Authentik vs Authelia: Self-Hosted Single Sign-On

Authentik vs Authelia comparison. Two leading self-hosted SSO solutions. Features, protocols, ease of use, and which is best for your homelab or business.

Authentik offers more features with a management UI and LDAP support. Authelia is simpler and lighter, ideal for basic SSO behind a reverse proxy with 2FA.

Features Compared

FeatureAuthentikAuthelia
Web Management UI✓Config only
SAML 2.0✓✗
OAuth2 / OIDC✓✓
LDAP✓✗
RADIUS✓✗
Two-Factor Auth✓✓
WebAuthn/FIDO2✓✓
Duo Push✓✓
Reverse Proxy IntegrationVia auth middlewareVia headers
Resource UsageHigher (4 containers)Lower (1 container)

Authentik Pros

  • Full management UI for users, groups, and policies
  • Supports SAML, OAuth2, OIDC, LDAP, and RADIUS
  • Outpost system for proxying apps without OIDC support
  • Active directory and LDAP integration
  • Built-in recovery flows and user self-service

Authentik Cons

  • Heavy setup — requires PostgreSQL, Redis, server, and worker
  • Complex configuration for advanced flows
  • Higher resource usage (~500MB+ RAM total)
  • Steeper learning curve

Authelia Pros

  • Lightweight — single container, file-based config
  • Excellent reverse proxy integration (Traefik, Nginx)
  • Simple YAML configuration
  • Low resource usage (~50MB RAM)
  • Easy 2FA with TOTP, WebAuthn, and Duo

Authelia Cons

  • No management UI — everything via config files
  • No SAML or LDAP support
  • Fewer protocol options
  • User management is manual or via external LDAP

Winner: Authentik — Authentik wins for most use cases with its management UI, broader protocol support (SAML, LDAP, OIDC), and user self-service features. Authelia is the better choice if you just need simple 2FA SSO behind a reverse proxy.

FAQ

  • Which is easier to set up?

    Authelia for basic SSO. Authentik requires more containers but the UI makes ongoing management easier after initial setup.

  • Can I use either with Traefik?

    Yes. Both integrate with Traefik. Authelia uses forwardAuth middleware. Authentik uses its outpost system.

  • Which supports more apps?

    Authentik, due to SAML and LDAP support. Most enterprise apps need SAML. Authelia works well with apps that support OIDC or header-based auth.

  • Do I need SSO if I'm the only user?

    Not really. SSO is most valuable with 5+ users. For personal use, a reverse proxy with basic auth or Tailscale might be simpler.