Brandwave

Clerk vs Keycloak:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Keycloak had more branded searches than Clerk among authentication platforms worldwide. Keycloak had about 135,000 branded searches, while Clerk had 9,930. Keycloak made up 4.1% of all authentication platform searches we track, and Clerk accounted for 0.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about authentication platforms, Clerk appeared in three of the five answers and Keycloak in none.

Among authentication platforms worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Keycloak, about 14 searches for every 1 for Clerk

Keycloak 135K searchesClerk 9.9K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Clerk, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Keycloak in 0

Clerk in 3 of 5Keycloak in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Clerk, the only one of the two named

Clerk first in 3Keycloak never named

Follow Clerk vs Keycloak and get free monthly updates on what changed

By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy

Track your brand against a rival →

Top authentication platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Clerk was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Keycloak did not appear in any of the five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Clerk1st
  2. Auth02nd
  3. Supabase3rd
  4. Firebase Authentication4th
  5. WorkOS5th
  6. Amazon Cognito5th
  7. Better Auth7th
  8. Stytch8th
  9. Okta–
  10. Keycloak–
  11. +1 more

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Auth04 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Supabase3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Clerk3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Better Auth2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Amazon Cognito2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Firebase Authentication2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • WorkOS1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Stytch1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Okta0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Keycloak0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+1 more

See every answer about authentication platforms

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

Is Clerk or Keycloak more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Clerk and Keycloak by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 11 authentication platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Clerk and Keycloak among authentication platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Keycloak, Clerk. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthSupabaseOktaKeycloakAuth0WorkOSBetter AuthStytchAmazon CognitoFirebase AuthenticationClerkFrontegg
Oct 202542.5%34.7%8.5%4.7%1.4%3.1%1.4%1.7%1.2%0.63%0.15%
Nov 202548%32.3%6.5%4.4%1.3%2.9%1.3%1.5%1.1%0.58%0.14%
Dec 202548.8%32.8%6.6%3.6%1.3%3%1.1%1.2%0.9%0.59%0.12%
Jan 202652.9%29.2%5.9%3.9%1.5%2.6%1.2%1.3%0.8%0.64%0.1%
Feb 202653.3%29.4%5.9%4%1.5%2.2%1.2%1.1%0.66%0.65%0.11%
Mar 202659%26.5%5.3%2.9%1.3%1.9%0.88%0.98%0.48%0.58%0.08%
Apr 202663%23.2%4.6%3.1%1.4%1.7%0.94%0.85%0.63%0.51%0.08%
May 202663.5%23.4%4.7%2.6%1.4%1.7%0.78%0.86%0.52%0.51%0.07%
Jun 202663.6%23.4%4.7%2.6%1.4%1.4%0.95%0.86%0.52%0.52%0.07%
Jul 202663.6%23.4%4.7%2.6%1.4%1.7%0.95%0.74%0.43%0.42%0.08%
Aug 202663.8%23.5%4.7%2.6%1.4%1.4%0.95%0.75%0.35%0.42%0.07%
Sep 202668.2%20.5%4.1%2.3%1.5%1.2%0.83%0.75%0.3%0.3%0.05%

How has the Clerk and Keycloak comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Keycloak was ahead of Clerk in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Clerk’s share of searches among authentication platforms worldwide moved from 0.63% to 0.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 12.1K to 9.9K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Keycloak’s share of searches among authentication platforms worldwide moved from 8.5% to 4.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 165K to 135K.

How did search popularity change for authentication platforms worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Keycloak lost share of searches among authentication platforms worldwide, from 4.7% to 4.1%.

  2. In September 2026, Clerk fell from 9th to 10th among authentication platforms worldwide.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Clerk’s and Keycloak’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Clerk

2 branded search terms

  • authentication clerk
  • clerk auth

Keycloak

1 branded search term

  • keycloak

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among authentication platforms

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

Put your own brand in this comparison

Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.

Start free