# zitadel

Source: https://startwithidentity.com/vendors/open-source/zitadel/
Last updated: 2026-06-19
License: content by Start with Identity. Cite the source URL.

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## Overview

Zitadel is an open-source [identity](https://startwithidentity.com/guides/fundamentals/what-is-iam/) platform built around a modern, API-first architecture and an event-sourced audit trail. It offers OIDC, SAML, social login, passwordless, and multi-tenant organizations, available as both a managed cloud service and a self-hosted deployment with feature parity. See the [open-source IAM category](https://startwithidentity.com/vendors/open-source/).

## What it is good at

Developer experience and authentication are the strengths. The gRPC and REST APIs are clean, passkeys and MFA are first-class, and the event-sourcing model gives a strong, queryable audit history that many competitors bolt on later. Multi-tenancy via organizations suits SaaS builders, and deployment flexibility is good, with the same product on cloud or self-hosted, plus transparent pricing on the managed tier.

## Where it falls short

The ecosystem and community are smaller than Keycloak's, downstream provisioning (SCIM and connectors) is less mature than dedicated IGA tooling, and some advanced enterprise features sit behind the paid tiers. Self-hosting at scale still means running and tuning the underlying database. It is a strong modern alternative, just younger and with fewer integrations and partners than the incumbents.

## Pricing

Open source and free to self-host under the project license. Managed cloud uses a transparent published model with a free tier and usage-based paid plans; enterprise self-host support is paid. Compare with the [TCO calculator](https://startwithidentity.com/tools/tco-calculator/).

## Best for, and who should look elsewhere

Choose Zitadel for a modern, API-first IdP with passkeys and strong audit by default, especially for multi-tenant SaaS wanting cloud-or-self-host parity. For the most mature open-source ecosystem, compare [Keycloak vs Zitadel](https://startwithidentity.com/compare/keycloak-vs-zitadel/); for composable components, see [Ory](https://startwithidentity.com/vendors/open-source/ory/); for a friendly self-hosted UI, see [Authentik](https://startwithidentity.com/vendors/open-source/authentik/).

## Bottom line

A clean, modern open-source IdP that developers like, with cloud-or-self-host parity and excellent auditability. Check provisioning depth against your downstream app needs.