FreeRADIUS vs Keycloak: What are the differences?

Introduction:

FreeRADIUS and Keycloak are two popular software solutions used for authentication and authorization in various applications. While both of these systems serve the same purpose, there are several key differences between them that make them suitable for different use cases.

1. User Management: FreeRADIUS is primarily focused on providing RADIUS server functionality, which means it is more suitable for managing network access for users. It can authenticate users against various backend databases and provide access controls based on policies. On the other hand, Keycloak is a full-fledged Identity and Access Management (IAM) system that provides not only authentication but also user management capabilities. It offers features like user registration, password reset, and social login integration, making it more suitable for applications that require comprehensive user management.

2. Integration: FreeRADIUS is designed to be integrated with existing network infrastructure such as switches, routers, and Wi-Fi access points. It provides a standard protocol (RADIUS) that allows these devices to communicate with the authentication server. Keycloak, on the other hand, is more focused on web-based applications and provides integration with various web platforms and frameworks. It offers protocols like OpenID Connect and SAML that are commonly used in web applications for authentication and single sign-on.

3. Customization and Extensibility: FreeRADIUS provides a flexible framework that allows custom development of authentication and authorization policies. It supports various scripting languages and plugins that enable users to extend its functionality. Keycloak also offers customization options, but it is primarily focused on providing a pre-built user management and authentication system. It provides a user-friendly administrative interface for configuration and administration.

4. Enterprise Features: Keycloak provides various enterprise features that are not available in FreeRADIUS. These include features like user federation (syncing users with external directories), multi-factor authentication, identity brokering (integrating with external identity providers), and fine-grained access control policies. FreeRADIUS, on the other hand, focuses more on providing core RADIUS server functionality and may lack some of these advanced features.

5. Community and Support: FreeRADIUS has been around for a long time and has a large community of users and developers. It is widely adopted and has a strong support ecosystem with active forums and mailing lists. Keycloak, being a relatively newer project, also has a growing community but may not have the same level of support as FreeRADIUS.

6. Licensing: FreeRADIUS is released under the GNU General Public License (GPL), which means it is open-source and free to use. Keycloak is also open-source but is released under the Apache License, which is more permissive and allows for more flexibility when integrating it into commercial products.

In summary, FreeRADIUS is focused on providing RADIUS server functionality and is more suitable for managing network access, while Keycloak is an IAM system that offers comprehensive user management capabilities and is more appropriate for web-based applications. While both systems offer customization options, Keycloak provides more enterprise features and may be a better fit for applications requiring advanced identity management capabilities.