Single sign-on solutions, by organization size and identity complexity
Single sign-on software lets users authenticate once to access multiple applications through a centralized identity provider. This page helps buyers compare SSO solutions on protocol support, directory integration, MFA options, and pricing models that scale with headcount.
Editorial policy: How we review software · How rankings work · Sponsored disclosure
Compare the tools belowHead-to-head comparisons
SSO software comparison at a glance
Every tool name links to its full write-up.
| Tool | Published price | Deployment | Free trial | Best for | Pricing detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Okta | $6 per user/month | Cloud | Yes | Not stated | See pricing |
| Auth0 | $0 per month | Cloud | Yes | Not stated | See pricing |
| OneLogin | quote only | Cloud | Yes | Not stated | See pricing |
| PingOne | quote only | Cloud | Yes | Not stated | See pricing |
| Microsoft Entra ID | quote only | Cloud | Yes | Not stated | See pricing |
| JumpCloud | quote only | Cloud | Yes | Not stated | See pricing |
| Keycloak | quote only | Cloud / On-prem | Yes | Not stated | See pricing |
| Duo | $0 per user/month | Cloud | Yes | Not stated | See pricing |
| CyberArk Identity | quote only | Cloud | No | Not stated | See pricing |
| miniOrange | quote only | Cloud | Yes | Not stated | See pricing |
| RSA ID Plus | quote only | Cloud | No | Not stated | See pricing |
| SailPoint | quote only | Cloud | No | Not stated | See pricing |
Showing 12 of 12. Published price is the figure the vendor states; “quote only” means it states none.
Scoring these vendors side by side takes a weighted sheet, not a notepad. The vendor evaluation scorecard weights price, support, lead time and reliability, then rates each shortlisted vendor 1 to 5 against the same criteria.
Single sign-on solutions software explained
Single sign-on (SSO) software lets employees log in once and access all their work applications without entering separate credentials for each one. Instead of remembering passwords for Slack, Salesforce, Jira, AWS, and 50 other tools, users authenticate through a central identity provider (IdP) that grants access tokens to each connected application. The practical result: one login, all apps, and IT gets centralized control over who can access what.
SSO is technically a subset of identity and access management (IAM), but in practice, modern SSO platforms have absorbed most IAM functions. Leading SSO providers like Okta, Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD), and JumpCloud bundle SSO with multi-factor authentication (MFA), user provisioning (SCIM), directory services, and lifecycle management. The term 'SSO software' increasingly means 'identity platform' because standalone SSO without these adjacent features leaves too many access management gaps.
For any organization with more than 50 employees and more than 10 SaaS applications, SSO is not optional. Without it, each employee maintains separate credentials for each application. Passwords are reused. Offboarding means manually revoking access across dozens of apps (and inevitably missing some). There is no centralized audit trail of who accessed which application and when. SSO solves all of these problems by making the identity provider the single control point for authentication and access.
Curated list of best single sign-on solutions
Full write-ups for each tool: pricing, deployment, strengths and limitations.
- Price
- From $6/user/mo
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Free trial
- Yes
Breadth of pre-built application integrations is why Okta is usually the first name on the list for workforce single sign-on. Lifecycle management comes with it. Pricing is per-user, with significant differences between tiers. Modeling both current headcount and the figure 18 months out is the step teams skip before they sign. Compare it on cloud deployment, per-user pricing, Web support. A free trial is available. Before it reaches a shortlist, see how its pricing is structured.
- Best for
- Okta is best for teams that want cloud environments, Web support, a free trial before buying, per-user pricing. It fits best when you already know your deployment constraints and platform needs before sales conversations start.
- Main tradeoff
- The main tradeoff with Okta is that pricing requires validation. Test whether you can live with that before cutting the shortlist.
- Buying motion
- Most teams start with a Okta free trial or proof of concept, then move to pricing.
- Not ideal for
- Okta is less ideal for teams that know pricing requires validation would be a real problem for them.
“Identity platform with one of the largest pre-built application integration catalogs, which makes it the default candidate for workforce SSO and lifecycle management. The pricing scales per-user with significant tier differences. Teams should model both current and 18-month-forward user counts before committing.”
ITCommons Editorial
Reviewer
Strengths
- Fast time to value
- Useful automation coverage
- Solid visibility for IT operations
Watch outs
- Pricing requires validation
- Depth varies by deployment model
- Platform coverage needs closer validation
- Price
- Quote only
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Free trial
- Yes
The rule engine is what developers reach for, since login flows can be customized per application instead of being standardized across an entire estate. Teams building multi-tenant SaaS or consumer-facing products get the most out of that flexibility. Enterprise identity governance is the weaker fit, and usually lands on a dedicated identity and access management platform with stronger lifecycle management. Compare it on cloud deployment, usage-based pricing pricing, Web support. A free trial is available. Before it reaches a shortlist, see how its pricing is structured.
- Best for
- Auth0 is best for teams that want cloud environments, Web support, a free trial before buying, usage-based pricing pricing. It fits best when you already know your deployment constraints and platform needs before sales conversations start.
- Main tradeoff
- The main tradeoff with Auth0 is that pricing requires validation. Test whether you can live with that before cutting the shortlist.
