SharkAuth vs Zitadel.
Zitadel is a capable open-source identity server written in Go. SharkAuth is an agent-native identity platform, also written in Go, that fits in a single binary. If you want delegation chains, DPoP, and zero database dependencies, this comparison is for you.
What is SharkAuth?
SharkAuth is an open-source identity platform purpose-built for the agentic era. It ships as a single static Go binary (~29 MB) with embedded SQLite WAL. Zero dependencies, zero configuration. Implements OAuth 2.1, OIDC, RFC 8693 Token Exchange, and RFC 9449 DPoP — all self-contained. MIT licensed.
Head-to-head comparison
SharkAuth- → You want a single binary with zero dependencies
- → You deploy to edge or resource-constrained environments
- → You need agent delegation chains and DPoP
- → You want sub-50ms cold starts
- → You prefer SQLite over CockroachDB
- → You need multi-tenant organization support out of the box
- → You want a mature B2B identity platform
- → You have infrastructure for CockroachDB or PostgreSQL
- → You need SAML 2.0 and SCIM support
- → You want a managed cloud option with SLA
By the numbers
Frequently asked questions
Can SharkAuth replace Zitadel entirely?
Not yet. Zitadel has mature multi-tenant organization support, SAML 2.0, SCIM provisioning, and a polished management console. SharkAuth covers OAuth 2.1, OIDC, passkeys, SSO, and webhooks — enough for modern API-first and agentic applications. If you need multi-tenant B2B orgs today, Zitadel remains the right choice.
Why is SharkAuth smaller than Zitadel?
SharkAuth embeds SQLite WAL directly in the binary and requires no external database. Zitadel is designed as a distributed system that requires CockroachDB or PostgreSQL, message queues, and multiple services. SharkAuth intentionally trades distributed scale for deployment simplicity.
Does SharkAuth support the same protocols as Zitadel?
SharkAuth supports OAuth 2.1, OIDC, SAML 2.0 (via SP-initiated), and WebAuthn/Passkeys. Zitadel additionally supports SAML IDP, SCIM, LDAP, and extensive organization management. For standard web and API auth, SharkAuth is sufficient. For enterprise directory integration and B2B multi-tenancy, Zitadel is ahead.
Is SharkAuth production-ready?
SharkAuth v0.1.0 is suitable for production workloads that fit its feature set. It has been tested with OAuth 2.1 conformance, DPoP verification, and cascade revocation benchmarks. However, as with any v0.x software, evaluate it against your specific compliance and feature requirements.
Try SharkAuth in 30 seconds
One command. Zero dependencies. Runs on any machine with a shell.