Editorial take
Why it stands out
AuthZed should be presented as authorization infrastructure, not as a login product or a generic auth SDK.
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Tool profile
Zanzibar-style authorization infrastructure built on SpiceDB for fine-grained permissions across applications, APIs, and AI systems.
Authorization infrastructure
AuthZed belongs in the catalog because authorization has become stack-critical again, especially for AI products that need tenant isolation, scoped tool access, approval flows, and auditable access control beyond simple role tables. The official product family spans open-source SpiceDB, managed AuthZed Cloud, Dedicated Cloud, and self-hosted enterprise support. That makes AuthZed much more relevant than a narrow authz library entry; it is infrastructure for teams that want a serious permissions system with Google Zanzibar-style lineage.
It also deserves inclusion because the official pricing story is specific enough to guide real evaluation. The pricing page distinguishes free open-source deployment, self-hosted enterprise licensing, managed cloud with transparent usage billing, and dedicated private infrastructure. AuthZed even publishes that teams can deploy a permissions system in Cloud for $2/hour and advertises startup-focused cloud credits, which is unusually concrete for this part of the market.
Quick fit
Editorial take
AuthZed should be presented as authorization infrastructure, not as a login product or a generic auth SDK.
What it does well
Primary use cases
Fit notes
Compare with
Pressure-test this pick against nearby alternatives.
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Pricing snapshot
AuthZed offers free open-source SpiceDB, managed Cloud with usage-based pricing, Dedicated Cloud with reserved-capacity pricing, and self-hosted enterprise licensing.
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