head to head · open source
Sa-Token vs mod_auth_openidc
Sa-Token has 19,065 GitHub stars, 2,910 forks, 111 open issues and last shipped 6 days ago. mod_auth_openidc has 1,096 stars, 332 forks, 0 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. Sa-Token leads on adoption by 1,640% (19,065 vs 1,096 stars). Sa-Token is written in Java under Apache-2.0; mod_auth_openidc is written in C under Apache-2.0. Sa-Token has attracted 15% as many forks as stars, mod_auth_openidc 30%. mod_auth_openidc was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 1 topic tag (sso), so they are genuine substitutes rather than adjacent tools.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| Sa-Token | mod_auth_openidc | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 19K | ★ 1.1K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Written in | Java | C |
| Last push | 2026-09-27 | 2026-10-01 |
| Forks | ⑂ 2.9K | ⑂ 332 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick Sa-Token if
- You weight community size — 19K stars and counting
- You want the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Java
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick mod_auth_openidc if
- You want the mod_auth_openidc feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches C
- You evaluated both and mod_auth_openidc fits your workflow better
About Sa-Token
Sa Token is a free, open source, one stop Java authentication and authorization framework, licensed under Apache 2.0, that gives Java and Spring Boot developers login authentication, permission checks, distributed sessions, single sign on, OAuth2.0, gateway authentication, JWT integration, API key authorization and API parameter signing from a single dependency.
read the full Sa-Token overview →
About mod_auth_openidc
mod auth openidc is an OpenID Certified™ authentication and authorization module for the Apache 2.x HTTP server, aimed at administrators and developers who want to protect web applications with OpenID Connect and FAPI 2 Relying Party support.
read the full mod_auth_openidc overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is Sa-Token or mod_auth_openidc more popular?
Sa-Token has 19,065 GitHub stars and mod_auth_openidc has 1,096. Sa-Token has the larger community by that measure.
Are Sa-Token and mod_auth_openidc free?
Both are open source. Sa-Token is licensed under Apache-2.0 and mod_auth_openidc under Apache-2.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between Sa-Token and mod_auth_openidc?
Sa-Token is written in Java and mod_auth_openidc in C. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, Sa-Token or mod_auth_openidc?
Choose Sa-Token if you want the larger community (19,065 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose mod_auth_openidc if its feature set, stack or Apache-2.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.