---
title: "OpenFGA vs Permit.io: Which is Better in 2026? | App Stack Builder"
description: "OpenFGA 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/openfga-vs-permit-io
retrieved: 2026-10-28
---

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

vs

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

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

Authorization & Permissions

Choosing between [OpenFGA](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/openfga) 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 OpenFGA and Permit.io are strong authorization & permissions choices. The right pick comes down to your specific feature needs, existing stack, and team preferences.

## OpenFGA vs Permit.io — Side by Side

|                | OpenFGA                                       | Permit.io                                |
| -------------- | --------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------- |
| Category       | Authorization & Permissions                   | Authorization & Permissions              |
| Pricing        | Free · paid plans by quote                    | Free · paid plans by quote               |
| Starting price | Free tier available                           | Free tier available                      |
| Free tier      | ✓                                             | ✓                                        |
| Rating         | 4.5                                           | 4.4                                      |
| Best for       | Authorization & Permissions — rebac, zanzibar | Authorization & Permissions — rbac, abac |

## Pros & Cons

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

[OpenFGA](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/openfga)

* ✓Free and vendor-neutral under the CNCF
* ✓Zanzibar-style model scales to sharing and nested resources
* ✓Managed path through Auth0 FGA
* ✗Relationship modelling has a learning curve
* ✗You run and monitor the service yourself
* ✗No built-in admin UI for non-engineers

![](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

### OpenFGA

* ✓Self-hosted engine
* ✓Postgres, MySQL or SQLite
* ✓SDKs and modelling playground
* ✓Check, list-objects and expand APIs

### Permit.io

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

### Choose OpenFGA if…

* ✓You want a free tier to validate before paying.
* ✓Free and vendor-neutral under the CNCF
* ✓Zanzibar-style model scales to sharing and nested resources
* ✓Managed path through Auth0 FGA

[OpenFGA review & pricing ](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/openfga)

### 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 OpenFGA better than Permit.io?⌄

Both OpenFGA 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 OpenFGA and Permit.io?⌄

OpenFGA — Open-source (Apache-2.0) relationship-based authorization engine inspired by Google Zanzibar, a CNCF incubating project created by Auth0/Okta. Free to self-host; Auth0 FGA is the managed version. 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.

OpenFGA vs Permit.io: which is cheaper?⌄

OpenFGA pricing: Free · paid plans by quote. Permit.io pricing: Free · paid plans by quote. Confirm current pricing on each tool's official site, as plans change.

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

In our catalog, OpenFGA rates 4.5 out of 5 and Permit.io rates 4.4 out of 5, so OpenFGA 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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