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Keycloak VS Google Authenticator

Compare Keycloak VS Google Authenticator and see what are their differences

Keycloak logo Keycloak

Open Source Identity and Access Management for modern Applications and Services.

Google Authenticator logo Google Authenticator

Google Authenticator is a multifactor app for mobile devices.
  • Keycloak Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-03-20
  • Google Authenticator Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-25

Keycloak features and specs

  • Open-Source
    Keycloak is an open-source identity and access management solution, which means it is free to use and has a community-driven support system. This can lead to lower costs and more flexibility compared to proprietary solutions.
  • Feature-Rich
    Keycloak offers a comprehensive set of features including single sign-on (SSO), multi-factor authentication (MFA), user federation, identity brokering, and social login. This makes it suitable for a wide range of use cases.
  • Customizability
    With Keycloak, you can customize the authentication and authorization processes through its extensible architecture, allowing for the addition of custom features and integrations.
  • Integration Capability
    Keycloak supports integration with various protocols such as OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, and SAML, making it versatile for integrating with different platforms and services.
  • Active Community
    Keycloak has an active and growing community of developers and users who contribute to its improvement and provide support, resources, and shared knowledge.

Possible disadvantages of Keycloak

  • Complexity
    Keycloak can be complex to set up and configure, especially for users who are not familiar with identity and access management concepts. This may require additional time and expertise.
  • Resource-Intensive
    Running Keycloak can be resource-intensive, requiring more CPU and memory compared to simpler authentication solutions. This may necessitate higher infrastructure costs.
  • Learning Curve
    The learning curve for Keycloak can be steep for new users due to its wide range of features and configuration options. Ample time might be required to fully understand and utilize its capabilities.
  • Documentation Quality
    While Keycloak has extensive documentation, some users find it to be insufficiently detailed or difficult to navigate, which can impede the setup and troubleshooting process.
  • Maintenance
    Operating a Keycloak instance involves ongoing maintenance tasks such as updates, security patches, and backups, which can be time-consuming and require dedicated resources.

Google Authenticator features and specs

  • Enhanced Security
    Google Authenticator adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second factor of authentication, reducing the risk of unauthorized access even if your password is compromised.
  • Offline Access
    The app does not require an internet connection to generate codes, making it reliable in situations where connectivity is a concern.
  • Compatibility
    Google Authenticator is compatible with a wide range of services and accounts, providing a versatile solution for multi-factor authentication (MFA).
  • Free of Charge
    The application is free to use, offering robust security features without any financial investment.
  • Ease of Use
    Setup and usage are straightforward, making it accessible to users without technical expertise.

Possible disadvantages of Google Authenticator

  • Device Dependence
    If you lose your device, gaining access to your accounts can become challenging, particularly if you haven't backed up or used alternative methods.
  • No Cloud Sync
    Google Authenticator does not offer a built-in feature for cloud backups, making it difficult to transfer codes to a new device.
  • Single Device Limitation
    The app only works on a single device at a time, which can be inconvenient if you manage multiple devices.
  • No Biometric Lock
    The app lacks advanced security features such as biometric locks, which are present in some other authenticator apps.
  • Limited Recovery Options
    In case of losing access to the app, recovery options rely heavily on the user having access to backup codes, which might not always be accessible.

Analysis of Keycloak

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Keycloak is widely regarded as a good choice for organizations looking for a comprehensive and flexible identity management solution. It is especially praised in environments where open-source software is preferred or where customization and scalability are important.

Why this product is good

  • Keycloak is considered a robust open-source identity and access management solution that provides features like single sign-on (SSO), user federation, identity brokering, and social login. It is designed to secure applications and services with minimum effort and supports various standard protocols, such as OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, and SAML 2.0. It also offers a customizable interface and extensive integration capabilities, making it a versatile choice across different industries.

