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Microsoft Entra ID vs WorkOS
Short answer: Pick Microsoft Entra ID if you want unified cloud identity and access management; pick WorkOS if you want enterprise-ready auth and user provisioning. Microsoft Entra ID is paid, with a free trial; WorkOS has a free plan.
Microsoft Entra IDIdentity and access management from Microsoft
WorkOSEnterprise SSO, directory sync and auth APIsWhich to pick
Pick Microsoft Entra ID if you want…
- Unified cloud identity and access management
- Integrations with Microsoft 365 (on Microsoft Entra ID's list, not WorkOS's)
Pick WorkOS if you want…
- Enterprise-ready auth and user provisioning
- Enterprise SSO and directory sync APIs
- A free plan to start with
- Integrations with Node.js, Ruby or Python (on WorkOS's list, not Microsoft Entra ID's)
Side by side
- What it is
- Microsoft Entra ID:Microsoft Entra ID is a cloud IAM solution that provides SSO, MFA, conditional access and identity protection.
- WorkOS:WorkOS provides APIs and SDKs for enterprise authentication, SSO, directory sync, audit logs and related features.
- Best for
- Microsoft Entra ID:Unified cloud identity and access management
- WorkOS:Enterprise-ready auth and user provisioning
- Who it’s for
- Microsoft Entra ID:Enterprises and businesses needing secure sign-in and access control for users and apps.
- WorkOS:Developers building SaaS apps that need enterprise-grade auth and user management.
- Pricing
- Microsoft Entra ID:Paid
- WorkOS:Freemium
- Free plan or trial
- Microsoft Entra ID:Free trial
- WorkOS:Free plan (Free)
- Plans
- Microsoft Entra ID:Microsoft Entra ID P2 $10.00 user/month, paid yearly
- WorkOS:Free $0
- Works with
- Microsoft Entra ID:Microsoft 365
- WorkOS:Node.js, Ruby, Python, Go, PHP, Java, .NET, cURL
Microsoft Entra ID features
- Single sign-on & passwordless. Enable fast, secure sign-in to cloud and on-prem apps with SSO and passwordless authentication.
- Multi-factor authentication. Phishing-resistant MFA protects accounts and reduces identity compromise risk.
- Conditional & risk-based access. Adaptive policies enforce least-privilege access based on risk signals.
- Privileged identity management. Just-in-time, least-privilege access for privileged accounts and resources.
- Self-service portal. Users can manage passwords, devices and access requests via a self-service UI.
- AI-enhanced security insights. Security Copilot helps investigate risky users, anomalies and policy gaps with natural language prompts.
WorkOS features
- Single Sign-On. Add SAML or OIDC SSO with a single integration for any identity provider.
- Directory Sync. Sync user lifecycle via SCIM provisioning and HRIS integrations.
- AuthKit UI. Customizable authentication UI with social login, MFA, RBAC and more.
- Magic Auth. Passwordless login using a six-digit email code.
- Audit Logs. Capture, query and export compliance events from your app.
- Admin Portal. Hosted interface for IT admins to configure SSO and directory sync themselves.
Microsoft Entra ID vs WorkOS FAQ
What is the difference between Microsoft Entra ID and WorkOS?+
WorkOS: Provides APIs for enterprise SSO and directory sync, focused on developer integration rather than full IAM suite.
Should I use Microsoft Entra ID or WorkOS?+
Pick Microsoft Entra ID if you want unified cloud identity and access management or integrations with Microsoft 365 (on Microsoft Entra ID's list, not WorkOS's). Pick WorkOS if you want enterprise-ready auth and user provisioning, enterprise SSO and directory sync APIs or a free plan to start with.
Is Microsoft Entra ID or WorkOS free?+
Microsoft Entra ID is paid, with a free trial. WorkOS has a free plan and paid plans.
Do Microsoft Entra ID and WorkOS integrate with the same tools?+
Their integration lists don't overlap: Microsoft Entra ID lists Microsoft 365; WorkOS lists Node.js, Ruby, Python, Go and 4 more.
On DevHunt
Based on each tool's website and DevHunt data. Details may change; check the official sites.