OAuth
OAuth is an open, IETF-standardized authorization protocol enabling secure API access delegation without password sharing. The community-maintained oauth.net portal serves developers and API providers with specifications, code libraries, books, and security resources.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- Headquarters—
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What OAuth does
OAuth is an open authorization protocol standardized through the IETF OAuth Working Group that enables secure authorization from web, mobile, and desktop applications without requiring users to share passwords. At the technical core, OAuth 2.0 defines token-based authorization flows that let third-party applications access protected user data on behalf of the resource owner, replacing password-sharing patterns with delegated access tokens. Canonical operational artifacts include the OAuth 2.0 specification, RFC 6819 (OAuth 2.0 Threat Model and Security Considerations), and a curated library of client/server implementations across multiple languages. The community maintains a central portal at oauth.net containing specs, code, articles, videos, books, security advisories, and event listings, with primary stewardship by maintainer Aaron Parecki.
The protocol serves two primary user categories: application developers building web, mobile, desktop, or browser-based apps that need to access protected data, and API developers (including server-side API and mashup operators) who want to authorize third-party application access to users' data. Documented customer profiles indicate horizontal adoption across hundreds of companies spanning technology providers and integrators, with use cases including secure authorization flows and API access delegation.
The business model is non-commercial: OAuth is freely available as an open standard, with no licensing fees, paid tiers, or formal revenue mechanism. Distribution is community-led and self-serve through documentation, RFC publications, open-source code libraries, published books, IETF working group participation, and developer education. The entity operating oauth.net has headcount of 1-10, no disclosed funding, no parent company, and ownership characterized as community-driven, with monetization-adjacent assets limited to an advertising page, merch shop, and instructor referral links that do not constitute documented revenue.
OAuth firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- OAuth
- Legal name
- OAuth Community Site
- Website
- https://oauth.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- OAuth is an open, IETF-standardized authorization protocol enabling secure API access delegation without password sharing. The community-maintained oauth.net portal serves developers and API providers with specifications, code libraries, books, and security resources.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
OAuth industry classification
Industry- Product category
- API Authorization Protocol
- NAICS
- Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (519), Educational Support Services (611710)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Federation & Identity Standards (SAML/OIDC/OAuth, Federation Hubs) (HDADAAAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Single Sign-On (SSO) & Federation (BPAMAEAF)
Keywords
OAuth business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Open Standard / Non-Commercial: OAuth is an open authorization protocol maintained as a community standard. There is no commercial revenue model - the protocol is freely available for implementation. The oauth.net site provides resources, documentation, and references without charge.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free open standard |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
OAuth product offering
Product offeringCore offering
OAuth is an open authorization protocol that enables secure API authorization from desktop, mobile, and web applications. It allows users to grant third-party applications access to their protected data without sharing passwords, providing a standardized method for access delegation. The oauth.net site serves as the official community documentation portal for the OAuth 2.0 standard, providing specifications, code libraries, books, and security advisories.
Product overview
OAuth.net is a community documentation portal for the OAuth 2.0 open authorization protocol, not a commercial product. It provides centralized access to protocol specifications, implementation code libraries, educational books, security resources, and community events. The site is maintained by Aaron Parecki and serves as the official online home for the most widely-used authorization framework.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- OAuth.net Community Portal
Companies that use OAuth
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
OAuth technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
OAuth partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- IETF OAuth Working GroupcoreThe IETF OAuth Working Group is the primary standards body that develops and maintains the OAuth 2.0 protocol specifications. This is the core governance structure for the protocol.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
OAuth competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Auth0: Auth0 (now part of Okta) provides a developer-focused identity platform built around OAuth 2.0 and OIDC. It is comparable as a widely adopted OAuth-based identity service for application developers and APIs.
- Okta: Okta is a leading commercial IAM platform whose workforce and customer identity products implement OAuth 2.0 as a core authorization layer. It is comparable as a major enterprise identity provider whose roadmap directly shapes OAuth ecosystem adoption.
- Microsoft Entra ID: Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory) is a major cloud identity platform that uses OAuth 2.0 as the primary authorization protocol for its APIs and developer ecosystem. It is comparable as an enterprise incumbent implementing OAuth at massive scale.
- Ping Identity: Ping Identity provides enterprise IAM solutions built on OAuth 2.0 and OIDC, including the PingFederate authorization server. It is comparable as an established identity vendor whose product strategy is anchored on OAuth standardization.
- Amazon Cognito: Amazon Cognito is AWS's managed identity service for app and API developers, implementing OAuth 2.0 grant flows for user pools and federated identity. It is comparable as a hyperscaler OAuth-based identity offering targeting similar developer and API segments.
- Google Identity Platform: Google's identity services (including Google Sign-In and Identity Platform) implement OAuth 2.0 for user authentication and authorization on Google's APIs. It is comparable as a hyperscaler OAuth-based identity service shaping developer expectations.
Others
- ForgeRock:
- IETF: The Internet Engineering Task Force is the standards organization through which OAuth 2.0 is formalized as RFCs and through which the OAuth Working Group operates. It is comparable as the governing body that directly defines and evolves the OAuth specification.
Direct peers
- Keycloak: Keycloak is an open source identity and access management server from the CNCF that implements OAuth 2.0 and OIDC. It is comparable as a leading open source OAuth-native IAM solution serving developers and enterprises.
- OpenID Foundation: The OpenID Foundation stewards OpenID Connect, which is an identity layer built directly on top of OAuth 2.0. It is the closest standards-body peer given its parallel role governing a complementary identity protocol that extends OAuth's authorization foundation.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
OAuth social profiles
Digital presenceOAuth financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
OAuth leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
OAuth funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
OAuth M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about OAuth
What does OAuth do?
OAuth is an open authorization protocol that enables secure API authorization from desktop, mobile, and web applications. It allows users to grant third-party applications access to their protected data without sharing passwords, providing a standardized method for access delegation. The oauth.net site serves as the official community documentation portal for the OAuth 2.0 standard, providing specifications, code libraries, books, and security advisories.
Is OAuth a public or private company?
OAuth is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was OAuth founded?
OAuth was founded in 2006. It employs 1 to 10 people.
How does OAuth make money?
One revenue line is on record: open Standard / Non-Commercial.
Who are OAuth's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Auth0, Okta, Microsoft Entra ID, Ping Identity, Amazon Cognito and Google Identity Platform. Others are ForgeRock and IETF. Direct peers are Keycloak and OpenID Foundation.
Does OAuth have an API?
No public API is recorded for OAuth.
What industry is OAuth in?
OAuth's product category is API Authorization Protocol. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDADAAAG, Federation & Identity Standards (SAML/OIDC/OAuth, Federation Hubs), with a secondary code of BPAMAEAF, Single Sign-On (SSO) & Federation. Its NAICS code is 519.