Side by side

Blazam vs PWM

Both stand on active directory management software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.

Blazam

Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+2

Blazam combines delegated directory administration with permission controls and rule-based automation at no charge. Its Active Directory and host requirements are important deployment constraints.

Visit Blazam

PWM covers password changes and recovery across several LDAP directory types, with extensive configuration and REST APIs. Review its Java version requirements and the project’s support guidance when planning a deployment.

Visit PWM

The facts

	Blazam	PWM
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Open source	Not published	Not published
Runs on	API, Linux, Self-hosted, Web, Windows	API, Linux, Self-hosted, Web
Lowest paid plan	Free or on request	Free or on request
Plans published	1	1
Maker	Not published	Not published
Website	blazam.org	github.com
On active directory management software	#1 of 25	#4 of 25

Blazam: what it does well

Free and MIT licensed for personal and commercial use.
Delegates account and directory tasks to non-IT staff.
Permissions can be controlled by attribute and action.
Automation can run on events or schedules.
Documented REST API and webhook subscriptions.

What to know first

Requires Active Directory and a domain-joined Windows host.
A well-defined OU structure is needed for granular delegation.
Installation on a Domain Controller is not recommended.
API tokens can only be created by admins for existing users.

PWM: what it does well

Configuration manager offers over 500 settings.
Password rules apply while users type.
Recovery verification supports email, SMS, TOTP, and OAuth.
Deployable as WAR, JAR, or Docker image.

What to know first

Java 17 is listed for PWM 2.1.
The project directs support questions to its Google Group.
Question-only GitHub issues will be deleted.

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