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Frameworks, core principles and top case studies for SaaS pricing, learnt and refined over 28+ years of SaaS-monetization experience.
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Quick Answer: Okta typically costs $2-$15 per user/month for workforce identity with enterprise features at premium tiers, while Auth0 (now owned by Okta) ranges from free to $240/month for B2C/B2B customer identity use cases with usage-based pricing—choose Okta for employee IAM and Auth0 for customer-facing authentication needs.
Evaluating Okta vs Auth0 pricing requires understanding that these platforms serve fundamentally different purposes despite sharing corporate ownership. Enterprise IAM budget decisions hinge on whether you're securing employee access to internal systems or authenticating customers in external applications. This guide breaks down identity platform costs across both solutions to help you make an ROI-driven selection.
Okta vs Auth0: Understanding the Core Differences
Since Okta acquired Auth0 in 2021 for $6.5 billion, many organizations assume these platforms are interchangeable. They're not. Each addresses distinct identity challenges, and your use case dictates which delivers better value.
Workforce Identity (Okta) vs Customer Identity (Auth0)
Okta's core platform centers on workforce identity—single sign-on (SSO), lifecycle management, and access governance for employees accessing SaaS applications and internal resources. It excels at directory integration, automated provisioning, and enforcing security policies across your organization's technology stack.
Auth0 specializes in customer identity and access management (CIAM). It provides developer-friendly authentication for customer-facing applications, offering extensive customization for login experiences, social connections, and B2B scenarios where your customers need to manage their own users.
Okta Pricing Structure Explained
Okta employs a modular pricing model where you select products based on your identity requirements. This approach offers flexibility but requires careful calculation to understand your true investment.
Workforce Identity Pricing Tiers
Okta's workforce products are priced per user, per month (billed annually):
- Single Sign-On (SSO): $2-$4/user/month
- Adaptive Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): $3-$6/user/month
- Universal Directory: $2/user/month
- Lifecycle Management: $4-$8/user/month
- Identity Governance: $9-$15/user/month
Most enterprises bundle multiple products. A typical mid-market deployment combining SSO, MFA, and Lifecycle Management runs $9-$18 per user monthly before volume discounts.
Customer Identity Pricing (Okta CIAM)
Okta also offers customer identity solutions separate from Auth0, priced on monthly active users (MAUs):
- Starter: Included MAUs vary; approximately $0.015-$0.03 per MAU after threshold
- Enterprise: Custom pricing with volume commitments
Auth0 Pricing Model Breakdown
Auth0's pricing follows a tiered structure designed primarily for development teams building customer-facing authentication.
Free, Essentials, Professional, and Enterprise Plans
- Free: Up to 7,500 MAUs with 2 social connections—suitable for prototyping
- Essentials: Starting at $35/month for 500 MAUs with unlimited social connections
- Professional: Starting at $240/month for 1,000 MAUs with advanced features like custom domains, MFA, and role-based access control
- Enterprise: Custom pricing including SLAs, dedicated support, and advanced security features
Usage-Based Pricing: MAUs and Add-Ons
Auth0's model scales with your customer base. Beyond included MAUs, expect to pay approximately:
- $0.07-$0.15 per additional MAU on Essentials
- $0.04-$0.08 per additional MAU on Professional
- Negotiated rates on Enterprise
Add-ons like Attack Protection, Private Cloud deployment, and Advanced Security features command additional fees ranging from $100-$500+ monthly depending on tier.
Total Cost of Ownership Comparison
Raw licensing fees represent only part of your enterprise IAM budget. Implementation complexity and hidden costs significantly impact ROI.
Implementation and Integration Costs
Okta implementation typically requires 2-4 months for mid-market deployments. Professional services range from $15,000-$75,000 depending on directory complexity, legacy system integrations, and customization requirements.
Auth0 implementation tends to be faster for developer teams (4-8 weeks) but requires engineering resources. Budget for 200-400 developer hours at your internal rates, plus potential consulting fees of $10,000-$40,000 for complex B2B scenarios.
Hidden Costs and Budget Considerations
Account for these frequently overlooked expenses:
- Connector/integration fees: Custom SAML or OIDC integrations may require premium tiers
- Support upgrades: Production-grade SLAs often require Enterprise plans
- Geographic requirements: Data residency and regional hosting add 15-30% on some plans
- Overage charges: Exceeding MAU limits on Auth0 triggers automatic billing
Feature Comparison: What You Get at Each Price Point
Authentication Features Matrix
| Feature | Okta (Workforce) | Auth0 (Professional+) |
|---------|-----------------|----------------------|
| SSO | Included | Included |
| Social Login | Limited | 50+ providers |
| Passwordless | Premium tier | Included |
| MFA | Add-on ($3-6/user) | Included |
| Custom Domains | Enterprise | Professional+ |
| Branding Customization | Limited | Extensive |
Security and Compliance Capabilities
Both platforms support SOC 2, ISO 27001, and HIPAA compliance. Key differentiators:
- Okta excels in device trust, network zones, and behavior-based policies for workforce security
- Auth0 provides superior bot detection, brute force protection, and breach password detection for customer-facing scenarios
Use Case Scenarios: Which Platform for Your Needs?
When to Choose Okta
Select Okta when:
- Your primary need is employee SSO across 50+ SaaS applications
- You require automated user provisioning/deprovisioning
- Active Directory or LDAP integration is critical
- Compliance demands identity governance and access certification
When to Choose Auth0
Select Auth0 when:
- You're building customer-facing applications requiring branded login
- Developer experience and API flexibility are priorities
- You need extensive social login or passwordless options
- B2B scenarios require your customers to manage their own users
Hybrid Approach Considerations
Many enterprises deploy both: Okta for workforce identity, Auth0 for customer applications. While Okta owns both platforms, they operate independently. Integration between them requires standard federation protocols—there's no native connection discount or unified management console.
Making the ROI-Driven Decision
Cost-Benefit Analysis Framework
Scenario A: 500-Employee Organization (Workforce Identity)
| Component | Okta | Alternative |
|-----------|------|-------------|
| SSO + MFA + Lifecycle | $9,000-$12,000/year | N/A for Auth0 |
| Implementation | $25,000 one-time | — |
| Year 1 Total | $34,000-$37,000 | — |
Scenario B: 50,000 MAU Customer Application
| Component | Auth0 Professional | Okta CIAM |
|-----------|-------------------|-----------|
| Annual Platform | $15,000-$25,000 | Custom quote |
| Overages (estimated) | $3,000-$5,000 | Included |
| Implementation | $20,000 | $30,000+ |
| Year 1 Total | $38,000-$50,000 | $45,000-$70,000 |
Migration Considerations
Switching identity providers requires 6-12 months for enterprise deployments. Factor in:
- User re-authentication requirements
- Application reconfiguration across your portfolio
- Parallel running costs during transition
- Training and change management
The high switching cost makes your initial IAM platform selection particularly consequential for long-term identity management ROI.
Get a Custom Identity Management Cost Analysis – Compare Okta and Auth0 for Your Specific Requirements