WorkOS vs Okta: Head-to-Head Comparison

Quick Verdict

WorkOS is the better pick for B2B SaaS teams selling to enterprises. Okta is the better pick for large enterprises managing employee identity.

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At a Glance

Feature	WorkOS	Okta
Best For	B2B SaaS teams selling to enterprises	Large enterprises managing employee identity
Pricing	Free tier with paid plans	Custom enterprise pricing
Free to Start	Yes	No
License	Proprietary	Proprietary
Deployment	Managed cloud	Managed cloud
Link	Visit WorkOS	Visit Okta

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Detailed Breakdown

WorkOS

Enterprise features like SSO and SCIM for B2B SaaS

Pros:

• Easy SAML SSO and directory sync
• AuthKit user management with a free tier
• Admin portal for customer IT teams

Cons:

• Per-connection pricing for SSO
• Focused on B2B use cases

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Okta

Enterprise workforce and customer identity

Pros:

• Industry-standard workforce SSO
• Thousands of prebuilt integrations
• Strong compliance posture

Cons:

• Expensive for small teams
• Heavyweight for simple apps

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Key Differences

• Positioning: WorkOS — enterprise features like SSO and SCIM for B2B SaaS. Okta — enterprise workforce and customer identity.
• Both share the same licensing model (proprietary), so the decision comes down to features and workflow fit.
• WorkOS can be started for free, while Okta requires a paid plan. Okta pricing: custom enterprise pricing.
• Signature strength: WorkOS — easy SAML SSO and directory sync. Okta — industry-standard workforce SSO.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is WorkOS better than Okta?

It depends on your requirements. WorkOS is a strong fit for B2B SaaS teams selling to enterprises, while Okta suits large enterprises managing employee identity.

Is WorkOS free to use?

Yes, you can start with WorkOS for free. Pricing model: Free tier with paid plans.

Is Okta free to use?

Okta does not have a permanent free plan. Pricing model: Custom enterprise pricing.

Can I self-host WorkOS or Okta?

WorkOS is offered as a managed service: managed cloud. Okta is offered as a managed service: managed cloud.

What are the main drawbacks of WorkOS and Okta?

WorkOS: per-connection pricing for SSO; focused on B2B use cases. Okta: expensive for small teams; heavyweight for simple apps.