Auth0 Essentials alternatives

Killing $35/mo (starts billing at 500 MAU) (~$420/yr) — here are 2 verified escapes, honest trade-offs included.

currently paying for

$35/mo (starts billing at 500 MAU)

head-to-head

Keycloak oss self-host Apache-2.0

Free self-host

Enterprise-grade SSO, OIDC/SAML, social logins — run unlimited users for free.

trade-offs: You operate and secure it · Heavier resource footprint

Authelia oss self-host Apache-2.0

Free self-host

Lightweight authentication gateway with 2FA, perfect behind a reverse proxy.

trade-offs: No hosted UI management console · SAML support limited

What is the best free alternative to Auth0 Essentials?

Keycloak is the top free option — Enterprise-grade SSO, OIDC/SAML, social logins — run unlimited users for free.

How much can I save by switching from Auth0 Essentials?

Auth0 Essentials costs $35/mo (starts billing at 500 MAU), so switching to a free alternative saves roughly $420/year per seat.

Can Auth0 Essentials be self-hosted?

Yes — Keycloak and Authelia can be self-hosted for free.