---
title: "Cerbos vs Permit.io: Which is Better in 2026? | App Stack Builder"
description: "Cerbos vs Permit.io compared for 2026 — pricing, free tiers, features, pros & cons. See which authorization & permissions tool is the better fit for your startup."
source: https://appstackbuilder.com/compare/cerbos-vs-permit-io
retrieved: 2026-10-28
---

![](https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=cerbos.dev&sz=128)

vs

![](https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=permit.io&sz=128)

# Cerbos vs Permit.io: Which is Better in 2026?

Authorization & Permissions

Choosing between [Cerbos](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/cerbos) and [Permit.io](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/permit-io)? Both are popular authorization & permissions tools. Below we compare them on pricing, free tiers, features, and pros & cons so you can pick the right fit for your stack.

Quick verdict

Both Cerbos and Permit.io are strong authorization & permissions choices. The right pick comes down to your specific feature needs, existing stack, and team preferences.

## Cerbos vs Permit.io — Side by Side

|                | Cerbos                                   | Permit.io                                |
| -------------- | ---------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------- |
| Category       | Authorization & Permissions              | Authorization & Permissions              |
| Pricing        | Free · paid from $25/mo                  | Free · paid plans by quote               |
| Starting price | Free tier available                      | Free tier available                      |
| Free tier      | ✓                                        | ✓                                        |
| Rating         | 4.5                                      | 4.4                                      |
| Best for       | Authorization & Permissions — rbac, abac | Authorization & Permissions — rbac, abac |

## Pros & Cons

![](https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=cerbos.dev&sz=128)

[Cerbos](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/cerbos)

* ✓Free, stateless PDP that is easy to deploy
* ✓Policies as code with built-in testing
* ✓Published, usage-based Hub pricing
* ✗You pass in all attributes on each check
* ✗Relationship graphs are less natural than in Zanzibar engines
* ✗Hub Production is a big step up from Development

![](https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=permit.io&sz=128)

[Permit.io](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/permit-io)

* ✓RBAC, ABAC and ReBAC in one product
* ✓UI that non-engineers can use to manage permissions
* ✓Local decision point keeps checks fast
* ✗Paid pricing is not published
* ✗Free plan caps tenants at 20
* ✗Another hosted dependency in the request path

## Key Features Compared

### Cerbos

* ✓100 monthly active principals included
* ✓5 developers, 10 PDPs
* ✓3 months of audit logs
* ✓3-month free trial

### Permit.io

* ✓1,000 monthly active users
* ✓20 tenants
* ✓3 environments, 25 roles
* ✓Unlimited developers and PDPs

### Choose Cerbos if…

* ✓You want a free tier to validate before paying.
* ✓Free, stateless PDP that is easy to deploy
* ✓Policies as code with built-in testing
* ✓Published, usage-based Hub pricing

[Cerbos review & pricing ](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/cerbos)

### Choose Permit.io if…

* ✓You want a free tier to validate before paying.
* ✓RBAC, ABAC and ReBAC in one product
* ✓UI that non-engineers can use to manage permissions
* ✓Local decision point keeps checks fast

[Permit.io review & pricing ](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/permit-io)

## Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cerbos better than Permit.io?⌄

Both Cerbos and Permit.io are strong authorization & permissions choices. The right pick comes down to your specific feature needs, existing stack, and team preferences.

What is the difference between Cerbos and Permit.io?⌄

Cerbos — Open-source (Apache-2.0) policy decision point: write RBAC and ABAC rules in YAML, run the stateless PDP next to your app for free, and add Cerbos Hub from $25 a month to manage and roll out policies. Permit.io — Hosted authorization with a UI for roles, attributes and relationships (RBAC, ABAC, ReBAC). Free for 1,000 monthly active users and 20 tenants; policy runs in a local decision point built on the open-source OPAL. Both are authorization & permissions tools; the comparison table above breaks down pricing, free tiers, and what each is best for.

Cerbos vs Permit.io: which is cheaper?⌄

Cerbos pricing: Free · paid from $25/mo. Permit.io pricing: Free · paid plans by quote. Confirm current pricing on each tool's official site, as plans change.

Which is rated higher, Cerbos or Permit.io?⌄

In our catalog, Cerbos rates 4.5 out of 5 and Permit.io rates 4.4 out of 5, so Cerbos has a slight edge on reviews.

See more options in our guide to the [best authorization & permissions tools for startups](https://appstackbuilder.com/categories/authorization).

## Still not sure which to pick?

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