- Buying motion
- Most teams start with a Auth0 free trial or proof of concept, then move to pricing.
- Not ideal for
- Auth0 is less ideal for teams that know pricing requires validation would be a real problem for them.
“Developer-first identity platform with an extensive authentication library and flexible rule engine for customizing login flows per application. Teams building multi-tenant SaaS or consumer-facing products get the most from it; enterprise identity governance use cases are typically better served by dedicated IAM platforms with stronger lifecycle management.”
ITCommons Editorial
Reviewer
Strengths
- Fast time to value
- Useful automation coverage
- Solid visibility for IT operations
Watch outs
- Pricing requires validation
- Depth varies by deployment model
- Platform coverage needs closer validation
- Price
- Quote only
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Free trial
- Yes
SmartFactor authentication is OneLogin's distinguishing piece, scoring the context of an access request before deciding how much proof to ask for. Single sign-on and MFA sit around it. Mid-market and enterprise teams that find Okta pricing aggressive often look here next. The application catalog is broad, and per-user cost tends to come out more competitive at mid-market scale. Compare it on cloud deployment, per-user pricing, Web support. A free trial is available. Before it reaches a shortlist, see how its pricing is structured.
- Best for
- OneLogin is best for teams that want cloud environments, Web support, a free trial before buying, per-user pricing. It fits best when you already know your deployment constraints and platform needs before sales conversations start.
- Main tradeoff
- The main tradeoff with OneLogin is that pricing requires validation. Test whether you can live with that before cutting the shortlist.
- Buying motion
- Most teams start with a OneLogin free trial or proof of concept, then move to pricing.
- Not ideal for
- OneLogin is less ideal for teams that know pricing requires validation would be a real problem for them.
“SSO and MFA platform with a SmartFactor authentication system that applies contextual risk scoring to access decisions. Mid-market and enterprise teams that find Okta pricing aggressive often evaluate it as a capable alternative. The application catalog is broad and the per-user cost is typically more competitive at mid-market scale.”
ITCommons Editorial
Reviewer
Strengths
- Fast time to value
- Useful automation coverage
- Solid visibility for IT operations
Watch outs
- Pricing requires validation
- Depth varies by deployment model
- Platform coverage needs closer validation
- Price
- Quote only
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Free trial
- Yes
Workforce and customer identity sit in the same product line at PingOne. That breadth shapes who evaluates it. Enterprise teams needing identity governance alongside single sign-on tend to put Ping next to Okta and Microsoft Entra. Mid-market buyers have a harder time modeling the cost, since pricing is quoted case by case. Compare it on cloud deployment, custom quote pricing, Web support. A free trial is available. Before it reaches a shortlist, see how its pricing is structured.
- Best for
- PingOne is best for teams that want cloud environments, Web support, a free trial before buying, custom quote pricing. It fits best when you already know your deployment constraints and platform needs before sales conversations start.
- Main tradeoff
- The main tradeoff with PingOne is that pricing requires validation. Test whether you can live with that before cutting the shortlist.
- Buying motion
- Most teams start with a PingOne free trial or proof of concept, then move to pricing.
- Not ideal for
- PingOne is less ideal for teams that know pricing requires validation would be a real problem for them.
“Cloud identity platform from Ping Identity with workforce and customer identity use cases in the same product line. Enterprise teams that need identity governance alongside SSO evaluate Ping alongside Okta and Microsoft Entra; mid-market buyers may find the custom pricing harder to model without direct vendor engagement.”
ITCommons Editorial
Reviewer
Strengths
- Fast time to value
- Useful automation coverage
- Solid visibility for IT operations
Watch outs
- Pricing requires validation
- Depth varies by deployment model
- Pricing clarity may require vendor conversations
- Price
- Quote only
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Free trial
- Yes
SSO, MFA, Conditional Access and device identity cover Microsoft 365 and the thousands of third-party applications already integrated with it. For organizations already invested in Microsoft's stack, Entra ID usually becomes the identity layer by default instead of being chosen against alternatives. Licensing is per user and the service runs entirely from Microsoft's cloud. Compare it on cloud deployment, per-user pricing, Web support. A free trial is available. Before it reaches a shortlist, see how its pricing is structured.
- Best for
- Microsoft Entra ID is best for teams that want cloud environments, Web support, a free trial before buying, per-user pricing. It fits best when you already know your deployment constraints and platform needs before sales conversations start.
- Main tradeoff
- The main tradeoff with Microsoft Entra ID is that pricing requires validation. Test whether you can live with that before cutting the shortlist.
- Buying motion
- Most teams start with a Microsoft Entra ID free trial or proof of concept, then move to pricing.
- Not ideal for
- Microsoft Entra ID is less ideal for teams that know pricing requires validation would be a real problem for them.
“Microsoft's cloud identity platform providing SSO, MFA, Conditional Access, and device identity for Microsoft 365 and thousands of integrated applications. For organizations committed to the Microsoft ecosystem, it is typically the de facto identity layer rather than a deliberate selection against alternatives.”
