OAuth2 Proxy vs Tinyauth
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted reverse proxy & gateways options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
OAuth2 Proxy
Reverse proxy that adds authentication to any web app
VS
Tinyauth
Simplest way to protect your apps with a login screen
| Feature | OAuth2 Proxy | Tinyauth |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 95 · Excellent | 92 · Excellent |
| Category | Reverse Proxy & Gateways | Reverse Proxy & Gateways |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, kubernetes, binary | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 14,998 | ★ 8,284 |
| First released | 2015 | 2024 |
| Replaces | Cloudflare Access | Cloudflare Access |
What are OAuth2 Proxy and Tinyauth?
OAuth2 Proxy
OAuth2 Proxy is a reverse proxy and static file server that adds OAuth and OIDC authentication in front of upstream applications. It protects services that lack their own login.
- Adds OAuth/OIDC to any app
- Many identity providers
- Forward-auth mode
- Lightweight Go binary
Tinyauth
Tinyauth is a lightweight authentication middleware that adds a login screen in front of any application using forward auth with reverse proxies. It supports OAuth and simple user accounts.
- Simple login screen for apps
- Forward-auth integration
- OAuth provider support
- Tiny footprint
OAuth2 Proxy vs Tinyauth: key differences
Both projects are written in Go. Licensing differs — MIT for OAuth2 Proxy versus GPL-3.0 for Tinyauth. Tinyauth is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for OAuth2 Proxy. OAuth2 Proxy is the more established project (first released 2015), while Tinyauth arrived in 2024.
Why pick each one
Choose OAuth2 Proxy if…
- Works with any upstream
- Broad provider support
- Kubernetes friendly
Watch out for
- Many flags to learn
- Limited authorization rules
Choose Tinyauth if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 8.3k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is OAuth2 Proxy or Tinyauth better?
Neither is universally better. OAuth2 Proxy has the larger community, while Tinyauth is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are OAuth2 Proxy and Tinyauth free and open-source?
Yes. OAuth2 Proxy is licensed under MIT and Tinyauth under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run OAuth2 Proxy and Tinyauth with Docker?
OAuth2 Proxy: yes. Tinyauth: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, OAuth2 Proxy or Tinyauth?
Tinyauth has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for OAuth2 Proxy. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.