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Authorizer Developer Tools

Open source (free self-host); pay only for cloud infrastructure costs

Authorizer (Developer Tools): Self-hosted authentication and fine-grained authorization platform with permission-aware AI for SaaS, dev tools, and e-commerce. Pricing: Open source (free self-host); pay only for cloud infrastructure costs. (data verified July 2026)

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About Authorizer

What is Authorizer?

Authorizer is an open-source, self-hosted authentication and authorization platform that gives you complete control over your identity layer. Unlike hosted identity providers, Authorizer runs on your own infrastructure, keeping every user record in your own database. It combines authentication (OAuth2/OIDC), fine-grained authorization via embedded OpenFGA (Zanzibar model), and permission-aware AI retrieval in a single binary.

Who is it for?

Built for product teams running SaaS, developer tools, e-commerce platforms, or AI products who want to avoid per-seat auth taxes and vendor lock-in. Ideal for organizations that need data residency control, custom enterprise SSO, and relationship-based permissions. Less suited for teams wanting a pre-built multi-IdP SSO marketplace or fully managed universal login pages without operational overhead.

Real use cases

Deploy Authorizer on Kubernetes or Docker to replace Auth0 or Firebase Auth in your stack. Use the OpenFGA engine for folder-level access in a document app, or permission-aware AI to pre-filter vector search results based on a user's allow-list. The React SDK lets you add login to any app in three lines of code.

Key features

  • Self-hosted auth server — Run authentication on your own cloud or VPC; user data stays in your database.
  • Fine-grained authorization — Embedded OpenFGA engine provides relationship-based permissions (RBAC + Zanzibar model).
  • Permission-aware AI — List a user's allow-list and pre-filter vector search results for self-hosted RAG workflows.
  • OAuth2 & OIDC compliant — Serve as a core identity provider with standard endpoints for SSO integration.
  • 13+ database support — Works with SQLite, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, and more; no vendor-managed user store.
  • Drop-in React SDK — Add login screens to any app in three lines; also supports GraphQL, REST, and gRPC APIs.
  • Container-native deployment — Runs on Docker, Kubernetes, Helm charts, or Railway; start with a single docker run command.

SaaSpartout Score

7.3 /10
Ease of use 6.5
Features depth 8.5
Value for money 9.5
Support quality 5.0
Integrations 7.0
Scalability 8.0
Documentation 6.5
Onboarding speed 7.0

Editorial score from our review methodology — not user ratings.

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Authorizer Pricing

Authorizer pricing: Open source (free self-host); pay only for cloud infrastructure costs. Billing model: Free.

Open Source (Self-Hosted) — Free

No per-seat fees. Download the Apache-2.0 licensed binary and deploy on your own infrastructure. You pay only for your cloud hosting costs (e.g., a $5/mo VPS or Kubernetes cluster). Includes all features: OAuth2/OIDC, OpenFGA authorization, permission-aware AI, 13+ database drivers, and SDKs for Go, Python, JS, and React.

Try the live demo at no cost — no credit card required. Watch the 2.0 demo on GitHub.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Authorizer free?
Yes, Authorizer is open source (Apache-2.0 license) and free to self-host. You only pay for the infrastructure you run it on.
How much does Authorizer cost?
Authorizer itself costs nothing. There are no per-seat, per-connection, or usage fees. You pay your cloud provider for the server resources you use.
Who is Authorizer best for?
It's ideal for SaaS, dev tools, e-commerce, and AI products that need full control over user identity, data residency, and want to avoid rising auth costs. Best for teams comfortable with self-hosting.
What databases does Authorizer support?
Over 13 databases including SQLite, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB. User records live in your own database.
What are the top alternatives to Authorizer?
Common alternatives include Auth0, Firebase Auth, Clerk, and Supabase Auth. Authorizer differs by being fully self-hosted, open source, and including fine-grained authorization and permission-aware AI in one binary.
Does Authorizer support enterprise SSO?
Yes, Authorizer is a core OAuth2/OIDC server that can be extended for SAML/OIDC enterprise SSO. It does not include a pre-built multi-IdP marketplace, but you can integrate with your own identity providers.

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