ITCommons Editorial
Reviewer
Strengths
- Fast time to value
- Useful automation coverage
- Solid visibility for IT operations
Watch outs
- Pricing requires validation
- Depth varies by deployment model
- Platform coverage needs closer validation
- Price
- Quote only
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Free trial
- Yes
Organizations moving workloads off on-prem infrastructure use JumpCloud as the practical stand-in for Active Directory. Device management, single sign-on, MFA, and LDAP/RADIUS services come from one cloud directory, so identity and device administration do not need separate products. Device-based pricing covers Windows, macOS, and Linux alike. Compare it on cloud deployment, device-based pricing, Windows / macOS / Linux support. A free trial is available. Before it reaches a shortlist, see how its pricing is structured.
- Best for
- JumpCloud is best for teams that want cloud environments, Windows / macOS / Linux support, a free trial before buying, device-based pricing. It fits best when you already know your deployment constraints and platform needs before sales conversations start.
- Main tradeoff
- The main tradeoff with JumpCloud is that pricing requires validation. Test whether you can live with that before cutting the shortlist.
- Buying motion
- Most teams start with a JumpCloud free trial or proof of concept, then move to pricing.
- Not ideal for
- JumpCloud is less ideal for teams that know pricing requires validation would be a real problem for them.
“Cloud directory platform combining device management, SSO, MFA, and LDAP/RADIUS services, a practical alternative to on-prem Active Directory for organizations moving workloads off on-prem infrastructure. Device-based pricing covers cross-platform support for Windows, macOS, and Linux without requiring separate identity and device products.”
ITCommons Editorial
Reviewer
Strengths
- Fast time to value
- Useful automation coverage
- Solid visibility for IT operations
Watch outs
- Pricing requires validation
- Depth varies by deployment model
- Rollout details need extra validation early
- Price
- Quote only
- Deployment
- Cloud / On-prem
- Free trial
- Yes
Keycloak covers OIDC, SAML and LDAP integration and is commonly deployed as the SSO layer and identity broker inside an organization's own network. There is no commercial license to buy, on-prem or in containers. The cost reappears as internal expertise. Operating and maintaining the server falls entirely to the team that deploys it. Compare it on cloud / on-prem deployment, open source pricing, Web support. A free trial is available. Before it reaches a shortlist, see how its pricing is structured.
- Best for
- Keycloak is best for teams that want cloud / on-prem environments, Web support, a free trial before buying, open source pricing. It fits best when you already know your deployment constraints and platform needs before sales conversations start.
- Main tradeoff
- The main tradeoff with Keycloak is that pricing requires validation. Test whether you can live with that before cutting the shortlist.
- Buying motion
- Most teams start with a Keycloak free trial or proof of concept, then move to pricing.
- Not ideal for
- Keycloak is less ideal for teams that know pricing requires validation would be a real problem for them.
“Open source identity and access management server supporting OIDC, SAML, and LDAP integration, widely used as an internal SSO and identity broker. Teams that need enterprise IAM capabilities without commercial licensing costs deploy it on-prem or in containers, accepting the internal expertise cost required to operate and maintain it.”
ITCommons Editorial
Reviewer
Strengths
- Fast time to value
- Useful automation coverage
- Solid visibility for IT operations
Watch outs
- Pricing requires validation
- Depth varies by deployment model
- Platform coverage needs closer validation
- Price
- Quote only
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Free trial
- Yes
Self-service enrollment is the practical detail in Duo, since users register their own devices and a rollout does not queue up at the help desk. Device trust is the capability that separates it from simpler OTP tokens, checking whether an endpoint meets security policy before access is granted. Licensing is per user, and hybrid work environments are where that device check earns its place. Compare it on cloud deployment, per-user pricing, Web support. A free trial is available. Before it reaches a shortlist, see how its pricing is structured.
- Best for
- Duo is best for teams that want cloud environments, Web support, a free trial before buying, per-user pricing. It fits best when you already know your deployment constraints and platform needs before sales conversations start.
- Main tradeoff
- The main tradeoff with Duo is that pricing requires validation. Test whether you can live with that before cutting the shortlist.
- Buying motion
- Most teams start with a Duo free trial or proof of concept, then move to pricing.
- Not ideal for
- Duo is less ideal for teams that know pricing requires validation would be a real problem for them.
“Two-factor and multi-factor authentication with a self-service enrollment model that keeps IT overhead low during rollout. The device trust capabilities, checking whether endpoints meet security policy before granting access, are what set it apart from simpler OTP tokens, especially in hybrid work environments.”
ITCommons Editorial
Reviewer
Strengths
- Fast time to value
- Useful automation coverage
- Solid visibility for IT operations
Watch outs
- Pricing requires validation
- Depth varies by deployment model
- Platform coverage needs closer validation
- Price
- Quote only
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Free trial
- No
Depth in privileged access management is what separates CyberArk Identity from identity and access management products that stop at workforce single sign-on, which it also covers. The primary fit is enterprise teams carrying formal privilege management requirements, particularly in regulated industries such as finance and healthcare. Compare it on cloud deployment, custom quote pricing, Web support. No free trial is listed, so expect a sales-led evaluation. Before it reaches a shortlist, see how its pricing is structured.
