This overview delves deeper into Auth0's functionalities, looking at its pricing structure, highlighting its advantages and disadvantages, so you get a clear idea of some of the features and technicalities around it.
What is Auth0?
Established before its acquisition by Okta, Auth0 has carved a niche by focusing on delivering a contemporary approach to identity management.
Its core mission is to empower organizations to secure access to any application, irrespective of the user, while prioritizing convenience, user privacy, and robust security measures.
Auth0 processes billions of login transactions every month, allowing its clientele to concentrate on their primary business objectives without the overhead of managing complex identity systems from scratch.
Auth0 Pricing
Auth0 employs a tiered pricing strategy that includes a free plan suitable for development and small-scale projects, as well as several paid subscription options tailored for different business needs and user volumes in both Business-to-Consumer (B2C) and Business-to-Business (B2B) contexts.
Free Plan
Ideal for developers and small teams getting started, the free plan supports up to 25,000 monthly active users (MAU) for B2C scenarios and 500 MAU for B2B scenarios.
- It includes essential features like password and social authentication, branded login forms, and fundamental security protections. Notably, it also offers custom domain support, although this requires credit card verification.
- The free plan includes one Auth0 dashboard tenant and allows for up to three collaborators. However, it does not include Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) or Role-Based Access Control (RBAC).
Paid Plans
- Essential Plan: Starting at $35 per month for 500 MAU in B2C scenarios and $150 per month for 500 MAU in B2B scenarios, the Essential plan builds upon the free plan by adding features such as custom domains, higher authentication and API limits, Multi-Factor Authentication (with OTP and Duo), Role-Based Access Control per organization, support for ten organizations, log streaming to various analytics platforms, separate production and development environments, and standard support.
- Professional Plan: This plan is designed for teams and projects with more demanding security and scalability requirements. For B2C, it starts at $240 per month for 1,000 MAU, and for B2B, it starts at $800 per month for 1,000 MAU. It includes all features of the Essential plan, along with the ability to use existing user databases for logins, additional MFA options (including phone, email, WebAuthn, and push via the Guardian app), enhanced attack protection, and longer log retention.
- Enterprise Plan: Tailored for large organizations with complex identity needs, the Enterprise plan offers customized pricing determined through consultation with Auth0's sales team. It encompasses all features of the Professional plan, along with custom user and SSO tiers, a 99.99% Service Level Agreement (SLA), enterprise-grade rate limits, advanced administrative and support features, and options for private cloud deployment.
Auth0's Enterprise Plan can start in the vicinity of $30,000 USD per year ($2,500 USD per month).
Auth0 Key Features
Auth0 Usability and Interface
Administrative Console
The Auth0 Dashboard serves as the central control panel for managing every aspect of an Auth0 subscription and its configuration.
- Accessible through a web browser, it provides a user interface for configuring applications, defining identity providers, managing users and roles, setting up security rules, and monitoring system activity.
- While the dashboard offers a vast array of functionalities, its comprehensive nature can sometimes lead to a feeling of information overload for new users.
- However, with familiarity, it becomes a powerful tool for managing complex identity scenarios.
User Onboarding
Auth0 significantly simplifies the process of user onboarding through features like social login, which allows users to sign up and log in using their existing accounts from platforms like Google, Facebook, and others.
- Additionally, it supports passwordless authentication methods, such as magic links sent via email or one-time codes delivered via SMS, which can reduce friction for new users and improve the signup conversion rate.
- The customizable Universal Login page allows businesses to create a branded and consistent signup experience that aligns with their application's look and feel.
User Experience
For end-users interacting with applications secured by Auth0, the platform strives to provide a seamless and secure login experience.
- Features like Single Sign-On (SSO) are crucial in achieving this, as they enable users to authenticate once and then access multiple connected applications without being prompted to log in again.
- This not only enhances convenience but also reduces password fatigue and improves overall user satisfaction.
- Auth0's commitment to providing a variety of authentication methods also contributes to a positive user experience by catering to different user preferences and security requirements.
