# elasticsearch vs keycloak

> Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.

| | elasticsearch | keycloak |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 84/100 | 86/100 ✓ |
| Rank in category | #2 of 41 in Search Engines | #1 of 40 in Authentication |
| GitHub stars | 78 427 ✓ | 37 585 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +447 | +604 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 32 ✓ | 14 |
| Latest release | v9.5.5 · 6 Oct 2026 | 26.8.1 · 13 Oct 2026 ✓ |
| Setup | Advanced | Moderate ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | Other | Apache-2.0 |
| Main language | Java | Java |

## Which one should you pick?

keycloak scores 86/100 against 84/100 for elasticsearch, so it is the safer default.

elasticsearch ships more often: 32 stable releases in the past year, against 14 for keycloak.

If you want the quickest setup, keycloak is easier to run; elasticsearch needs more configuration.

## Details

- [elasticsearch](https://selfhost.directory/project/elasticsearch) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/elasticsearch.md)
- [keycloak](https://selfhost.directory/project/keycloak) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/keycloak.md)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/elasticsearch-vs-keycloak