- Best for
- CyberArk Identity is best for teams that want cloud environments, Web support, custom quote pricing. It fits best when you already know your deployment constraints and platform needs before sales conversations start.
- Main tradeoff
- The main tradeoff with CyberArk Identity is that pricing requires validation. Test whether you can live with that before cutting the shortlist.
- Buying motion
- Buying CyberArk Identity usually means a fit check with the vendor, then a pricing discussion around its custom quote packaging.
- Not ideal for
- CyberArk Identity is less ideal for teams that know pricing requires validation would be a real problem for them.
“Identity security with particular depth in privileged access management, combining workforce SSO with PAM capabilities in a single product line. Enterprise teams with formal privilege management requirements, especially in regulated industries like finance and healthcare, are the primary fit.”
ITCommons Editorial
Reviewer
Strengths
- Fast time to value
- Useful automation coverage
- Solid visibility for IT operations
Watch outs
- Pricing requires validation
- Depth varies by deployment model
- Pricing clarity may require vendor conversations
- Price
- Quote only
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Free trial
- Yes
SAML and OIDC integrations that larger identity platforms charge extra to connect are included here, and that is what miniOrange is best known for. SMB and mid-market teams get workforce SSO, customer identity and MFA from a single vendor, covering both employee and end-customer logins, at per-user pricing that stays accessible at their scale. Compare it on cloud deployment, per-user pricing, Web support. A free trial is available. Before it reaches a shortlist, see how its pricing is structured.
- Best for
- miniOrange is best for teams that want cloud environments, Web support, a free trial before buying, per-user pricing. It fits best when you already know your deployment constraints and platform needs before sales conversations start.
- Main tradeoff
- The main tradeoff with miniOrange is that pricing requires validation. Test whether you can live with that before cutting the shortlist.
- Buying motion
- Most teams start with a miniOrange free trial or proof of concept, then move to pricing.
- Not ideal for
- miniOrange is less ideal for teams that know pricing requires validation would be a real problem for them.
“Identity and SSO platform covering workforce SSO, customer identity, and MFA at pricing accessible to SMB and mid-market teams. Known for supporting SAML and OIDC integrations with applications that larger identity platforms typically charge extra to connect.”
ITCommons Editorial
Reviewer
Strengths
- Fast time to value
- Useful automation coverage
- Solid visibility for IT operations
Watch outs
- Pricing requires validation
- Depth varies by deployment model
- Platform coverage needs closer validation
- Price
- Quote only
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Free trial
- No
RSA ID Plus carries MFA and identity management into the installed base RSA has long held across financial services, defense and government. Organizations that ran SecurID hardware tokens historically and now want cloud-based MFA tend to look here first, helped by the existing relationship and the migration path on offer. Commercial terms come by quote. Compare it on cloud deployment, custom quote pricing, Web support. No free trial is listed, so expect a sales-led evaluation. Before it reaches a shortlist, see how its pricing is structured.
- Best for
- RSA ID Plus is best for teams that want cloud environments, Web support, custom quote pricing. It fits best when you already know your deployment constraints and platform needs before sales conversations start.
- Main tradeoff
- The main tradeoff with RSA ID Plus is that pricing requires validation. Test whether you can live with that before cutting the shortlist.
- Buying motion
- Buying RSA ID Plus usually means a fit check with the vendor, then a pricing discussion around its custom quote packaging.
- Not ideal for
- RSA ID Plus is less ideal for teams that know pricing requires validation would be a real problem for them.
“Multi-factor authentication and identity platform with deep integration into RSA's established customer base in financial services, defense, and government. Organizations that have run RSA SecurID hardware tokens historically and are modernizing to cloud-based MFA tend to evaluate it first because of existing relationships and migration tooling.”
ITCommons Editorial
Reviewer
Strengths
- Fast time to value
- Useful automation coverage
- Solid visibility for IT operations
Watch outs
- Pricing requires validation
- Depth varies by deployment model
- Pricing clarity may require vendor conversations
- Price
- Quote only
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Free trial
- No
Large organizations in financial services, healthcare and defense are effectively the only buyers, because periodic access review is a compliance obligation there and someone has to produce auditable evidence of who holds which entitlement. Access certification, role management and separation-of-duties enforcement are the working parts, delivered from the cloud on quoted terms. Compare it on cloud deployment, custom quote pricing, Web support. No free trial is listed, so expect a sales-led evaluation. Before it reaches a shortlist, see how its pricing is structured.
- Best for
- SailPoint is best for teams that want cloud environments, Web support, custom quote pricing. It fits best when you already know your deployment constraints and platform needs before sales conversations start.
- Main tradeoff
- The main tradeoff with SailPoint is that pricing requires validation. Test whether you can live with that before cutting the shortlist.
- Buying motion
- Buying SailPoint usually means a fit check with the vendor, then a pricing discussion around its custom quote packaging.
- Not ideal for
- SailPoint is less ideal for teams that know pricing requires validation would be a real problem for them.
“Enterprise identity governance covering access certification, role management, and separation of duties enforcement. Evaluated almost exclusively by large organizations: typically in financial services, healthcare, or defense, where formal access review cycles and auditable evidence of who has access to what are compliance requirements.”