Auth0 Mobile App
Auth0 provides a dedicated mobile application called Auth0 Guardian, designed to enhance account security through multi-factor authentication (MFA).
Security on the Auth0 Mobile App
Auth0 Guardian acts as a second factor of authentication, adding an extra layer of security to user accounts.
- When enabled, users attempting to log in to an application with Auth0 may receive a push notification on their registered mobile device via the Guardian app.
- They can then quickly approve or deny the login attempt with a simple tap, ensuring that only authorized users gain access.
- The app also has the capability to generate time-based one-time passwords (TOTP), which users can manually enter as an alternative to push notifications.
Functionality on the Auth0 Mobile App
The primary functionality of Auth0 Guardian is to facilitate secure login approvals and provide one-time password generation. Users can manage their connected Auth0 accounts within the app and will receive notifications for any login attempts that require their approval.
Usability on the Auth0 Mobile App
While Auth0 Guardian is intended to be a user-friendly tool for enhancing security, some user reviews on app stores have highlighted certain usability challenges.
- Some users have reported difficulties during the initial setup process or when transferring the app to a new phone.
- Additionally, there have been mentions of issues with the reliability of push notifications, with some users indicating that notifications are only received when the app is actively running in the foreground.
- Furthermore, some reviews have pointed out limitations in account management within the app, such as the inability to easily delete accounts or differentiate between identically named accounts with different passcodes.
Adaptable Multifactor Authentication (MFA)
Auth0 provides a highly flexible and adaptable MFA system that allows organizations to implement various authentication factors based on their specific security needs and user experience considerations.
- These factors include one-time passwords generated by authenticator apps (like Auth0 Guardian or Google Authenticator), push notifications sent to registered devices, SMS-based verification codes, email-based verification, and biometric authentication methods like fingerprint or facial recognition.
- Auth0 also allows for the configuration of adaptive MFA, where the requirement for additional authentication factors is triggered based on contextual factors such as the user's location, device, or the risk profile of the login attempt.
Single Sign-On (SSO)
Auth0's SSO capability is a cornerstone of its platform, enabling users to authenticate once with a single set of credentials and then seamlessly access multiple connected applications without having to log in separately to each one.
Auth0 supports various SSO protocols, including SAML and OAuth 2.0, allowing for integration with a wide range of applications and services.
Universal Directory
Auth0's Universal Directory serves as a centralized and flexible user management system. It allows organizations to store and manage user identities and their associated attributes in a unified manner, regardless of where the users originate (e.g., social logins, enterprise directories, or local database users).
- This simplifies user management tasks such as creating, updating, deleting, and provisioning user accounts across different applications.
- The Universal Directory also supports features like user profile enrichment and progressive profiling, allowing businesses to gather more information about their users over time.
Login Approvals from Notifications
Using the Auth0 Guardian mobile app, users can conveniently approve or deny login attempts initiated from new devices or locations directly from their smartphones or tablets via push notifications.
This method provides a secure and user-friendly way to verify user identity without the need to manually enter codes or passwords in many cases.
Customer Support
Auth0 has different tiers of customer support based on the subscription plan. Users on the Essential and Professional plans have access to standard support channels, including documentation, community forums, and email-based support.
- Enterprise customers benefit from premium support options, which typically include faster response times, dedicated support engineers, and potentially phone support, ensuring more immediate assistance for critical issues.
- However, as mentioned earlier, some user feedback suggests that the responsiveness and effectiveness of support can vary depending on the plan and the nature of the issue.
Auth0 Reviews and Ratings
Auth0 consistently receives high ratings and positive feedback from users across various review platforms.
- Capterra: As previously noted, Auth0 holds an impressive overall rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars based on a substantial number of user reviews. These reviews frequently highlight the platform's ease of integration, its comprehensive suite of features, and its robust security capabilities as key strengths.
- Software Advice: Similarly, Software Advice also awards Auth0 a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars based on user feedback. The platform is praised for its user-friendly interface, its rapid setup process, and its overall reliability in handling authentication and authorization needs.