Recommended for

  • Organizations in need of a scalable identity and access management solution
  • Developers seeking an open-source, customizable platform
  • Businesses looking to implement SSO and secure applications quickly
  • Enterprises requiring integration with various identity providers and social media networks
  • Teams preferring a solution that supports industry-standard authentication protocols

Analysis of Google Authenticator

Overall verdict

  • Google Authenticator is generally considered a good option for those looking to enhance the security of their online accounts. Its ease of use and offline functionality are significant advantages. However, users should be aware that it does not automatically back up tokens, so it’s important to save backup codes or have a recovery plan.

Why this product is good

  • Google Authenticator is a widely used app for enabling two-factor authentication (2FA), which adds an additional layer of security to online accounts. It is valued for its simplicity, reliability, and the fact that it does not require an internet connection to function, as it generates time-based one-time passwords (TOTPs). This makes it a robust choice for enhancing security.

Recommended for

  • Individuals looking for a straightforward and effective way to implement 2FA.
  • Users who prefer an app that doesn't require an internet connection to function.
  • People concerned with enhancing online security for their personal or professional accounts.

Keycloak videos

What is Keycloak and what are the main features | DevNation Live

More videos:

  • Review - Keycloak Overview
  • Review - Easily Secure Your Front and Back End app with Keycloak

Google Authenticator videos

How to Use Google Authenticator

More videos:

  • Review - GOOGLE AUTHENTICATOR vs. AUTHY - (AUTHY WON)

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Keycloak and Google Authenticator)
Identity And Access Management
Identity Provider
78 78%
22% 22
Two Factor Authentication
SSO
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Keycloak and Google Authenticator

Keycloak Reviews

12 User Authentication Platforms [Auth0, Firebase Alternatives]
You can integrate Keycloak with your applications to have a single-sign-in and single-sign-out experience. Moreover, one can activate social logins without any modification in code. Additionally, it allows user authentication via existing OpenID Connect or SAML 2.0
Source: geekflare.com
10+ Open-source Single-Sign On (SSO) Solutions
Keycloak is a free, open-source identity and access management system with highly configurable Single-Sign-On (SSO) support.
Source: medevel.com
10 Best Auth0 Alternatives and Similar Platforms
Keycloak may be quite beneficial because it provides a built-in method for syncing with databases, such as LDAP or Active Directory, when your users already are registered on. If you use Social Login for social platforms such as Facebook, Keycloak might be a great tool for your organization.
Top 5 Open Source Single Sign-On Software In the Year 2021
KeyCloak is another free software that is based on OpenID Connect, OAuth2.0, and SAML2.0. It provides SSO capabilities across web applications and web services. Above all, this open source software provides integrations with LDAP and Active Directory. There is a logical user interface where users can manage roles, permissions, and sessions. Moreover, this free solution...
IAM: A comparison of open-source tools
/ Digitalberry news / IAM: A comparison of open-source toolsIAM: A comparison of open-source toolsWhy use an Identity Provider (IdP)?Comparative study of Identity Providers (IdP)1. Our team’s first choice: Keycloak2. In second place of our comparative study: Gluu3. Special mention: FusionAuthDiscover our expertiseContact our experts

Google Authenticator Reviews

7 Best Google Authenticator Alternatives For Android And iOS
Except for one, all the apps mentioned above are available for Android and iPhone. You can add accounts which you want to secure by scanning their barcode or simply entering the secret key or id in all of them. Some of them will let you capture a screenshot and some of them will not. Apart from that, all these are free to use and provide better features making them as the...
The Best Authenticator Apps for 2023
When you use Google Authenticator to log in to your Google account, you enter the six-digit code shown in the authenticator app, just as you would to log in to any other service. The app also lets you import logins from an old phone to a new one if you have the former on hand. As with Microsoft Authenticator, there's no Apple Watch app or even an Android Wear app for Google...
Source: www.pcmag.com
Top 6 Google Authenticator Alternatives in 2023
Although they aren’t as big or widely known as Google or Microsoft, Twilio’s Authy app is one of the most impressive and feature-rich Google Authenticator alternatives. Twilio takes pride in the fact that their app can be used anywhere Google Authenticator can be used, meaning that those making the switch won’t hit any unexpected compatibility issues.
Is Authy better than Google Authenticator?
The difference between Authy and Google Authenticator lies in the number of features offered by each app. If you like minimalism, use Google Authenticator, but if you like multi-device support, full Backup of your 2FA codes, or three authentication types, use Authy.
The Best 2FA Apps 2021: Locking Down Your Online Accounts
Google Authenticator is really the baseline here, because nearly all sites that support 2FA support Google’s app as well. For example, LastPass Authenticator and Authy aren’t explicitly supported by as many sites and services. However, they still use TOTP, making them compatible with all services that support Google Authenticator.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Google Authenticator should be more popular than Keycloak. It has been mentiond 7 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Keycloak mentions (4)

