Auth0 vs sso: What are the differences?

Introduction

Auth0 and SSO are both authentication and authorization solutions, but they have key differences in their functionality and approach.

1. Implementation: Auth0 is a cloud-based identity platform that provides identity management, user authentication, and authorization services as a service. It provides ready-to-use authentication features that can be easily integrated into web and mobile applications. On the other hand, SSO (Single Sign-On) is a mechanism that allows users to authenticate once and access multiple applications within an organization without re-entering their credentials. It is usually implemented using standards like SAML or OAuth.

2. Integration: Auth0 offers a wide range of integration options and can be used with various identity providers, social login providers, and enterprise directories. It provides support for custom identity providers and can be easily integrated into existing systems. SSO, on the other hand, typically requires more upfront work to set up and configure for each application. It may also require additional software installation and infrastructure changes.

3. Scalability: Auth0 is highly scalable and can handle authentication and authorization for millions of users and thousands of applications. It allows for easy management of user identities and access control policies. SSO can also handle a large number of users, but it requires careful planning and infrastructure scaling to ensure smooth operation as the number of applications and users grows.

4. Centralized control: Auth0 provides a centralized dashboard for managing user identities, access control policies, and authentication settings. It allows administrators to have a unified view of user authentication and authorization across all their applications. SSO also offers centralized control but typically requires additional setup and configuration for each application.

5. Flexibility: Auth0 offers a high degree of flexibility in terms of customization and configuration. It allows developers to define custom authentication flows, implement custom authorization rules, and extend the platform using custom scripts. SSO, on the other hand, may have more limitations in terms of customization and flexibility, as it relies on standard protocols and predefined authentication mechanisms.

6. Cost: Auth0 is a subscription-based service that offers different pricing plans based on the number of users and features required. The cost of using Auth0 depends on factors like the number of active users, usage volume, and additional services used. SSO implementations can vary in cost depending on factors like infrastructure requirements, licensing fees for software, and ongoing maintenance costs.

In summary, Auth0 is a cloud-based identity platform that provides ready-to-use authentication and authorization services with various integration options and high scalability. SSO is a mechanism that allows users to authenticate once and access multiple applications, typically requiring more setup and customization for each application.