ITCommons Editorial
Reviewer
Strengths
- Fast time to value
- Useful automation coverage
- Solid visibility for IT operations
Watch outs
- Pricing requires validation
- Depth varies by deployment model
- Pricing clarity may require vendor conversations
How to shortlist single sign-on solutions software
Teams usually compare single sign-on solutions vendors on deployment fit, automation depth, reporting quality, and operational overhead. In this directory, buyers can narrow the field using pricing, deployment model, operating system coverage, and trial availability before moving into side-by-side comparisons. Read how we review software and our ranking methodology.
How we selected these tools
We included the tools that hold up best on implementation effort, pricing structure, trial access, platform coverage and published reviews. See our pricing transparency policy for how we verify vendor pricing claims.
When to evaluate single sign-on solutions
SSO solutions matter most for IT and security teams managing employee access to a growing SaaS portfolio where password sprawl, offboarding risk, and compliance requirements justify centralized identity.
The category also matters for SaaS companies whose enterprise customers require SSO as a procurement condition and need to add federation to their own product.
Common evaluation mistakes
Buyers often compare app-catalog size without testing the actual provisioning and deprovisioning experience, which is where SSO delivers or fails on its security promise.
Another common mistake is buying SSO for authentication convenience without also solving authorization and lifecycle automation, which leaves orphaned accounts as a security gap.
Building your shortlist
A vendor list survives procurement when the team can connect SSO to offboarding risk reduction, compliance audit readiness, and the number of SaaS apps that actually support federation.
The strongest shortlist separates full identity platforms from SSO-only tools early, since the scope of lifecycle management and governance is a fundamentally different buying decision.
Types of single sign-on solutions tools
Cloud identity platforms
Best for organizations that want SSO, MFA, directory, and lifecycle management in a single cloud-delivered identity layer.
SSO add-ons for existing directories
Stronger fit for teams that already run Active Directory or Azure AD and need SSO federation without replacing the identity source.
Developer-focused identity platforms
More relevant for SaaS builders who need to add SSO to their own product for enterprise customers rather than managing internal employee access.
Single sign-on solutions software features that matter
- SAML 2.0 and OIDC federation with pre-built app integrations
- Multi-factor authentication with adaptive risk-based policies
- Universal directory with provisioning and deprovisioning via SCIM
- Self-service password reset and account recovery workflows
- Lifecycle automation for joiner, mover, and leaver processes
- Audit logging, session management, and compliance reporting
Single sign-on solutions software pricing
Cloud identity platforms like Okta and OneLogin price per user per month, with MFA, lifecycle, and advanced governance features gating the enterprise tier.
Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD) is effectively bundled for Microsoft 365 customers, making it the cheapest SSO path for shops already on the Microsoft stack.
Teams should budget for the SCIM provisioning integrations that automate user lifecycle — without them, SSO reduces password fatigue but does not reduce admin work.
When this category is overkill
A dedicated SSO platform is overkill for a team of under 20 people using fewer than five SaaS apps, where password managers handle the credential problem more cheaply.
It is also premature when the applications the team uses do not support SAML or OIDC, since SSO cannot federate what the target app does not accept.
Other options and adjacent paths
Password managers like 1Password or Bitwarden for small teams that need shared credential management without the overhead of federation.
Built-in identity features in existing platforms like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 for teams whose apps already integrate with those directories.
Open-source identity servers like Keycloak or Authentik for teams that want self-hosted SSO with SAML and OIDC support at zero license cost.
What to look for, and what to ignore
Must have
- SAML 2.0 and OIDC protocol support
- SAML 2.0 is the standard for enterprise SSO. OIDC (OpenID Connect) is the modern standard for web and mobile apps. Your SSO platform must support both because your application portfolio will require both.
- Pre-built application catalog (500+ integrations)
- Every application that is not in the pre-built catalog requires custom SAML/OIDC configuration, which adds hours of setup per app. A large catalog with tested integrations is the single biggest time-saver.
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA) built in
- SSO without MFA is a single point of failure: compromising the SSO password gives access to everything. MFA must be built into the platform, not bolted on as a separate product.
- SCIM provisioning for automated user management
- SCIM (System for Cross-domain Identity Management) automates creating, updating, and deactivating user accounts in connected applications. Without SCIM, you are back to manual provisioning.
- Directory integration (Azure AD, Google Workspace, LDAP)
- Your SSO platform must sync with your existing user directory. Most organizations use Azure AD or Google Workspace as their directory; the SSO platform should integrate seamlessly.
- Centralized audit logging
- Every authentication event, access change, and administrative action must be logged and searchable. This is a compliance requirement for every major framework.
- Conditional access policies
- The ability to enforce different authentication requirements based on context (device type, location, network, risk level) is essential for security without friction.
- Self-service password reset and account recovery
- Without self-service, every password issue becomes a helpdesk ticket. The identity provider should handle password reset, account unlock, and MFA device recovery.
Worth having
- Passwordless authentication (FIDO2, WebAuthn, passkeys)
- Passwordless is the direction the industry is moving. Platforms that support FIDO2 security keys and passkeys are future-proofing your authentication experience.
