Tool profile
Enterprise identity platform for SSO, MFA, lifecycle management, and secure app access.
Enterprise workforce SSO and MFA across a broad SaaS portfolio
Okta is the incumbent cloud identity provider for large organizations: workforce users sign into SaaS and internal apps through SAML/OIDC SSO, adaptive MFA, and Universal Directory fed by HR systems. Lifecycle Management and (on higher suites) governance and privileged-access products address onboarding, offboarding, and access reviews. Separately, Okta Customer Identity Cloud targets B2C and B2B applications with OAuth/OIDC APIs, hosted flows, and add-ons for risk and scale.
Public list pricing (okta.com/pricing, annual billing) cites Workforce Identity suites starting around $6 per user per month for Starter (SSO, MFA, Universal Directory, limited Workflows) and around $17 per user per month for Essentials, with Professional and Enterprise priced via sales. Okta states a $1,500 annual contract minimum for Workforce Identity. Customer Identity Cloud is quoted from an Enterprise base platform listed around $3,000 per month (annual contract) plus MAU-priced add-ons—sales engagement is expected for real quotes.
Okta fits when security and IT already mandate a named IdP, procurement expects OIN integrations, and budget exists for implementation partners. It is heavy for a single-app startup; compare Microsoft Entra ID in Microsoft-centric shops, Google Workspace SSO for Google-first SMBs, and developer-first Clerk or Auth0 (Okta family) for product-led growth.
Quick fit
Editorial take
Okta is a procurement and architecture decision as much as a technical one—implementation time and professional services often exceed license negotiation. Confirm whether you are buying Workforce, Customer Identity, or both; MAU and API volume drive CIAM quotes. For adjacent picks, Azure AD/Entra wins in Microsoft-heavy estates; Ping and ForgeRock still appear in RFPs; Clerk and Stytch win when product velocity beats ITIL ceremony.
What it does well
Primary use cases
Fit notes
Compare with
Pressure-test this pick against nearby alternatives.
Pricing snapshot
Workforce Identity pricing starts at $6/user/mo for Starter, $14/user/mo for Core Essentials, and $17/user/mo for Essentials, all billed annually with a $1,500 annual minimum. Professional and Enterprise are quote-based. Customer Identity starts with a required Enterprise base platform at $3,000/mo billed annually, then adds usage-priced products such as MAU-based add-ons.
Auth0
Free planB2B SaaS selling into buyers expecting SAML, SCIM, and audit evidence
Identity platform for adding authentication, user management, SSO, and access control to apps.
Free: 25k MAU; Essentials/Professional self-serve: 500 MAU on public 2026 cards—confirm before budgeting.
