Quick Picks
Click any card to jump to the full breakdown
4.5/5Okta
Most SSO integrations. Best lifecycle mgmt.
- 50+ diverse SaaS apps needing SSO
- Automated provisioning/deprovisioning required
- Stack is NOT primarily Microsoft
4.3/5Microsoft Entra ID
Free with M365. Best for Microsoft orgs.
- Run Microsoft 365 (already have Entra)
- Budget matters (SSO bundled with M365)
- Windows + Intune devices
📋Executive Summary
Quick Answer: Have M365? Start with Entra (free). Only add Okta if you hit limits (50+ non-Microsoft apps, lifecycle automation). Don't run M365? Okta is better standalone.
🎯Who Is This For?
Best For
- +IT leaders choosing SSO platform
- +Companies evaluating if free Entra is enough
- +Security teams comparing MFA approaches
Not Ideal For
- -Small teams <50 (basic M365/Google SSO enough)
- -Customer-facing auth (Auth0 instead)
- -No SSO needs yet (password manager first)
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Side-by-side breakdown of all 2 platforms
| Feature | Okta | Entra ID |
|---|---|---|
| Our Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Price | $2-15/user/mo | Free (with M365) to $9/user |
| SSO Apps | 7,000+ | 4,000+ |
| Lifecycle Mgmt | Best (auto provision) | Good (workflows) |
| Hybrid AD | Via agent | Native (best) |
| Passwordless | FastPass | Windows Hello + FIDO2 |
| Admin UX | Modern, clean | Complex, sprawling |
| Non-Microsoft Stack | Best | Weaker |
Our Rating
Price
SSO Apps
Lifecycle Mgmt
Hybrid AD
Passwordless
Admin UX
Non-Microsoft Stack
Quick Verdict
SSO for 50+ apps: Okta connected all in 3 days (pre-built catalog). Entra did 30 easy but 12 niche apps needed manual SAML.
Honest answer: if you have M365, start with Entra (free). You'll know in 3 months if Okta's breadth is needed.
Okta: Broadest Catalog + Lifecycle
7,000+ integrations. Automated joiner-mover-leaver synced with HR. For regulated industries: compliance requirement.
Entra: Free with Microsoft 365
You already have it. Every M365 license includes Entra Free. SSO for Microsoft apps, basic MFA, basic conditional access at $0 additional.
When Neither
Final Verdict
Our expert recommendation after evaluating all 5 platforms
YES if:
- +Okta for diverse multi-vendor SaaS + lifecycle automation
- +Entra if M365 org wanting free SSO
NO if:
- -Don't pay Okta if entire stack is M365
- -Don't choose Entra if Mac/Linux-first
Bottom Line: M365 org? Entra first (free). Non-Microsoft? Okta. See Best Identity Management guide.
Know a tool we should include? Let us know → hello@trulycritic.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to common HR software questions
Base tier with M365: yes (SSO, basic MFA, basic conditional access). P1 $6/user, P2 $9/user for advanced.
Okta: 7,000+. Entra: 4,000+. Okta broader for niche/newer SaaS.
Yes — common in enterprise. Entra for Microsoft apps, Okta for everything else.
Explore Alternatives
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How We Tested & Scored
Every tool is evaluated on 8 weighted criteria by our editorial team. We test with real workflows, review vendor documentation, analyze public pricing, and verify claims against third-party data from G2, Gartner, and Glassdoor.
Full methodology: trulycritic.com/methodology. Last verified: May 2026.
Sources & Vendor Links
Official vendor sources checked for this comparison include public pricing pages, product feature documentation, integration directories, security and compliance pages, and publicly available product documentation. We do not claim hands-on testing. Vendor documentation changes — always verify current features and pricing before purchase.
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