- G2: Auth0 is consistently recognized as a leader in the Identity and Access Management (IAM) category on G2, a prominent software review platform. This recognition is based on high levels of user satisfaction and a strong market presence, indicating that Auth0 is a well-regarded and widely adopted solution in the industry.
Overall View of Auth0
Auth0 stands out as a reliable, flexible, and developer-friendly customer identity and access management platform that caters to a wide spectrum of organizations and application types.
While its pricing structure can become complex and potentially expensive as usage scales, and some users have reported variability in customer support experiences, the platform's overall capabilities and positive reputation make it a compelling choice for businesses.
This goes especially for enterprises and software providers looking to improve authentication and authorization processes while maintaining a high level of security and user satisfaction.
Infisign: The Best Alternative to Auth0
The optimal choice among these alternatives will ultimately depend on the specific needs, technical resources, and budgetary constraints of the organization or project.
Infisign isn't just another option; it's a leading alternative to Auth0.
With its IAM Suite, managing employee identities becomes more effective, and UniFed, its CIAM tool, makes access easier for everyone. This makes Infisign a flexible solution for all your access management needs.
When it comes to controlling who gets access to what, Infisign doesn't just meet the standard – it often surpasses it:
- Passwordless Authentication: Strengthen your security with advanced multi-factor authentication (MFA) that actively defends against phishing and attacks that try to steal login details. Infisign supports a wide range of easy-to-use authentication methods, including one-time codes, magic links, secure device keys, and fingerprint or face recognition, providing strong security without making it difficult for users to log in.
- More Affordable Pricing: Infisign offers its advanced authentication features at a significantly better price point right from the start. Unlike Auth0, there are no hidden fees or extra charges for essential identity and access management tools, making it a more budget-friendly choice.
- Better Application Access with Managed Password Authentication (MPWA): Infisign's Managed Password Web Authentication goes beyond single sign-on. It allows you to manage access to older applications, web-based tools, and even those that don't support SSO, effectively eliminating the risks associated with unsanctioned "shadow IT."
- Smart and Secure Adaptive Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Infisign's risk-based authentication uses intelligent MFA policies that look at various factors like the security of the device, the user's location, and their IP address. This ensures the right level of security is applied for each login attempt, keeping your organization safe without blocking legitimate users.
- AI-Powered Automation for Easier User Management: Infisign uses the power of AI to automate the entire user lifecycle across your collaboration platforms. This makes onboarding new users and offboarding departing ones much faster and ensures consistent access control across important tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams.
- Secure Access to Older Systems with Network Gateway: Infisign extends the principles of zero-trust security to your existing on-premises applications. Their secure network access gateway provides safe, cloud-based access to these resources, effectively connecting your older infrastructure with modern security requirements.
Want to see how Infisign can give you better features and performance than Auth0 without breaking the bank? Contact us today for a free demo!
FAQs about Auth0
What are the primary use cases for Auth0?
Auth0 is primarily used to secure web, mobile, and single-page applications, as well as APIs, by managing user identities, authenticating users when they try to log in, and authorizing their access to specific resources and functionalities within the application. It simplifies the often complex process of implementing secure login mechanisms and managing user profiles and permissions.
Who typically uses Auth0?
Auth0's user base spans a wide range of organizations, from innovative startups and small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to large-scale enterprises across diverse industries. It is particularly popular among software developers and engineering teams who appreciate its developer-friendly APIs, extensive documentation, and ease of integration into modern application architectures.
What are the key differences between Auth0 and Okta?
While both Auth0 and Okta operate in the identity and access management space and offer overlapping functionalities, they have historically catered to slightly different primary markets. Auth0 has traditionally focused more on customer identity and access management (CIAM), providing solutions for businesses to manage their customer logins, registrations, and profiles for customer-facing applications. Okta, on the other hand, has historically been more focused on workforce identity and access management, helping organizations manage employee access to various internal and external applications and resources.
