# Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) vs Ory Keto: side-by-side comparison (2026)

[Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)](https://cybersectools.com/tools/attribute-based-access-control-abac) is a commercial [access management](https://cybersectools.com/categories/access-management) solution by [Primary](https://cybersectools.com/companies/primary). [Ory Keto](https://cybersectools.com/tools/ory-keto) is a free [access management](https://cybersectools.com/categories/access-management) solution by [Ory Corp](https://cybersectools.com/companies/ory-corp). Features, integrations, deployment and the company behind each one, side by side.

Need the answer fast? [Best Access Management Solutions for Business](https://cybersectools.com/shortlists/best-access-management-solutions) picks Microsoft Entra ID, Okta Single Sign-On, Ping Identity Platform and 4 more.

## Side-by-side comparison

| | Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) | Ory Keto |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Commercial | Free |
| Category | Access Management | Access Management |
| Verified | No | No |
| Deployment type | Cloud | Hybrid |
| Company size fit | Mid-Market, Enterprise | Startup, SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise |
| Company | Primary | Ory Corp |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) | Ory Keto |
|---|---|---|
| RBAC | Yes | Yes |
| Authorization | Yes | Yes |
| Zero Trust Architecture | Yes | – |
| Least Privilege | Yes | – |
| Agentic AI Security | Yes | – |
| Policy | Yes | – |
| Permissions | Yes | – |
| ZTNA | Yes | – |
| Anomaly Detection | Yes | – |
| Workflow | Yes | – |
| Open Source | – | Yes |

### Core features

**Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)**

10 features listed. Sign in on the page to see them.

**Ory Keto**

10 features listed. Sign in on the page to see them.

## Which one fits you

Based on what each listing shows: deployment, company size, price and open source.

- [Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)](https://cybersectools.com/tools/attribute-based-access-control-abac) fits if you want a cloud product.
- [Ory Keto](https://cybersectools.com/tools/ory-keto) fits if you need both cloud and on-premises options, you are a startup or a small business and you need a free product.

## Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) vs Ory Keto FAQ

Common questions when comparing Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) vs Ory Keto for access management.

### What is the difference between Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) and Ory Keto?

**Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)**: Real-time ABAC platform evaluating contextual attributes for dynamic access control. Built by Primary.

**Ory Keto**: Open source authorization server based on Google Zanzibar for access control. Built by Ory Corp.

The table above shows where their features, integrations, deployment and company size fit differ.

### Who makes Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) and Ory Keto?

**Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)** is made by Primary. **Ory Keto** is made by Ory Corp. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit.

### Is Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) a good alternative to Ory Keto?

Often, yes. Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) and Ory Keto are both Access Management products, and both cover Authorization, RBAC. Key differences: Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) is Commercial while Ory Keto is Free. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ.

## Related comparisons

- [Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) vs AuthZed](https://cybersectools.com/compare/attribute-based-access-control-abac-vs-authzed)
- [Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) vs Aserto](https://cybersectools.com/compare/aserto-vs-attribute-based-access-control-abac)
- [Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) vs Axiomatics Policy-driven Authorization](https://cybersectools.com/compare/attribute-based-access-control-abac-vs-axiomatics-policy-driven-authorization)
- [Ory Keto vs AuthZed](https://cybersectools.com/compare/authzed-vs-ory-keto)
- [Ory Keto vs Aserto](https://cybersectools.com/compare/aserto-vs-ory-keto)
- [Ory Keto vs Axiomatics Policy-driven Authorization](https://cybersectools.com/compare/axiomatics-policy-driven-authorization-vs-ory-keto)

## Alternatives to each

- [See all Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/attribute-based-access-control-abac)
- [See all Ory Keto alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/ory-keto)

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Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/attribute-based-access-control-abac-vs-ory-keto

For AI agents: each product above has its own Markdown page (add .md to its URL, for example https://cybersectools.com/tools/attribute-based-access-control-abac.md). Every CybersecTools shortlist is listed at https://cybersectools.com/shortlists.md.

More on Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) and Ory Keto: funding, momentum, hiring and news, plus the full product and company record, are available through the Mandos MCP Server (paid plans), which connects to AI assistants: https://mandos.io/mcp?utm_source=cybersectools.com&utm_medium=compare-md