- Lifecycle management (joiner-mover-leaver automation)
- Automatically provisioning access when an employee joins, adjusting when they change roles, and revoking when they leave. Valuable for organizations with 500+ employees and high turnover.
- SaaS discovery and shadow IT detection
- Identifying applications your employees are using that are not connected to SSO. Increasingly important as SaaS sprawl grows.
- Device trust and endpoint verification
- Checking that the device accessing applications meets security requirements (managed device, encrypted, updated) before granting access. Adds security but adds complexity.
- Access certification and review workflows
- Periodic review of who has access to what, with approval workflows for managers. Required for some compliance frameworks, overkill for small organizations.
Overrated
- Universal directory that replaces Active Directory
- Some SSO vendors position their platform as a replacement for Active Directory or Azure AD. In practice, most organizations keep their existing directory and layer SSO on top. Ripping out Active Directory for a third-party identity provider is a massive project with minimal incremental value for most organizations. Evaluate SSO as a layer on your existing directory, not a replacement.
- 5,000+ pre-built integrations
- Vendors compete on integration count, but the numbers are inflated. Many 'integrations' are basic SAML configurations, not tested, maintained connectors with SCIM provisioning. What matters is whether your specific top 20 applications are in the catalog with tested, deep integrations, not whether the vendor claims 7,000 total.
- AI-powered identity threat detection
- Identity threat detection is real and valuable, but the AI marketing in this category is ahead of the actual capability. Most 'AI-powered' identity security amounts to anomaly detection on login patterns (unusual location, unusual time, impossible travel). This is useful but is statistical analysis, not artificial intelligence. Do not pay a premium for AI identity security unless you have validated that it catches real threats in your environment.
- All-in-one identity governance and administration (IGA)
- Enterprise identity platforms (SailPoint, Saviynt) bundle SSO with governance: access certification, segregation of duties, entitlement management. For organizations with 5,000+ employees and strict compliance, IGA is necessary. For organizations under 1,000 employees, IGA adds complexity and cost that standard SSO platforms handle adequately.
What Single Sign-On Solutions actually costs
SSO pricing has a reputation for opacity, and it is partly deserved. The major identity providers publish per-user pricing, but the total cost depends on which tier you need, how many applications you connect, and whether you need features like lifecycle management and advanced security. The 'SSO tax' (SaaS vendors charging more for SAML/OIDC SSO support) adds further cost that is not captured in the identity provider's pricing.
| Pricing model | Typical range | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Bundled with cloud directory (Microsoft, Google) | $0–$12/user/month (as part of existing licenses) | Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) Free is included with any Microsoft 365 subscription and provides basic SSO for Microsoft apps. Entra ID P1 ($6/user/month) adds SSO for third-party apps, conditional access, and self-service password reset. Entra ID P2 ($9/user/month) adds identity protection and access reviews. Google Workspace includes SSO for Google apps and third-party SAML apps at no additional cost across all tiers. |
| Standalone identity platform (per-user, per-month) | $2–$15/user/month | Okta SSO starts at $2/user/month (Single Sign-On only). Okta Workforce Identity Cloud (SSO + MFA + Lifecycle Management) ranges from $6-$15/user/month depending on features. JumpCloud SSO starts at $7/user/month. OneLogin by One Identity starts at $4/user/month for SSO. |
| Free and open-source (self-hosted) | $0 + infrastructure costs | Keycloak is a fully free, open-source identity platform supporting SAML, OIDC, and SCIM. Authentik is a newer open-source identity provider with a modern UI. Authelia provides SSO and MFA for self-hosted services. All require you to host, maintain, and secure the infrastructure. |
| Developer-focused identity platform (usage-based) | $0–$0.05 per monthly active user | Auth0 (by Okta) offers a free tier for up to 25,000 MAUs with basic SSO. Paid plans start at $35/month for enhanced features. These platforms are designed for customer-facing SSO (B2C/B2B) rather than workforce SSO, but some teams use them for internal authentication. |
Costs that are easy to miss
- The SSO tax: many SaaS vendors charge extra for SAML/OIDC SSO support. Slack, Zoom, and dozens of other tools gate SSO behind enterprise tiers, adding $5-$20/user/month per app. This cost is often larger than the SSO platform itself.
- MFA add-ons: some platforms price SSO and MFA separately. Okta charges for the Adaptive MFA add-on ($3/user/month) on top of the SSO base price.
- Provisioning (SCIM) limitations: not all applications support SCIM. For apps without SCIM, provisioning is manual regardless of your SSO platform.
- Professional services for enterprise deployments: complex integrations with legacy applications, custom SAML configurations, and directory migrations often require consulting ($150-$300/hour).
- Self-hosted infrastructure: Keycloak requires Java hosting, database management, and security patching. The infrastructure and operational overhead can cost $200-$1,000/month.
