Casdoor vs Zitadel
An Apache-2.0 alternative to Zitadel
Zitadel and Casdoor are both open-source identity platforms written in Go with multi-tenant organizations. Zitadel is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and its cloud charges by daily active users; Casdoor is Apache-2.0 with a flat-priced dedicated cloud instance.
Casdoor and Zitadel at a glance
| Casdoor | Zitadel | |
|---|---|---|
| Source code | Open source (Apache-2.0) | Open source (AGPL-3.0) |
| Where it runs | Casdoor Cloud, or your own servers with Docker or Kubernetes | Zitadel Cloud, or self-hosted |
| Pricing | From $24.17/month billed yearly per dedicated instance, with no per-user fees; self-hosting is free | Cloud free for 100 daily active users; Pro is $100 per month with 25,000 DAU |
| Data model | Relational tables in MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite and other SQL databases | Event-sourced, stored in PostgreSQL |
Information about Zitadel is from its public website as of October 2026 (Zitadel on GitHub, Zitadel pricing) and may have changed. Zitadel is a trademark of its owner.
Why teams choose Casdoor
Permissive license
Apache-2.0 lets you modify and embed Casdoor without the source-sharing obligations of AGPL-3.0.
No MAU bill
Cloud plans are a flat monthly price, so more users don't mean a bigger invoice.
One IdP for every app
Casdoor is an identity provider over OIDC, SAML, CAS, LDAP and RADIUS, so the same accounts sign in to your own apps, SaaS tools and devices.
Authorization included
Casbin RBAC, ABAC and ACL are built in, instead of being left to your code.
When Zitadel may fit better
- You want Zitadel's event-sourced data model, where every change is stored as an event.
- AGPL-3.0 is acceptable to your legal team and you prefer its multi-tenant cloud.
Moving from Zitadel to Casdoor
Export users with Zitadel's API and import them into Casdoor. Casdoor can verify bcrypt, Argon2id, PBKDF2 and salted SHA-256 / SHA-512 password hashes, so imported users can keep their passwords. Apps that use OpenID Connect or SAML only need a new issuer URL and client credentials.
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Frequently asked questions
Does Casdoor support multi-tenancy like Zitadel?
Why does the license matter?
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How Casdoor compares
Ready to secure your next big move?
Put login, single sign-on, MFA, permissions and AI agent access behind one open-source platform, hosted by us or run by you.
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A dedicated instance in the region you choose, from $24.17/month billed yearly with no per-user fees.
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Run the same Apache-2.0 Casdoor on your own servers with Docker or Kubernetes.
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