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Microsoft Entra ID alternatives
Quick answerThe best free Microsoft Entra ID alternative is Zitadel, for open-source identity infrastructure. Pick WorkOS for enterprise SSO and directory sync APIs, or Okta for workforce and customer identity management.
At a glance
| Tool | Best for | Pricing | Votes | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zitadel | Open-source identity infrastructure | Free, open source | — | vs Microsoft Entra ID → |
| WorkOS | Enterprise SSO and directory sync APIs | Paid | — | vs Microsoft Entra ID → |
| Okta | Workforce and customer identity management | Paid | — | vs Microsoft Entra ID → |
| Keycloak | Self-hosted identity and access management | Free, open source | — | vs Microsoft Entra ID → |
How to choose
- For open-source identity infrastructure: Zitadel (free, open source)
- For enterprise SSO and directory sync APIs: WorkOS (paid)
- For workforce and customer identity management: Okta (paid)
- For self-hosted identity and access management: Keycloak (free, open source)
- For unified cloud identity and access management: Microsoft Entra ID itself
Closest alternatives
Open-source, self-hosted identity platform with multi-tenant SSO, unlike Microsoft’s cloud-only service. Microsoft Entra ID vs Zitadel →
Provides APIs for enterprise SSO and directory sync, focused on developer integration rather than full IAM suite. Microsoft Entra ID vs WorkOS →
Commercial IAM with extensive workforce and customer identity features, comparable but not tied to Microsoft ecosystem. Microsoft Entra ID vs Okta →
Open-source IAM offering SSO, federation and admin UI, can be self-hosted versus Microsoft’s managed service. Microsoft Entra ID vs Keycloak →
More Auth tools
FAQ
What is the best alternative to Microsoft Entra ID?+
The closest Microsoft Entra ID alternatives are Zitadel (open-source identity infrastructure), WorkOS (enterprise SSO and directory sync APIs) and Okta (workforce and customer identity management). Keycloak is also close. Each one links to a side-by-side comparison with Microsoft Entra ID.
What is the best free alternative to Microsoft Entra ID?+
Zitadel (open-source identity infrastructure) is the closest free alternative to Microsoft Entra ID. Keycloak (self-hosted identity and access management) is free too.
Is there an open source alternative to Microsoft Entra ID?+
Yes. Zitadel (open-source identity infrastructure) and Keycloak (self-hosted identity and access management) are open source.
What is Microsoft Entra ID used for?+
Microsoft Entra ID is a cloud IAM solution that provides SSO, MFA, conditional access and identity protection. Common uses: secure SSO for SaaS applications across the organization, enforce MFA and conditional access to protect against phishing attacks and grant just-in-time privileged access to critical resources.
Is Microsoft Entra ID free?+
Microsoft Entra ID is paid, with a free trial.
















