Ethyca Fides is a free, open-source privacy engineering toolkit for defining data categories, purposes, and use cases across fragmented systems. It converts regulatory obligations into machine-readable definitions that can be enforced in infrastructure. APIs and tooling connect it to development workflows, where teams can classify and authorize data entering AI training and inference pipelines. A sample deployment includes a webserver and Admin UI for privacy requests, a Privacy Center, and an example e-commerce project. The Cookie House sample uses MongoDB and Postgres, while listed integrations include Salesforce, Shopify, Segment by Twilio, Google Analytics, Slack Enterprise, and Zendesk. Fides supports data inventory, automated discovery, DSAR management, and retention management, with hybrid deployment. Local installation requires Python 3.8–3.10 and Docker 20.10.11 or higher. It is available for API, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, web, and Windows environments. The onboarding guide directs users who need setup help to the Fides Slack community. Ethyca describes its security protections as enterprise-grade, but detailed control descriptions on its security page contain placeholder text.
Who it is for
Fides is built for developers, including engineers and data scientists working to operationalize privacy. Teams seeking setup help are directed to its Slack community.
What is good
- Free open-source privacy engineering toolkit.
- Machine-readable definitions can be enforced in infrastructure.
- Connects to AI training and inference workflows.
- Sample deployment includes privacy request tools.
- Available across API, desktop, web, and self-hosted environments.
What to know first
- Local setup requires Python 3.8–3.10.
- Docker 20.10.11 or higher is required locally.
- Security page control descriptions contain placeholder text.
- Hosted service fees are specified in an Order Form.
Verdict
Fides provides a free toolkit for expressing privacy rules and connecting them to data and AI workflows. Review the local setup requirements and the available detail on security controls before adoption.
Ethyca Fides plans and pricing
All plansCompared on data privacy management software
- Free plan
- Yes
- Data inventory
- Yes
- Automated data discovery
- Yes
- DSAR management
- Yes
- Retention management
- Yes
- Deployment model
- hybrid
