Best Microsoft Active Directory Alternatives

Microsoft Active Directory is described as 'Active Directory (AD) is a directory service that Microsoft developed for Windows domain networks and included in most Windows Server operating systems as a set of processes and services' and is an app in the network & admin category. There are more than 10 alternatives to Microsoft Active Directory for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Mac, Windows, Self-Hosted solutions and Online / Web-based. The best alternative is Zentyal. It's not free, so if you're looking for a free alternative, you could try Univention Corporate Server or Samba. Other great apps like Microsoft Active Directory are FreeIPA, SambaBox, Azure Active Directory and JumpCloud.

Microsoft Active Directory alternatives are mainly Identity Management Tools but may also be Linux Distros or Operating Systems. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Microsoft Active Directory.

This page was last updated

Microsoft Active Directory

Paid • Proprietary
Windows

Active Directory (AD) is a directory service that Microsoft developed for Windows domain networks and included in most...

Learn more about Microsoft Active Directory

Zentyal
Is this a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Open Source
Mail Server
Linux Distro
Linux
28 alternatives to Zentyal
Zentyal is a native Microsoft Active Directory implementation on Linux incorporating all the network services required in a small and medium business environment: Directory & Domain Server, Mail Server, Gateway and Infrastructure Server.
Suggest and vote on features
Zentyal Features
Gateway
Member Directory
Web interface
Zentyal vs Microsoft Active Directory
Most users think Zentyal is a great alternative to Microsoft Active Directory.
Arffeh
100% drop-in replacement, tried and tested by yours truely.
Positive comment• ago

0

pitou
It's free and easy to use.
Positive comment• ago

-2
Univention Corporate Server
Is this a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Linux Distro
Operating System
Mac
Windows
Linux
93 alternatives to Univention Corporate Server
Univention Corporate Server is a pre-configured platform to operate and manage server applications and complete IT infrastructures free of charge. It is optimal to provide Microsoft Server-like services on the cloud or on premises, to run and operate corporate IT environments...
Suggest and vote on features
Univention Corporate Server Features
DHCP Server
Single Sign-On
Based on Debian
ARM support
Active Directory Migration
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Active Directory integration
SAML Single Sign-On
Support for Docker
LDAP Services
Univention Corporate Server vs Microsoft Active Directory
Almost everyone thinks Univention Corporate Server is a great alternative to Microsoft Active Directory.
Guest
it works flawless and it's free as long you don't need commercial support. Companies can get professional support from UCS or UCS Partners. It is the most complete alternative to MS ADS.
Positive comment• ago

0
Samba
Is this a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Mac
Linux
BSD
14 alternatives to Samba
Samba is the standard Windows interoperability suite of programs for Linux and Unix. Since 1992, Samba has provided secure, stable and fast file and print services for all clients using the SMB/CIFS protocol, such as all versions of DOS and Windows, OS/2, Linux and many others.
Suggest and vote on features
Samba Features
Filesystem
Add a screenshot

Samba vs Microsoft Active Directory
Almost everyone thinks Samba is a great alternative to Microsoft Active Directory.
Guest
It's literally a reimplementation of AD on Linux. Samba has been around for many years and is trusted by thousands of admins to provide seamless Windows interoperability.
Positive comment• ago

1
FreeIPA
Is this a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Linux
15 alternatives to FreeIPA
FreeIPA is an integrated security information management solution combining Linux (Fedora), 389 Directory Server, MIT Kerberos, NTP, DNS, Dogtag (Certificate System). It consists of a web interface and command-line administration tools.
Suggest and vote on features
FreeIPA Features
DNS Server
LDAP Services
Kerberos
Web interface
FreeIPA vs Microsoft Active Directory
Almost everyone thinks FreeIPA is a great alternative to Microsoft Active Directory.
Guest
not only completely free its the only one i implimented and joined linux hosts to it. all the rest failed to deliver.
Positive comment• ago

0
SambaBox
Is this a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Identity Management Tool
Linux Distro
Self-Hosted
17 alternatives to SambaBox
SambaBox is an integrated enterprise domain appliance which works flawlessly with Windows AD environment. SambaBox offers, Integrated DNS, DHCP, CA and SaltStack with web based management on hight secure environment.
Suggest and vote on features
SambaBox Features
1. Two-factor AuthenticationSambaBox supports two-factor authentication (2FA).
Windows Compatible
Certificate-authority
Enterprise Directory Service
Dns
Active Directory Migration
Network Tools
SambaBox vs Microsoft Active Directory
pros, cons and recent comments
Guest
I tried with demo license. It was worked with my windows and mac enviroment.
Positive comment• ago

0

Guest
SambaBOX offers more tools than standart Microsoft Active Directory like CA, DHCP, SNMP. Best part is installation takes just minutes.
Positive comment• ago

0
Azure Active Directory
Is this a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
Identity Management Tool
Online
19 alternatives to Azure Active Directory
Azure Active Directory is a comprehensive identity and access management cloud solution that provides a robust set of capabilities to manage users and groups.
Suggest and vote on features
Azure Active Directory Features
Single Sign-On
Add a screenshot
JumpCloud
Is this a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
Identity Management Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
15 alternatives to JumpCloud
Cloud-based directory services. Alternative to Microsoft Active Directory. Provides LDAP-as-a-Service, RADIUS-as-a-Service. Authenticates, authorizes, and manages employees, their devices and IT applications.
Suggest and vote on features
JumpCloud Features
Cloud based
Single Sign-On
RADIUS Services
SAML Single Sign-On
LDAP Services
Linux Management
Mac Management
OpenLDAP
Is this a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Mac
Linux
BSD
13 alternatives to OpenLDAP
OpenLDAP Software is an open source implementation of the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol.

OpenLDAP has no features, suggest some!
389 Directory Server
Is this a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Linux
CentOS
Fedora
8 alternatives to 389 Directory Server
Enterprise-class open source Linux LDAP server. Hardened by real-world use, full-featured, supports multi-master replication. 389 DS can be downloaded for free and set up in less than an hour using the graphical console.

389 Directory Server has no features, suggest some!
Add a screenshot
GLAuth
Is this a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Linux
10 alternatives to GLAuth
Go-lang LDAP Authentication (GLAuth) is a secure, easy-to-use, LDAP server with configurable backends.

GLAuth has no features, suggest some!
Add a screenshot