Directory DC if…
- Drop-in AD replacement
- Mature and widely deployed
Frequently asked questions
Is Kanidm or Samba Active Directory DC better?
Kanidm is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Samba Active Directory DC if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Kanidm and Samba Active Directory DC free and open-source?
Yes. Kanidm is licensed under MPL-2.0 and Samba Active Directory DC under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Kanidm and Samba Active Directory DC with Docker?
Kanidm: yes. Samba Active Directory DC: yes.