European alternatives to Auth0
Auth0 (Okta) is a well-known US-based identity platform. European, open-source IAM solutions offer login, SSO and MFA with data control – as cloud or self-hostable.
Why look for an alternative?
Reasons include EU data storage, digital sovereignty, self-hosting and independence from a US provider for especially sensitive identity data.
What to look for in an alternative
- EU data storage or self-hosting
- Standards: OIDC, SAML, SCIM
- MFA and passkeys/FIDO2
- Multi-tenancy for B2B
- DPA
The best European alternatives at a glance
Sorted by suitability as a replacement for the tool you searched. The Sovereignty Score independently rates how European and data-sovereign a provider is – so the two values can differ.
Swiss open-source identity and auth platform (OIDC, SAML, MFA) – self-hostable or as a cloud, an alternative to Auth0/Okta.
German open-source IAM platform (Univention Corporate Server) for identities, SSO and app integration – self-hostable, strong on sovereignty.
Comparison table
| Providers | Fit | Sovereignty | Headquarters | Open Source | Self-hosting | EU hosting | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zitadel | 84 | 86 | Switzerland | Open source (AGPLv3, self-hosted, free) / cloud (pay-as-you-go) | |||
| Univention | 78 | 92 | Germany | Open source (UCS Core Edition, free) / enterprise subscription |
The top providers in detail
Zitadel is an open-source identity and access management platform by CAOS AG in St. Gallen, Switzerland. It provides the authentication and authorization infrastructure for your own applications and multi-tenant B2B SaaS – including OIDC, SAML, SCIM, MFA and FIDO2/passkeys plus delegated role management. The self-hostable open-source version (AGPLv3) is completely free with no user limits or feature restrictions; the cloud bills by active users and starts free. According to the provider, the cloud service is SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 certified. This makes Zitadel a European, sovereignty-friendly alternative to Auth0 or Okta.
Strengths
- Open source (AGPLv3), self-hostable with no user limits
- Modern standards: OIDC, SAML, SCIM, MFA, FIDO2/passkeys
- Swiss provider; cloud SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001
- Multi-tenant for B2B SaaS
Weaknesses
- Identity infrastructure is technically demanding (a developer tool)
- Self-hosting requires operation and maintenance
- Smaller ecosystem than established US providers
Univention (Univention GmbH, Bremen) develops the Univention Corporate Server (UCS) – an open-source all-in-one platform for identity and access management, user and device management and app integration. UCS is based on Debian and integrates proven open-source building blocks like OpenLDAP, Samba and Kerberos; the modern IAM solution Nubus is built entirely on open source and open standards, so no proprietary dependencies arise. Univention is strongly focused on digital sovereignty and is established in the public sector and at large organisations. This makes UCS a European, self-hostable alternative to Auth0/Okta and Microsoft Active Directory setups.
Strengths
- Open-source all-in-one IAM platform (UCS/Nubus), self-hostable
- German provider with a clear sovereignty focus
- Proven standards (OpenLDAP, Samba/AD-compatible, Kerberos)
- Established in the public sector and at large organisations
Weaknesses
- Operation requires IT expertise (a server platform)
- Less developer-centric than pure OIDC/OAuth APIs
- Enterprise features/support are paid
Migration effort
| Providers | Migration effort | Fit |
|---|---|---|
| Zitadel | medium | 84/100 |
| Univention | high | 78/100 |
When switching pays off
For a developer-centric, open-source IAM (OIDC, SAML, MFA), Zitadel from Switzerland is strong – self-hostable or as a cloud. For an all-in-one IAM/directory platform with AD compatibility, Univention (UCS) from Germany fits.
When to stick with your current tool
If you are deeply embedded in the Okta/Auth0 ecosystem with many enterprise integrations, a switch is a project – prioritise the key flows.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a self-hostable Auth0 alternative?
The Sovereignty Score is an editorial orientation aid, not legal advice. How we rate.