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It's a split decision.
Choose WorkOS for an app that needs enterprise SSO, directory sync, or authentication building blocks: AuthKit is free up to 1 million monthly active users, while SSO and Directory Sync start at $125 per connection monthly. Choose Okta for a broader workforce or customer identity suite, starting at $6 per user monthly on annual billing; its Customer Identity Enterprise base platform is $3,000 monthly. Okta's add-on prices are mostly unpublished, so compare your exact scope before switching.
01Side by side
| WorkOS | Okta | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | AuthKit is $0; SSO starts at $125/connection monthly. | Starter is $6/user/month, billed annually. |
| Free plan | Yes; AuthKit covers up to 1 million monthly active users. | No free plan; a 30-day free trial is listed. |
| Best for | B2B app teams adding enterprise identity features. | Workforce, customer, partner, and AI-agent identity. |
| Core strength | App authentication, SSO, directory sync, and access control. | Broad identity security and access management. |
| Learning curve | Review ease-of-use score: 6/10. | Review ease-of-use score: 7/10. |
| Integrations/data | SAML/OIDC SSO, SCIM, and HRIS directory syncing. | Directory, lifecycle, SSO, and APIs; add-on prices unpublished. |
| Team/seat costs | SSO and Directory Sync charge per connection; volume tiers apply. | Workforce pricing is per user annually; many add-ons are unpriced. |
| Support | Dedicated Slack; Annual Credits includes a guaranteed support SLA. | Support terms are not published on the vendor's site. |
WorkOS Choose WorkOS if
- Choose WorkOS if you are building B2B apps with enterprise SSO.
- Choose WorkOS if free authentication for up to 1 million monthly active users fits.
- Choose WorkOS if per-connection SSO pricing suits your customer count.
Okta Choose Okta if
- Choose Okta if you need workforce identity at a $6/user annual entry price.
- Choose Okta if you want workforce, customer, partner, and AI-agent identity products.
- Choose Okta if its broader identity suite fits your requirements and budget.
02Pricing compared
WorkOS has a free AuthKit tier for up to 1 million monthly active users. Enterprise SSO and Directory Sync are usage-based: according to the pricing page, each costs $125 per connection per month for the first 15 connections, with lower rates at higher volumes—down to $65 per connection for connections 51–100. Audit log streaming and event retention are extra charges; Annual Credits rates are not published.
Okta’s listed workforce prices start at $6 per user per month for Starter, billed annually. Core Essentials is $14 and Essentials is $17 per user per month, also billed annually. Okta lists a 30-day free trial, but no free plan. Its Customer Identity Enterprise base platform is $3,000 per month. Many add-on prices are not published, so compare your full requirements before switching.
03Features and depth
WorkOS is aimed at developers adding enterprise identity to an application. Its listed building blocks include SAML or OIDC SSO through one integration, user and organization management, SCIM and HRIS directory syncing, a hosted admin portal, MFA, and role-based or fine-grained access control. AuthKit covers authentication and user management; SSO and Directory Sync are priced separately by connection.
Okta covers workforce and customer identity, with offerings for employees, partners, customers, and AI agents. Its listed capabilities include SSO, MFA, Universal Directory, lifecycle management, workflows, access governance, and security tools. Higher tiers add options such as API Access Management and Access Gateway. The Customer Identity Enterprise base platform lists unlimited OIDC apps and outbound SAML apps, while the B2B Suite lists inbound federation and lifecycle management. The practical distinction: WorkOS sells app-focused identity components; Okta lists a broader identity suite. Don’t treat the feature lists as equivalent bundles—Okta add-on prices are mostly unpublished.
04Ease of use and learning curve
The products are aimed at different jobs, so “easier” depends on what you are replacing. WorkOS packages enterprise identity features as APIs and tools for an application, and its Annual Credits plan lists guided migration and onboarding. The pricing material does not publish setup times or implementation requirements.
Okta offers multiple workforce and customer identity plans, plus add-ons whose prices are often not published. That gives buyers more scope to compare, but you will need to map the required features and licenses before estimating cost. Okta’s review notes that migration effort should be checked before committing; neither source provides a standard migration timeline. We would request a scoped quote and migration plan rather than assume either product is a drop-in replacement.
Questions people ask
Are Okta and OAuth the same?
No claim in the published product information identifies Okta as OAuth. It describes Okta as an identity and access management provider, while WorkOS lists SAML and OIDC support for SSO. For a protocol-level comparison, check the relevant product documentation; these materials do not establish the details.
Who is Okta’s biggest competitor?
The published information does not rank Okta’s competitors or name a biggest competitor. It compares Okta with WorkOS, but that does not establish market position or make WorkOS the largest rival. The right alternative depends on whether you need workforce identity, customer identity, or app-focused enterprise identity features.
Can I use Google Authenticator with Okta?
The published Okta information lists multi-factor authentication, including Adaptive MFA on some plans, but does not name Google Authenticator or confirm compatibility. Check Okta’s current documentation or ask its sales team about supported authenticator apps and any plan requirements before choosing a subscription.
Is Auth0 owned by Okta?
The published materials do not mention Auth0 or its ownership, so we can’t verify that from this comparison’s sources. They describe Okta’s workforce and customer identity products, but that is not enough to establish Auth0’s corporate relationship with Okta.