Introduction
Auth0 (Okta Customer Identity Cloud) is one of the best-known CIAM platforms. It’s powerful, flexible, and backed by a massive ecosystem.
But for many SaaS vendors and enterprises, Auth0 isn’t always the right fit:
- Pricing for B2B SSO is steep — only 5 enterprise connections included in the Professional Plan, then “call sales.”
- Add-ons (MFA, SCIM, RBAC) push the cost even higher.
- SDK-heavy approach means code rewrites and ongoing maintenance.
If you’re evaluating alternatives, here are five strong options – including one that enables enterprise federated B2B SSO in a completely different way.
1. Datawiza (No-Code Proxy, Unlimited Connections)
Approach: Datawiza uses a reverse proxy to handle SAML and OIDC directly with customer IdPs. No SDKs, no rewrites – your app just trusts the identity headers from the proxy.
Key Features:
- Unlimited enterprise IdP connections per app
- Flat, user-based pricing model
- No code rewrites required
- Works with SaaS apps, portals, and legacy systems
- Centralized policy, session control, and audit logging
Pricing Comparison: Datawiza vs Auth0 (B2B SSO Use Case)
Auth0 Pricing (2025)
- Professional Plan: $800/month (~$9,600/year)
- Includes SSO for only 5 enterprise customers
- Beyond 5, you must “contact sales” — and costs escalate sharply
Datawiza Pricing (2025)
- Unlimited SSO connections included
- ≤1,000 SSO users: ~$8,000/year
- ≤5,000 users: ~$18,000/year
- ≤10,000 users: ~$28,000/year
- > 10,000 users or multiple apps: volume discount
Example Cost Scenarios
| Scenario | Datawiza | Auth0 (Professional Plan) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 enterprise customers | $8K–$18K/year (depending on users) | $9,600/year |
| 10 enterprise customers | $8K–$18K/year (unlimited IdPs) | Not available — must call sales (expensive) |
| 25+ enterprise customers | $18K–$28K/year (≤10K users) | Enterprise pricing only — costs escalate fast |
📍 Takeaway: Auth0 charges per enterprise customer and caps SSO in standard plans. Datawiza includes unlimited connections in every plan, so costs remain predictable as you scale.
2. WorkOS
Approach: Developer-focused platform offering SDKs and APIs for SSO, SCIM, and audit logging.
Key Features:
- Enterprise SSO support (SAML/OIDC)
- Directory Sync (SCIM)
- Admin Portal for self-service onboarding
Best Fit:
- SaaS startups adding enterprise SSO quickly
Drawbacks:
- Per-connection pricing (similar problem to Auth0)
- SDK/API integration requires code changes
3. Amazon Cognito
Approach: AWS-managed identity service with user pools and federation via SAML/OIDC.
Key Features:
- Free for first 10,000 MAUs
- MFA and device tracking
- Deep AWS integration
Best Fit:
- AWS-native apps
Drawbacks:
- Complex configuration
- Limited admin UX
4. Clerk
Approach: Developer-first identity solution with prebuilt UI components and SDKs.
Key Features:
- React/Next.js drop-in components
- Social logins, passwordless login, MFA
- Simple dashboard
Best Fit:
- Startup SaaS teams building modern apps
Drawbacks:
- SDK-heavy
- Not suited for enterprise portals
5. Frontegg
Approach: Modular CIAM platform with SSO, RBAC, tenant management, and audit logs.
Key Features:
- Enterprise SSO (SAML/OIDC)
- RBAC and multi-tenancy
- Audit logging
- User management widgets
Best Fit:
- SaaS startups wanting a CIAM “all-in-one”
Drawbacks:
- MAU-based pricing
- SDK/API integrations required
Comparison Table
| Vendor | Approach | Best Fit | Caveats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Datawiza | No-code proxy | SaaS + portals + legacy apps | Predictable pricing; not full CIAM |
| Auth0 | SDK/API | Flexible SaaS apps | $800/month only covers 5 enterprise customers |
| WorkOS | SDK/API | Startup SaaS apps | Per-connection pricing grows |
| Cognito | SDK/API | AWS-native apps | Config complexity |
| Clerk | SDK/API | Startup SaaS, dev-first | SDK-heavy, not enterprise |
| Frontegg | SDK/API | Startup SaaS | Less enterprise/legacy focus |
Conclusion
Auth0 is powerful, but its $800/month Professional Plan only covers 5 enterprise SSO customers — forcing you into expensive enterprise contracts once you scale.
- WorkOS, Cognito, Clerk, and Frontegg each offer alternatives for different SaaS use cases.
- Unlimited SSO connections
- No code rewrites
- Flat, predictable user-tier pricing
- Support for SaaS, portals, and legacy apps
👉 See how Datawiza compares. Book a demo
