Vestauth vs Other Authentication Methods

Compare Vestauth with API keys, OAuth, and cookies for agent authentication

Authentication Method Comparison

Compare Vestauth against traditional authentication methods for agents and automated systems.

Agent + Tool Matrix

Capability	Vestauth	API Keys	OAuth	Cookies
Agent: no browser required	✅	✅	⚠️ (depends on flow)	❌
Agent: easy to automate	✅	✅	⚠️	❌
Agent: no shared secret	✅	❌	⚠️ (bearer tokens)	❌
Agent: per‑request identity proof	✅	❌	⚠️ (token‑based)	❌
Agent: easy key/token rotation	✅	⚠️	⚠️	⚠️
Tool: no secret storage	✅ (public keys only)	❌	❌	❌
Tool: strong attribution to agent	✅	⚠️	⚠️	❌
Tool: stateless verification	✅	✅	✅	❌
Tool: simple to implement	⚠️ (sig verification)	✅	❌	✅
Tool: revocation control	✅	⚠️	✅	⚠️

Legend: ✅ strong fit, ⚠️ partial/conditional, ❌ poor fit

How Vestauth Works

1. Agent generates keypair

   An agent generates a public/private keypair using Ed25519 cryptography.

2. Agent signs requests

   The agent signs each HTTP request with its private key following RFC 9421.

3. Tool verifies signature

   The tool verifies the signature using the agent’s public key retrieved from a .well-known endpoint.

4. Attributable authentication

   Requests are attributable, auditable, and do not require shared secrets or browser sessions.

Key Advantages

No Shared Secrets

Private keys never leave the agent. Only public keys are shared for verification.

Easy Rotation

Rotate keys without service disruption using .well-known discovery.

Strong Attribution

Each request is cryptographically signed and tied to a specific agent identity.

Stateless Verification

Tools verify signatures without session state or shared databases.

When to Use Vestauth

Vestauth is ideal for automated systems, AI agents, CLIs, bots, and any scenario where you need strong identity without shared secrets.

For human-facing web applications with browser sessions, traditional cookie-based authentication may be simpler.