  • Beyond the login page
    Most of the time nowadays, I prefer offloading this to an identity provider, using OpenID Connect or soon Federated Credential Management (FedCM), even if that means shipping an identity provider as part of the deliverables (I generally go with Keycloak, with keycloak-config-cli to provision its configuration). I'm obviously biased though as I work in IT services, developping software mainly for... - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Okta Says Hackers Stole Data for All Customer Support Users
    Yet another breach of Okta... Why are companies not running something like keycloak [1] themselves? Are administrative/maintenance costs too high or is it plausible deniability? [1] https://keycloak.org. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • I built a ready-to-use auth server with TypeScript and Express.js
    I'd stick with a solution like https://keycloak.org in that instance. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Authelia is an open-source authentication/authorization server with 2FA/SSO
    A few more projects in this space: - Keycloak (you won't get fired for picking this)[0] - CloudFoundry's UAA[1] - Gluu [2] - Keratin [3] - OpenUnison [4] - Dex[5] - Netlify's GoTrue[6] All of these solutions are a bit different but here are some of the axes: - Whether or not they function as an OAuth provider - Whether they're centered around application-user-login (email + password) or application auth (OAuth) or... - Source: Hacker News / about 4 years ago

Google Authenticator mentions (7)

  • Google Authenticator now supports Google Account synchronization
    Here they have support page https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/1066447. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • I'm building a macOS app in a week with Tauri and Supabase.
    Many authenticator apps already exist on Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Most of them have synchronization features but are limited to backup only or sync with the same platform (ie: iOS or Android only). I'm using one of them for years and at this moment I'm feeling bothered when switching to a mobile device every time login into a website or online service. So, I created Otentik Authenticator. A Google... - Source: dev.to / almost 3 years ago
  • Ask HN: How to enable 2FA for Google Account to use Authenticator app?
    Their only docs suggest using an authenticator app (which presumably runs on the 'phone which potentially can be lost' anyway) is possible: https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/1066447?hl=en&ref_topic=2954345 If it's not showing up for you, you'd need to contact their support team to find out why. - Source: Hacker News / about 3 years ago
  • Bought Centric Swap / CNS? Here’s What To Do Next
    By the way, if you don’t already have 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) set up on your Centric Wallet, now would be a good time to do that. You’ll need to have a 2FA app installed on your smartphone, such as Google Authenticator or Authy. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Storing hex/pulse/pulse swap
    Use 2FA with Google Authenticator for your email, wallets, and pretty much anything else that allows you to do so. Source: over 3 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Keycloak and Google Authenticator, you can also consider the following products

Auth0 - Auth0 is a program for people to get authentication and authorization services for their own business use.

Authy - Best rated Two-Factor Authentication smartphone app for consumers, simplest 2fa Rest API for developers and a strong authentication platform for the enterprise.

Okta - Enterprise-grade identity management for all your apps, users & devices

Duo Security - Duo Security provides cloud-based two-factor authentication. Duo’s technology can be deployed to protect users, data, and applications from breaches, credential theft, and account takeover.

OneLogin - On-demand SSO, directory integration, user provisioning and more

Azure Multi-Factor Authentication - Azure Multi-Factor Authentication helps safeguard access to data and applications while meeting user demand for a simple sign-in process.