Open-source authentication providers offer several benefits, including the ability for anyone to review the code, making it easier to evaluate suitability for a specific use case. They also provide source code that can be reviewed and modified by users, which is especially useful in case of issues or changes needed in the future. However, there are downsides, such as limited support options, where users may have to rely on submitting detailed issues via the project's issue tracker without guaranteed response times. Additionally, open-source providers often lack release frequency transparency, and some projects may not be actively maintained. On the other hand, many open-source projects offer paid support tiers with SLAs and guaranteed response times, which can provide peace of mind for users. The maintenance responsibility lies with the community, where customers contribute fixes and feature requests, but this also means they bear more of the burden. Open-source providers may be more secure due to multiple eyes inspecting the code, but security vulnerabilities can remain open for months if not addressed promptly. Overall, while open-source authentication providers offer a cost-effective solution, users must consider the added maintenance and security responsibility that comes with them.