Which is cheaper, Cerbos or Ory?

Cerbos is 2.8x cheaper than Ory. Cerbos starts at $0/mo, Ory starts at $0/mo.

Does Cerbos have a free tier?

Yes, Cerbos offers a free tier with .

Cerbos has moderate switching cost. Ory has moderate switching cost. Both have similar switching complexity.

Auth

Cerbos

← More affordable

Policy-as-code authorization engine with YAML policies, audit logs, and managed PDP deployment

Switching Cost: moderate

Ory

Open-source identity and auth infrastructure with aDAU-based pricing

Switching Cost: moderate

The cost difference is substantial — Ory runs about 2.8x what Cerbos charges.

Their pricing models diverge: Cerbos uses flat-rate, while Ory operates on a hybrid basis.

If budget is your primary constraint, Cerbos is the clear winner with its more wallet-friendly pricing structure.

If budget is your primary constraint, Cerbos is the clear winner with its more wallet-friendly pricing structure.

Price Difference

2.8x

Cerbos is cheaper by $45/mo

Pricing Model

Different

Tools charge using different pricing philosophies