Okta leads with enterprise-grade identity and access management trusted by Fortune 500 companies. Microsoft Entra ID is best for organisations already embedded in the Microsoft ecosystem. Ping Identity excels for complex hybrid environments requiring sophisticated federation and API protection.
RANKENTRYSCORETRENDFROM
1OktaManages over 50 billion daily authentications across its platform95.0NEWCustom 2Microsoft Entra IDProcesses over 100 billion authentications per month for Microsoft cloud services92.7NEW£1.50 per user per month (Free tier available) 3Ping IdentitySpecialises in API authentication and microservice security through PingAccess90.3NEWCustom 4KeycloakFully open-source with complete source code access and no licensing restrictions88.0NEWFree (open-source) to Custom (managed services) 5CyberArkThe industry leader in Privileged Access Management, protecting high-value targets like governments and financial institutions85.7NEWCustom 6Auth0Supports 500+ pre-built integrations and SDKs across all major platforms and languages83.3NEWFree tier; paid from £30 per month 7Fortinet FortiAuthenticatorIntegrates with the Fortinet Security Fabric to provide identity-aware network security81.0NEWCustom (hardware/VM-based licensing) 9JumpCloudDesigned specifically for device-first and remote workforce identity management use cases76.3NEW£16 per user per month 10OneLoginOwned by Verizon as part of its identity and access management portfolio74.0NEWCustom (contact sales) The ranking, in detail
01
The leading cloud identity platform for secure access
Okta is the leading independent Identity and Access Management (IAM) platform, managing authentication, authorisation, and user lifecycle for over 18,000 organisations globally. It connects people to technology through a zero-trust security model.
From CustomBest for Mid-market to enterprise organisations requiring comprehensive cloud IAM
95.0
02
Enterprise identity and access management from Microsoft
Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) is the identity service component of Microsoft's cloud platform, providing cloud-native IAM for over 400 million users. It integrates seamlessly with Office 365, Dynamics 365, and on-premises Active Directory.
From £1.50 per user per month (Free tier available)Best for Organisations heavily invested in Microsoft 365 and Azure cloud services
92.7
03
Intelligent identity platform with advanced federation capabilities
Ping Identity provides intelligent identity solutions for hybrid IT environments, combining PingDirectory for directory services, PingAccess for API protection, and PingFederate for federation. It serves financial services, healthcare, and government sectors.
From CustomBest for Enterprise organisations requiring complex federation and API-level security
90.3
04
Open-source identity and access management platform
Keycloak is a free, open-source identity and access management solution developed by Red Hat, offering single sign-on, user federation, and multi-tenant capabilities. It is deployed by thousands of organisations for custom identity solutions.
From Free (open-source) to Custom (managed services)Best for Developers and organisations seeking cost-effective, self-hosted IAM solutions
88.0
05
Identity security platform focused on privileged access management
CyberArk is a global leader in identity security, specialising in privileged access management (PAM) and identity governance. It protects against insider threats and unauthorised access to critical systems across enterprises.
From CustomBest for Organisations with stringent requirements for privileged access control and compliance auditing
85.7
06
Identity platform built for developers
Auth0 provides identity-as-a-service (IDaaS) for customer identity and access management (CIAM), helping organisations authenticate and authorise customers, partners, and employees. It supports 500+ SDKs and integrations.
From Free tier; paid from £30 per monthBest for Development teams and smaller organisations needing rapid authentication integration
83.3
07
Multi-factor authentication and identity verification appliance
Fortinet FortiAuthenticator provides multi-factor authentication (MFA), single sign-on (SSO), and user identity management. It integrates with Fortinet's security fabric and supports both on-premises and cloud deployments.
From Custom (hardware/VM-based licensing)Best for Organisations using Fortinet security products seeking integrated MFA and SSO solutions
81.0
08
Comprehensive identity platform for employee and contractor access
Okta's Workforce Identity Cloud combines employee authentication, access management, and lifecycle management in a single platform. It includes capabilities for secure remote work and hybrid environments.
From CustomBest for Enterprise organisations managing complex employee and contractor identity requirements
78.7
09
Cloud-based directory platform and identity management
JumpCloud is a unified platform providing directory-as-a-service (DaaS), single sign-on, and device management. It serves smaller enterprises and remote-first organisations with cloud-native identity solutions.
From £16 per user per monthBest for Mid-market organisations seeking to modernise away from on-premises Active Directory
76.3
10
Unified access management for identities across on-premises and cloud
OneLogin (acquired by Verizon in 2020) provides unified access management, provisioning, and governance. It serves mid-market to enterprise organisations managing hybrid identity infrastructure.
From Custom (contact sales)Best for Mid-market organisations needing unified access across legacy and cloud systems
74.0
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Access Management and Identity Management?
Identity Management (IdM) focuses on who users are, handling user registration, authentication, and identity data. Access Management (AM) determines what authenticated users can do, managing authorisation, permissions, and access control. Together they form IAM (Identity and Access Management).
Do I need on-premises or cloud-based access management?
Cloud-based solutions like Okta and Microsoft Entra ID offer faster deployment, scalability, and lower infrastructure costs. On-premises solutions provide more control and suit organisations with strict data residency requirements. Hybrid deployments blend both approaches for legacy and modern systems.
How much does access management typically cost?
Pricing varies by model: user-based (£2-10/user/month), capacity-based (thousands/month), or enterprise custom deals. Auth0 and JumpCloud offer transparent per-user pricing, whilst Okta and CyberArk typically require custom negotiations based on scale and requirements.