Auth0 SSO: Is it worth the high cost?

Are you considering using Auth0 for Single Sign-On (SSO) but unsure if the high price tag is worth it? 

Auth0 is a popular identity platform for developers that offers SSO and user management features. However, the starting price of $150 per month for SSO, covering just three customers using directories other than Okta, can feel pretty steep. This pricing might be tough for smaller teams with customers who don’t use Okta.

In this article, we’ll examine Auth0 SSO's benefits and costs to determine whether it's truly worth the investment. 

We’ll also introduce you to WorkOS, an alternative that's more transparent and easier on the wallet.

What is Auth0 SSO?

Auth0 provides a single sign-on (SSO) service that allows users to securely access multiple applications after logging in once. It acts as a centralized authentication system, eliminating the need to create and manage separate accounts for each app.

Once logged in through Auth0, users can seamlessly move between integrated apps without re-authenticating.

Auth0's SSO supports SSO protocols like SAML and OpenID Connect. When a user tries to access an app, Auth0 verifies their identity based on the initial login. If authenticated, they gain access without additional sign-in prompts.

To set up SSO, Auth0 recommends using Universal Login. This customizable login page hosted by Auth0 takes care of the authentication process for you — you just need to redirect the user to it when you want to verify their identities. 

If you can’t use Universal Login, libraries like Lock and Auth0.js provide alternatives for embedding authentication into your app. 

The cost of Auth0 SSO

Auth0’s B2B paid plan starts at $150 per month for up to 500 users and increases as your users increase. It’s capped at 7,500 users for $1725 per month. This plan includes SSO connections for up to 3 customers. 

If you need more connections, the next tier is the Professional plan, which costs $800 per month and supports only 2 additional SSO connections. 

Beyond this, you’ll need to contact Okta’s sales team for custom SSO tiers. Okta connections do not count towards this limit, but connections to other directories such as Azure AD, OneLogin, and LastPass do.

Is Auth0 SSO worth it?

Let's look at its key advantages and drawbacks to determine if Auth0 SSO is worth the investment.

Pros of Auth0

1. Supports major identity providers and protocols: Auth0 SSO supports all major identity providers and protocols, including SAML and OIDC. This broad compatibility ensures seamless integration with the directories your customers might already be using.
2. Ease of integration with Universal Login: Auth0’s Universal Login simplifies the process of adding SSO to your app. You don't need to write any authentication logic; simply configure your customers' identity providers, redirect your users to Auth0, and let it handle the rest.

Cons of Auth0

• High cost: Cost is the major drawback of Auth0 SSO, especially for startups or smaller businesses. If you need SSO connections for more than five customers, you must opt for their custom enterprise plans, which require contacting sales. This can be limiting unless all your customers use Okta, which is rare.

Moreover, the per-user pricing makes it tough to forecast expenses. As your user base grows, you could easily be hit with shockingly high bills. 

• No self-hosting option: Another limitation is the lack of a self-hosted option. With Universal Login, you must redirect users to Auth0 and then back to your app after authentication. This dependency on Auth0’s hosted service means you have limited control over the look and feel of your customer’s login experience.

Who is Auth0 SSO good for?

Auth0 makes sense for companies building apps that need an out-of-the-box SSO solution with basic customization options and can stomach the hefty price tag as they grow.

Who should seek alternatives?

Cost-conscious teams looking for a more customizable login experience should look for alternatives.

WorkOS as an Auth0 alternative

WorkOS is an enterprise-grade authentication platform that makes it easy to implement SSO authentication into your apps. It provides a more flexible, cost-effective solution for handling SSO compared to Auth0 SSO.

Key benefits of using WorkOS for SSO include:

• Enterprise SAML & OIDC SSO: With a single API-based integration, you can support all SSO connections for any identity provider that uses SAML or Open ID Connect protocols.
• Admin portal for customer onboarding: Configuring SSO connections can take time, especially since identity providers usually have different configuration requirements. 
  WorkOS simplifies this with an admin portal that lets you send invites to your customers. They can set up their SSO connections and speed up onboarding.
• Customizable authentication flows and self-hosted options: Unlike Auth0, which primarily offers Universal Login, WorkOS lets you self-host your login pages by calling the Authentication APIs directly. If you still prefer a hosted solution, you can use AuthKit, a customizable login UI that handles the SSO authentication flows for you.
• Developer-friendly API and SDKs: WorkOS offers straightforward API and SDKs for multiple programming languages, including Node.js, Ruby, Python, Go, PHP, Java, and .NET. This makes it easy for you to integrate SSO into their applications regardless of your tech stack.​

Compared to Auth0, WorkOS offers a more straightforward and transparent approach to pricing. There are no usage limits on the number of SSO connections. Instead, you pay a flat rate of $125 per month per organization, which includes unlimited users. Plus, automatic discounts are applied as you grow.

This predictable pricing allows you to budget effectively without negotiating with sales.

So, if you want an enterprise-grade SSO solution that won’t break the bank, use WorkOS.

Next steps

Ready to add SSO to your app?

• Get started fast: With SDKs in every popular language, easy-to-follow documentation, and Slack-based support, you can implement SSO in minutes rather than weeks.
• Support every protocol: With OAuth 2.0 integrations to popular providers like Google and Microsoft, compatibility with every major IdP, and full support for custom SAML/OIDC connections, WorkOS can support any enterprise customer.
• Avoid the back-and-forth: WorkOS’s Admin Portal takes the pain out of onboarding your customers’ IT teams and configuring your app to work with their identity provider.
• Pricing that makes sense: Unlike competitors who price by monthly active users, WorkOS charges a flat rate for each company you onboard — whether they bring 10 or 10,000 SSO users to your app.

Sign up for WorkOS today, and start selling to enterprise customers tomorrow.