SpiceDB vs ZITADEL
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
ZITADEL
Cloud-native identity infrastructure with multi-tenancy built in
| Feature | SpiceDB | ZITADEL |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Identity & SSO | Identity & SSO |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Go | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, kubernetes, binary | docker, kubernetes, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 6,947 | ★ 14,671 |
| First released | 2021 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Auth0 FGA, OpenFGA | Auth0, Okta, Firebase Auth |
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
Frequently asked questions
Is SpiceDB or ZITADEL better?
ZITADEL is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider SpiceDB if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are SpiceDB and ZITADEL free and open-source?
Yes. SpiceDB is licensed under Apache-2.0 and ZITADEL under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run SpiceDB and ZITADEL with Docker?
SpiceDB: yes. ZITADEL: yes.