Logo
Deploy Now

SaaS Alternative

AWS Cognito Auth0 Okta Firebase Authentication

Categories

Security Authentication Identity Management SSO IAM User Management Multi-Factor Auth

Developer links

Last Updated: 01-01-2023 12:00 AM (UTC)

Ory Kratos

With 13,800 GitHub stars, adoption by OpenAI for ChatGPT's authentication infrastructure serving 800 million weekly active users, and governance under the Ory open-source ecosystem, Ory Kratos provides enterprise-grade identity management as a headless API server that separates authentication logic from user interface — enabling any frontend framework to consume standardized self-service flows for registration, login, recovery, verification, and profile management. Multi-factor authentication supports passkeys, WebAuthn security keys, TOTP authenticator apps, SMS one-time codes, email magic links, and backup recovery codes with configurable Authenticator Assurance Levels enforcing step-up authentication for sensitive operations. Social sign-in connects to any OpenID Connect provider including Google, GitHub, Apple, and Microsoft, plus enterprise SAML 2.0 federation for B2B single sign-on. Customizable identity schemas using JSON Schema define user profiles with flexible trait structures, while pre- and post-flow webhooks enable integration with CRMs, analytics, and compliance systems. The courier system handles email and SMS delivery for verification codes and password recovery links. Session management provides device tracking, forced logout, and configurable lifespans with privileged session elevation. Deploy alongside Ory Hydra for OAuth2/OIDC token issuance and Ory Keto for fine-grained permissions to build a complete identity platform. Docker Compose deployment with PostgreSQL. Running on a dedicated VPS on RepoCloud with guaranteed CPU, RAM, and SSD, full root SSH access, and a browser serial console. Apache 2.0 licensed.

Ory Kratos
Ory Kratos
Ory Kratos
Ory Kratos
Ory Kratos

Benefits

  • Headless API-First Architecture
  • Separates identity logic from UI so any frontend framework — React, Vue, Next.js, mobile native — consumes standardized REST flows without vendor-imposed templates or design constraints.
  • Enterprise Multi-Factor Authentication
  • Passkeys, WebAuthn, TOTP, SMS codes, email magic links, and backup recovery codes with configurable Authenticator Assurance Levels enforcing step-up authentication for privileged operations.
  • Scales to Billions of Users
  • Proven at OpenAI scale serving 800 million weekly active users, with stateless horizontal scaling, PostgreSQL or CockroachDB backends, and session management across distributed deployments.
  • Complete Identity Ecosystem
  • Combines with Ory Hydra for OAuth2/OIDC token issuance, Ory Keto for fine-grained permissions, and Ory Oathkeeper for zero-trust API proxy to form a full identity platform.

Features

  • Self-Service Identity Flows
  • Registration, login, logout, recovery, verification, and profile settings as configurable API-driven flows with customizable UI URLs, lifespans, and hook-based extensibility.
  • Social and Enterprise SSO
  • OpenID Connect integration for Google, GitHub, Apple, Microsoft, and any compliant provider plus SAML 2.0 federation for enterprise B2B single sign-on requirements.
  • Custom Identity Schemas
  • JSON Schema-based identity definitions allow flexible user profiles with typed traits, validation rules, and multiple credential types per identity.
  • Webhook Hook System
  • Pre- and post-flow webhooks trigger custom logic at every authentication step — sync to CRM, enforce compliance checks, send analytics events, or block suspicious registrations.
  • Session Management
  • Device-aware sessions with configurable lifespans, forced revocation, privileged session elevation for sensitive operations, and AAL-based access control enforcement.