For Microsoft-centric organizations already on M365 E3 or E5, Entra ID P1 ($6/user/month) or the included free tier provides basic SSO at minimal incremental cost. For organizations wanting a best-of-breed identity platform, Okta's Workforce Identity Cloud ($6-$15/user/month) is the market leader. For budget-conscious teams, JumpCloud ($7/user/month) or self-hosted Keycloak ($0 + infrastructure) provide strong SSO at lower price points. Factor in the SSO tax on your SaaS applications: the total cost of implementing SSO includes the identity provider plus the per-app premium charges.
How to compare them
- Application catalog relevance
Not the size of the catalog but whether your specific applications are in it with tested integrations and SCIM support. An SSO platform with 5,000 integrations that is missing your top 5 apps is less useful than one with 500 that covers your stack.
Ask: List your top 20 applications. Check which are in the vendor's catalog with SAML/OIDC and SCIM support. For each application, verify that the integration is tested and maintained, not a generic SAML template.
- MFA flexibility and passwordless support
MFA is the security layer that makes SSO safe. The range of MFA methods (push notification, TOTP, FIDO2/WebAuthn, SMS) and the ability to enforce different methods based on risk level are key differentiators.
Ask: Which MFA methods are supported? Is adaptive MFA available (different requirements based on risk)? Does the platform support FIDO2 security keys and passkeys? Is MFA included in the base price or an add-on?
- Directory integration and user lifecycle
Your SSO platform must integrate with your existing user directory. The depth of integration (real-time sync, attribute mapping, group-based application assignment) determines how much manual work remains.
Ask: How does the platform integrate with Azure AD / Entra ID / Google Workspace / LDAP? Is SCIM provisioning available for your critical applications? Can you automate user lifecycle (joiner/mover/leaver) based on directory changes?
- Conditional access and policy flexibility
Not all access requests should be treated equally. The ability to require additional verification based on device, location, network, or risk score reduces friction for trusted access while hardening untrusted access.
Ask: Can you define policies based on device type, location, IP range, and risk score? Can policies differ by application (stricter for financial apps, lighter for collaboration tools)?
- Vendor lock-in and standards compliance
Your identity provider holds the keys to your entire application ecosystem. If the vendor raises prices, reduces features, or suffers an outage, the blast radius is everything. Standards-based SSO (SAML, OIDC, SCIM) reduces lock-in by ensuring you can migrate to another provider.
Ask: Are all integrations based on SAML/OIDC standards? Can you export user data and configuration? What is the migration path if you need to switch providers?
- Total cost including the SSO tax
The identity provider's per-user cost is only part of the equation. Many SaaS applications charge extra for SSO support (the 'SSO tax'). Calculate the total cost of implementing SSO across your application portfolio.
Ask: Which of your applications charge extra for SAML/OIDC support? What is the total monthly cost of the SSO platform plus the per-app SSO premiums?
Common mistakes
- Choosing Okta when Microsoft Entra ID is included in your existing M365 license
Okta is the market leader and has the best brand recognition. But Entra ID P1 ($6/user/month or included in M365 E3) covers SSO, MFA, conditional access, and SCIM for the majority of use cases.
Instead: If you are on Microsoft 365, evaluate Entra ID first. Okta adds value when you need deeper third-party app integration, a better admin experience, or workforce lifecycle management. But for many Microsoft-centric organizations, Entra ID is sufficient.
- Deploying SSO without MFA from day one
Teams plan to add MFA later to reduce change management friction. But SSO without MFA is a single point of failure: one compromised password grants access to everything.
Instead: Deploy SSO and MFA together. Always. The MFA enrollment adds one extra step to the rollout but eliminates the scenario where a leaked credential gives access to your entire SaaS estate.
- Ignoring the SSO tax when budgeting
The identity provider cost is visible. The per-app SSO premium charged by SaaS vendors is hidden in each vendor's enterprise tier pricing.
Instead: Before choosing an SSO platform, audit your SaaS portfolio for SSO support. List which apps charge extra for SAML/OIDC and calculate the total additional cost. Factor this into your SSO business case.
- Self-hosting Keycloak without the expertise to maintain it
Keycloak is free and feature-rich. But running an identity platform in production requires security patching, high availability, database management, and 24/7 operational support. An identity provider outage locks out everyone.
Instead: Self-host only if you have a dedicated team that can maintain 99.99% uptime for the identity platform. For most organizations, the operational overhead exceeds the cost of a SaaS subscription.
- Connecting only a subset of applications to SSO
Teams connect the major apps and stop, leaving a long tail of 20+ applications outside SSO. These apps still have individual passwords, still require manual offboarding, and still lack audit trails.
Instead: Treat SSO as all-or-nothing. Every application that supports SAML or OIDC should be connected. Applications that do not should be flagged for replacement. Partial SSO adoption delivers partial security.
Before you buy
- 1Inventory your SaaS applications: list every app, whether it supports SAML/OIDC, and whether SSO is included or requires a tier upgrade (the SSO tax).
- 2Check your existing licenses: if you have Microsoft 365 E3/E5 or Google Workspace, you already have basic SSO capabilities included.
- 3Count your users: SSO is priced per user. Calculate the annual cost at your current headcount and at projected growth.
- 4Define your MFA requirements: which MFA methods do you need (push, TOTP, FIDO2, SMS)? Is MFA included in the SSO price or an add-on?
