SSO Implementation: Keycloak vs. Okta Comparison

Choosing an identity and access management (IAM) solution is one of the most important security decisions you'll make. In this article, we provide an honest comparison between Keycloak (open-source) and Okta (commercial leader) to help you make an informed decision.

Quick Overview

Feature	Keycloak	Okta
Pricing Model	Free (open-source)	Per-user/month ($2-15+)
Deployment	Self-hosted or managed	SaaS only
Customization	Unlimited	Limited to UI themes
Data Control	Full control	Vendor-controlled
Setup Complexity	Moderate	Low
Enterprise Support	Via Red Hat or MSPs	Included

Feature Comparison

Authentication Protocols

Both solutions support industry-standard protocols:

• OAuth 2.0 - Both fully support
• OpenID Connect - Both fully support
• SAML 2.0 - Both fully support
• LDAP - Both support federation

Winner: Tie - Both offer comprehensive protocol support.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Keycloak:

• TOTP (Google Authenticator, Authy, etc.)
• WebAuthn/FIDO2 (hardware keys, biometrics)
• SMS OTP (via extensions)
• Custom MFA factors (extensible SPI)

Okta:

• Okta Verify (push notifications)
• SMS and Voice OTP
• WebAuthn/FIDO2
• Third-party MFA integrations

Winner: Okta for out-of-box experience; Keycloak for flexibility.

User Management

Both provide robust user management capabilities:

• User registration and self-service
• Group and role management
• Attribute-based access control
• User federation (AD/LDAP)

Okta adds a polished admin UI and pre-built HR system integrations. Keycloak offers more granular control and customization options.

Application Integration

Okta shines here with:

• 7,500+ pre-built application integrations
• Automatic SCIM provisioning for many apps
• One-click setup for popular SaaS apps

Keycloak requires more manual configuration but offers:

• Standard protocol support for any app
• Custom client adapters
• Complete control over integration details

Cost Analysis

Let's look at real numbers for a 500-user organization:

Okta Costs

• SSO: $2/user/month = $12,000/year
• MFA: $3/user/month = $18,000/year
• Lifecycle Management: $4/user/month = $24,000/year
• Total: $54,000/year minimum

Managed Keycloak Costs

• Infrastructure: $500-1,500/month
• Managed services: $1,000-3,000/month
• Total: $18,000-54,000/year

For most organizations, managed Keycloak costs 30-60% less than equivalent Okta functionality, with the gap widening as user counts increase.

When to Choose Keycloak

• Budget-conscious organizations - Significant cost savings at scale
• Data sovereignty requirements - Keep identity data in your control
• Heavy customization needs - Custom authentication flows, themes, SPIs
• On-premise applications - Better integration with self-hosted apps
• Regulated industries - Full audit trail and compliance control

When to Choose Okta

• Rapid deployment priority - Up and running in hours
• Many SaaS applications - Pre-built integrations save time
• Limited IT resources - Fully managed by Okta
• Enterprise features needed immediately - Advanced analytics, threat detection

The Managed Keycloak Advantage

With managed Keycloak from ThinSky, you get:

• All the benefits of open-source flexibility
• Professional deployment and configuration
• 24/7 monitoring and support
• Regular updates and security patches
• Cost savings of 50-70% vs. Okta

This eliminates the primary drawback of self-hosted Keycloak (operational overhead) while maintaining the advantages of open-source.

Migration Considerations

If you're currently on Okta and considering a switch:

1. Audit your current Okta usage and integrations
2. Identify applications requiring custom integration work
3. Plan user migration strategy (can be done gradually)
4. Test thoroughly in parallel before cutover

Most organizations complete migration in 4-8 weeks with proper planning.