Keywhiz vs SuperTokens
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?
Keywhiz
Secret management and distribution system
VS
SuperTokens
Open-source user authentication you can self-host
| Feature | Keywhiz | SuperTokens |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Identity & SSO | Identity & SSO |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Java | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,625 | ★ 15,250 |
| First released | 2015 | 2020 |
| Replaces | HashiCorp Vault | Auth0, Firebase Auth |
Why pick each one
Choose Keywhiz if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (2.6k GitHub stars)
- Written in Java
Frequently asked questions
Is Keywhiz or SuperTokens better?
SuperTokens is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Keywhiz if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Keywhiz and SuperTokens free and open-source?
Yes. Keywhiz is licensed under Apache-2.0 and SuperTokens under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Keywhiz and SuperTokens with Docker?
Keywhiz: yes. SuperTokens: yes.