Keycloak vs Pocket ID
Single sign-on and user federation for applications. A self-hosted OIDC provider where users sign in with passkeys only. Compare the capabilities you need, then check hosting, licensing and maintenance. This pair is shown for browsing but is not indexed (not among the leading projects of a shared category).
| Attribute | Keycloak | Pocket ID |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Single sign-on and user federation for applications. | A self-hosted OIDC provider where users sign in with passkeys only. |
| Documented capabilities | Single sign-on, OIDC and SAML, User federation | Passkey-only sign-in, OpenID Connect provider for self-hosted apps, Allowed user groups per app, LDAP sync and SCIM provisioning |
| Best-fit workflow | Platform teams putting one login in front of several applications. | Self-hosters who want SSO for their apps without passwords. |
| Check before choosing | Keycloak is an identity system, not a drop-in widget. Plan themes, realms, and upgrades. | Every user needs a passkey on a phone, password manager, or security key. |
| Deployment options | Docker, Kubernetes | Docker Compose, Single binary |
| GitHub stars | 37,379 | 9,605 |
| License | Apache-2.0 | BSD-2-Clause |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Docker noted | Yes | Yes |
| Cloud / hosted | Not recorded | Not recorded |
| Primary language | Java | Go |
| Last commit | 2026-10-16 | 2026-10-16 |
| Difficulty | Advanced | Easy |
| Content source | Editorial catalog entry | Editorial catalog entry |
| Metadata checked | 2026-10-16 | Check the current repository |
| Forks | 9.1k | 336 |
| Star growth | +301 (2026-10-01 to 2026-10-16) | Not recorded |
| Alternative to | Auth0, Okta | Okta |
This comparison uses recorded capabilities, not hands-on performance tests. A capability missing from one record does not mean that product lacks it. Confirm edition, version and current pricing in the official documentation.
When to consider Keycloak
Platform teams putting one login in front of several applications.
Keycloak is an identity system, not a drop-in widget. Plan themes, realms, and upgrades.
Keycloak documentation and sourceWhen to consider Pocket ID
Self-hosters who want SSO for their apps without passwords.
Every user needs a passkey on a phone, password manager, or security key.
Pocket ID documentation and sourceKeycloak vs Pocket ID questions
- What is Keycloak?
- Single sign-on and user federation for applications.
- What is Pocket ID?
- A self-hosted OIDC provider where users sign in with passkeys only.
- Can you self-host Keycloak and Pocket ID?
- Both can be self-hosted.
- What licenses do Keycloak and Pocket ID use?
- Keycloak uses the Apache-2.0 license. Pocket ID uses the BSD-2-Clause license.
- Which has more GitHub stars, Keycloak or Pocket ID?
- Keycloak has 37k stars and Pocket ID has 9.6k. Stars show attention; check recent commits and releases for maintenance.
- What languages are Keycloak and Pocket ID written in?
- Keycloak is mainly written in Java. Pocket ID is mainly written in Go.