authserver logo
authserver
★ 81
vs
tsidp logo
tsidp
★ 684

authserver vs tsidp

authserver: Authplane is a self-hosted authorization server designed for the Model Context Protocol (MCP), simplifying secure authentication and authorization for AI agents and services. It handles token issuance, validation, IdP federation, and agent-to-agent delegation, offering a complete solution for securing MCP servers.; tsidp: `tsidp` is an experimental OpenID Connect (OIDC) and OAuth Identity Provider that integrates with your Tailscale network, enabling applications to authenticate users using their Tailscale identities. It supports both OIDC-compatible applications and authenticated MCP client/server connections, offering flexible deployment options via Docker or direct Go execution.

01

TL;DR

authserver logo
authserverSecurity & Safety · ★ 81

Securing new or existing Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers.

tsidp logo
tsidpSecurity & Safety · ★ 684

Centralized authentication for self-hosted applications within a Tailscale network.

02

Side-by-Side Comparison

Field
authserver logoauthserver
tsidp logotsidp
Category
Security & Safety
Security & Safety
Stars
★ 81
★ 684
License
AGPL-3.0
BSD-3-Clause
Install Command
export AUTHPLANE_ADMIN_API_KEY="$(openssl rand -hex 32)" && export AUTHPLANE_SESSION_SECRET="$(openssl rand -hex 32)" && docker run -p 9000:9000 -p 9001:9001 -e AUTHPLANE_ADMIN_API_KEY -e AUTHPLANE_SESSION_SECRET -e AUTHPLANE_CLIENT_CREDENTIALS_ENABLED=true -e AUTHPLANE_DPOP_ENABLED=true -e AUTHPLANE_TOKEN_EXCHANGE_ENABLED=true -v authserver-data:/data authplane/authserver:latest serve
echo 'services: tsidp: container_name: tsidp image: ghcr.io/tailscale/tsidp:latest volumes: - tsidp-data:/data environment: - TAILSCALE_USE_WIP_CODE=1 - TS_STATE_DIR=/data - TS_HOSTNAME=idp - TSIDP_ENABLE_STS=1 # Optional: Tailscale auth key for automatic node registration # - TS_AUTHKEY=tskey-auth-xxxxx # REPLACE WITH YOUR_TAILSCALE_AUTHKEY volumes: tsidp-data:' > compose.yaml && docker compose up -d
Updated
1w ago
2d ago
Open Source
Yes
Yes
Tags
Authorization Server, OAuth 2.1, Identity Management
OpenID Connect, OAuth, Identity Provider
03

Features

authserver logoauthserver
01Spec-compliant access tokens for any MCP server in any language.
02Federation to existing OIDC-compliant Identity Providers (IdP) like Google, Okta, Azure AD.
03Agent-to-agent delegation with audit logging and act-claim chains.
04Built-in Admin UI for managing everything from a browser, embedded in the same binary.
05Production-grade storage (PostgreSQL) and observability (OpenTelemetry, Prometheus, Helm chart).
tsidp logotsidp
01Functions as an OIDC/OAuth Identity Provider tightly integrated with your Tailscale network.
02Authenticates applications and services using existing Tailscale identities.
03Supports OpenID Connect and OAuth protocols, including Dynamic Client Registration (DCR) and Secure Token Service (STS).
04Offers robust access control through Tailscale Application capability grants for UI and DCR endpoints.
05Deployable with Docker, Docker Compose, or as a Go application, supporting persistent state storage.
04

Use Cases

authserver logoauthserver
↳Securing new or existing Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers.
↳Integrating with existing Identity Providers for centralized user management.
↳Enabling secure agent-to-agent communication and delegated access.
↳Storing and vending refresh tokens for upstream providers (e.g., GitHub, Google, Slack).
tsidp logotsidp
↳Centralized authentication for self-hosted applications within a Tailscale network.
↳Integrating SaaS products with Tailscale identities by exposing tsidp via Tailscale Funnel.
↳Acting as an Identity Provider for platforms like Proxmox, Grafana, or Jellyfin.
↳Enabling secure client/server authentication based on the Model Context Protocol (MCP).
05

Best For

authserver logoauthserver
—
tsidp logotsidp
Hidden Gem
FAQ

FAQ

What is the difference between authserver and tsidp?
Both authserver and tsidp are in the Security & Safety category. authserver has 81 stars, while tsidp has 684 stars.
Which is better, authserver or tsidp?
The best choice depends on your use case. Choose authserver if Securing new or existing Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers., and tsidp if Centralized authentication for self-hosted applications within a Tailscale network..
Is authserver free or open source?
Yes, authserver is open source on GitHub (AGPL-3.0).
Is tsidp free or open source?
Yes, tsidp is open source on GitHub (BSD-3-Clause).
Cloud Infrastructure
Ad

Deploy on DigitalOcean

Host your MCP servers, Docker containers, and AI agents with $200 free credit over 60 days.

Claim $200 Free Credit
→

Related