Samba Active Directory DC 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?
Samba Active Directory DC
Open-source Active Directory compatible domain controller
VS
SuperTokens
Open-source user authentication you can self-host
| Feature | Samba Active Directory DC | SuperTokens |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Identity & SSO | Identity & SSO |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | C | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,000 | ★ 15,250 |
| First released | 1992 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Active Directory, Windows Server | Auth0, Firebase Auth |
Why pick each one
Choose Samba Active Directory DC if…
- Drop-in AD replacement
- Mature and widely deployed
Frequently asked questions
Is Samba Active Directory DC or SuperTokens better?
SuperTokens 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 Samba Active Directory DC and SuperTokens free and open-source?
Yes. Samba Active Directory DC is licensed under GPL-3.0 and SuperTokens under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Samba Active Directory DC and SuperTokens with Docker?
Samba Active Directory DC: yes. SuperTokens: yes.