Flexible identity provider and SSO platform with OAuth2, SAML, LDAP and proxy outposts.
- Python
- Docker
- Actively maintained
Identity & SSO comparison
authentik vs Authelia: which should you self-host in 2026?
Pick authentik for a full identity provider with user management UI, SAML and LDAP; pick Authelia for a lightweight Go forward-auth portal that adds 2FA in front of your reverse proxy.
Both are open source and run on your own server. Below: a side-by-side of license, stack and features, live GitHub activity, and our verdict on who should pick which.
Single sign-on and two-factor authentication portal for protecting web apps behind a reverse proxy.
- Apache-2.0
- Go
- Docker
- Actively maintained
Head-to-head
authentik vs Authelia, side by side
Hand-checked differences first, then live numbers from GitHub, refreshed with every catalog update.
| Aspect |  authentik |  Authelia |
|---|---|---|
| License | MIT, except the authentik/enterprise directory, which uses the authentik Enterprise license | Apache-2.0 |
| Language/stack | Python (Django) core with Go outposts | Go, single binary |
| User management | Built-in users, groups and self-service enrollment in the admin UI | Users in a YAML file or an external LDAP directory; no admin UI |
| Protocols | OIDC, OAuth2, SAML, LDAP, RADIUS and proxy forward auth | Forward auth for reverse proxies and an OpenID Certified OIDC provider |
| Hardware needs | Heavier: server, worker and PostgreSQL containers | Light: one Go binary with SQLite, MySQL or PostgreSQL storage |
| GitHub stars | 25,859 | 29,182 |
| Commits, last 12 months | 5,375 | 2,474 |
| Last commit | Oct 6, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 |
| Latest release | version/2026.8.3Sep 17, 2026 | v4.39.28Sep 17, 2026 |
| Main language | Python | Go |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| Repository | goauthentik/authentik | authelia/authelia |
Swipe the table sideways to see both apps. GitHub figures come from the public API. Highlighted values are the higher of the two.
Verdict
authentik is a full identity provider: users, groups, enrollment flows, SAML, OIDC and LDAP in one admin UI. Authelia is lighter and config-file driven, sitting behind Traefik, Caddy or NGINX to add single sign-on and two-factor authentication, with users stored in a YAML file or an LDAP directory.
Best for
Choose authentik for
Teams that need a full IdP with SAML, LDAP and self-service enrollment.
Best for
Choose Authelia for
Homelabs that want lightweight 2FA and SSO in front of a reverse proxy.
Deploy either in minutes
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Does Authelia have a user management UI?
No. Users are defined in a YAML file or come from LDAP, and configuration is done in a YAML file. authentik manages users in its web UI.
Can Authelia be an OpenID Connect provider?
Yes. Authelia is OpenID Certified for several OpenID Connect provider profiles, though the project still lists the feature as beta on its roadmap.
Which works with Traefik forward auth?
Both. Authelia is designed around forward auth, and authentik provides it through its proxy outpost.
Which is more popular on GitHub, authentik or Authelia?
Authelia has 29,182 GitHub stars against 25,859 for authentik. Over the last twelve months authentik received 5,375 commits and Authelia received 2,474, so authentik is the more actively developed of the two right now. Stars measure interest, not fit, so weigh them against the differences above.