- 5Evaluate directory integration: how does the SSO platform integrate with your existing directory (Azure AD, Google Workspace, LDAP)?
- 6Assess SCIM provisioning needs: which applications support SCIM? SCIM automates user lifecycle management and is essential for offboarding security.
- 7Check compliance requirements: does your audit framework (SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI-DSS) require specific SSO capabilities (conditional access, audit logging, access reviews)?
- 8Test the admin experience: configure a test application during evaluation. The admin UI determines how much time your IT team spends managing SSO daily.
- 9Plan for emergency access: define break-glass procedures for SSO provider outages. Test that critical systems remain accessible when SSO is down.
- 10Calculate the total cost including the SSO tax: add the per-app tier upgrades required for SSO support to the identity platform subscription.
- 11Evaluate the migration path: if switching SSO providers, assess the effort to reconfigure all application connections and re-enroll user MFA.
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People also ask about SSO software
What is the difference between SSO and a password manager?
SSO eliminates per-app passwords entirely. You authenticate once with your identity provider, and the provider issues tokens to each application on your behalf. No passwords are stored or entered for individual apps. A password manager stores separate passwords for each application and auto-fills them. SSO is the architecturally superior approach because it centralizes authentication and enables MFA enforcement, but a password manager is still useful for applications that do not support SAML/OIDC.
Is Microsoft Entra ID good enough, or do I need Okta?
Entra ID P1 ($6/user/month, included in M365 E3) covers SSO, MFA, conditional access, and basic SCIM provisioning for most mid-market organizations. You need Okta when: you have a complex multi-cloud environment that is not Microsoft-centric, you need deeper lifecycle management (automated joiner/mover/leaver workflows), your application portfolio requires Okta's broader pre-built integration catalog, or your admin team prefers Okta's interface. For Microsoft-heavy environments, Entra ID P1 is usually sufficient.
What is the 'SSO tax' and how much does it add?
The SSO tax refers to SaaS vendors charging extra for SAML/OIDC SSO support, typically by gating it behind enterprise pricing tiers. For example, Slack requires a Business+ plan ($12.50/user/month, up from $8.75) for SAML SSO. Zoom requires a Business plan ($21.99/user/month) for SSO. Across 20-30 applications, the SSO tax can add $5-$15/user/month on top of your identity provider cost. The ssowall.com site tracks which SaaS vendors charge for SSO.
How long does it take to implement SSO?
For a small organization (50 users, 10 apps) using a SaaS platform with pre-built integrations: 1-2 weeks. For a mid-market organization (500 users, 50 apps) with SCIM provisioning and conditional access: 1-3 months. For enterprise (5,000+ users, 100+ apps, legacy applications, directory migration): 3-6 months. The application integration is the bottleneck: each app needs SAML/OIDC configuration and testing.
Is self-hosted SSO (Keycloak) viable for production use?
Keycloak is feature-rich, standards-compliant, and battle-tested in production at scale. The tradeoff is operational overhead: you must host, maintain, patch, and guarantee high availability for the platform that controls access to everything. If Keycloak goes down, your entire organization is locked out. Self-host only if you have the infrastructure team and operational maturity to run a 99.99% uptime identity service. For most organizations, the SaaS provider handles this reliability for you.
Do I need SSO if I only have 20 employees?
At 20 employees, the security case for SSO is real but the cost-benefit is tighter. If you use Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, you already have basic SSO included: connect your top 5 apps via SAML and enable MFA. For a standalone SSO platform, JumpCloud's free tier (up to 10 users) or Okta's Starter plan provide affordable entry points. The urgency increases with each new SaaS application: at 15+ apps, manual password management becomes a real security and productivity risk.
What happens if my SSO provider goes down?
When your SSO provider is unavailable, users cannot authenticate to any connected application. This is the single biggest risk of SSO centralization. Mitigation: (1) Choose a provider with a strong uptime SLA (99.99%+). (2) Configure break-glass admin accounts that bypass SSO for critical systems (cloud infrastructure, email). (3) Some SSO platforms offer offline authentication modes or session persistence that keeps users logged in during brief outages. (4) Have a documented incident response plan for SSO outages.
Can SSO work with legacy applications that do not support SAML or OIDC?
Legacy applications without native SAML/OIDC support can be connected through: (1) header-based authentication via a reverse proxy, (2) SSO gateway products that translate protocols, (3) browser extension-based password vaulting (the SSO platform auto-fills credentials). Options 1 and 2 provide true SSO with centralized control. Option 3 is a workaround that stores per-app credentials in the SSO platform. The best long-term approach is migrating to applications that support modern authentication standards.
What is the difference between SAML and OIDC?
SAML 2.0 (Security Assertion Markup Language) is the older, XML-based protocol dominant in enterprise SSO. OIDC (OpenID Connect) is the newer, JSON-based protocol built on OAuth 2.0, popular in web and mobile applications. In practice, enterprise SaaS applications tend to support SAML, modern web apps and APIs tend to support OIDC, and most SSO platforms support both. When configuring a new integration, use OIDC if the application supports it (simpler configuration, better for mobile); use SAML for enterprise apps that only offer SAML.
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