Azure AD costs $6/mo.
These cost $0.
2 free alternatives to Azure AD, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
The top-rated free, open-source replacement for Azure AD is Keycloak (Apache-2.0 Open Source). Across this category, 2 self-hostable tools are available (including Keycloak and Authgear). Switching a 5-person team saves up to $360/year compared to Azure AD's $6/mo subscription.
The catch: Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Auth0.
Azure AD vs Free Alternatives
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $6/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keycloak | open source | Apache-2.0 | Self-host | ★ 37.7k | Azure AD vs Keycloak → |
| Authgear | open source | Open Source | Self-host | ★ 2.1k | Azure AD vs Authgear → |
The picks
2 open source · ranked by fit
- 01
Keycloak
open sourceApache-2.0Self-host37.7knov 2026Comprehensive open source identity management solution offering single sign-on, social login, and fine-grained authorization for applications and services.
The catch vs Azure ADRequires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Auth0.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Clone https://github.com/keycloak/keycloak or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- your data
- All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
- 02
Authgear
open sourceOpen SourceSelf-host2.1knov 2026Authgear is a managed IAM platform handling authentication, SSO, and user management for B2C and B2B apps, with biometrics, MFA, and zero-trust support.
The catch vs Azure ADRequires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Azure AD.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Clone https://github.com/authgear/authgear-server or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- your data
- All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
Azure AD Head-to-Head Comparisons (2027)
Side-by-side trade-off breakdowns · 2 free alternatives
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · Azure AD open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to Azure AD?+
The top free alternative to Azure AD is Keycloak (open source, Apache-2.0). Comprehensive open source identity management solution offering single sign-on, social login, and fine-grained authorization for applications and services. Other popular Azure AD replacements include Authgear.
Can I self-host a free replacement for Azure AD?+
Yes. Of the 2 free alternatives to Azure AD, 2 can be self-hosted on your own server or local machine: Keycloak (Apache-2.0), Authgear (Open Source).
How much does switching from Azure AD to a free alternative save?+
Azure AD starts at $6/month per seat ($72/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like Keycloak saves $360 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own Azure AD clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for Azure AD is NO (use a free alternative, save the tokens). Instead of paying recurring SaaS fees for Azure AD or rebuilding it from scratch, deploy one of the 2 battle-tested open-source alternatives like Keycloak.
What is the catch when switching from Azure AD to Keycloak?+
Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Auth0.
