SpiceDB vs Topaz
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?
SpiceDB
Open-source Zanzibar-inspired permissions database
VS
Topaz
Open-source authorization with fine-grained access control
| Feature | SpiceDB | Topaz |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Identity & SSO | Identity & SSO |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Go | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, kubernetes, binary | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 6,947 | ★ 1,355 |
| First released | 2021 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Auth0 FGA, OpenFGA | Auth0 FGA |
Why pick each one
Choose SpiceDB if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Kubernetes-ready with Helm charts available
- Mature project with 6.9k GitHub stars
Choose Topaz if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1.4k GitHub stars)
- Written in Go
Frequently asked questions
Is SpiceDB or Topaz better?
Neither is universally better. SpiceDB has the larger community, while Topaz is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are SpiceDB and Topaz free and open-source?
Yes. SpiceDB is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Topaz under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run SpiceDB and Topaz with Docker?
SpiceDB: yes. Topaz: yes.