Okta vs Entra ID: Which Should You Pick in 2026?
Okta vs Entra ID compared on pricing, editions and fit: when Microsoft Entra ID is enough, and when a multi-cloud, multi-SaaS estate needs Okta.
TL;DR - Microsoft-centric shop (Microsoft 365, Azure, Windows)? Pick Microsoft Entra ID — it's cloud-native to your stack and often already paid for. - Multi-cloud, multi-SaaS estate? Pick Okta — vendor-neutral, with 8,000+ pre-built integrations. - Pricing shape: Entra ID has a Free tier bundled in Microsoft 365; P1 is $7/user/mo, P2 is $10. Okta starts at $6/user/mo with a $1,500 annual contract minimum. - Already have Entra ID via Microsoft 365? You often don't need Okta. Details below. - Both are 2024 Gartner Access Management Leaders — the choice is fit, not quality.
Okta vs Entra ID comes down to your stack. Choose Microsoft Entra ID if you run on Microsoft 365, Azure, and Windows — it's cloud-native, tightly integrated, and frequently already licensed. Choose Okta if you run a multi-cloud, multi-SaaS environment and need the broadest third-party integration network. Both are Gartner-recognized Access Management Leaders.
What is the difference between Okta and Microsoft Entra ID?
Entra ID is Microsoft's cloud identity platform; Okta is a vendor-neutral identity platform. That is the whole difference in one line, and it drives everything else.
Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory) is built into Microsoft 365, Azure, Windows, and Intune. If your users sign into Teams, SharePoint, or a Windows laptop, Entra ID is already the identity behind it.
Okta Workforce Identity Cloud is cloud-first and deliberately neutral. Its selling point is reach: the Okta Integration Network lists 8,000+ ready-to-use, pre-built integrations across SaaS vendors, not just Microsoft's own apps.
One naming note that trips people up: Okta is the workforce (employee) product, while Auth0 is Okta's customer identity (CIAM) product. This comparison is about workforce identity.
Is Microsoft Entra ID the same as Azure AD?
Yes. Microsoft renamed Azure Active Directory to Microsoft Entra ID, announced July 11, 2023, with the SKU names changing on October 1, 2023.
Per Microsoft's rename notice, capabilities, licensing, pricing, and SLAs are unchanged. "Azure AD Premium P1" is now "Entra ID P1," and existing configurations keep working. So okta vs azure ad and okta vs entra id are the same comparison.
What does each cost?
Entra ID is cheaper to start, especially if you're already on Microsoft 365. Okta carries a higher floor and a contract minimum. Here is the published list pricing (per user/month, billed annually).
| Plan | Price (per user/mo) | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Entra ID Free | $0 (bundled in Azure/Microsoft 365) | SSO for SaaS, MFA, user/group management, on-prem directory sync |
| Entra ID P1 | $7 | Adds Conditional Access; bundled in Microsoft 365 E3 and Business Premium |
| Entra ID P2 | $10 | Adds risk-based Identity Protection; bundled in Microsoft 365 E5 |
| Entra Suite | $12 | Adds Internet Access, Private Access, ID Governance, Face Check |
| Okta Starter | $6 | SSO, MFA, Universal Directory, 5 Workflows |
| Okta Essentials | $17 | Adds Adaptive MFA, Lifecycle Management, Access Governance |
| Okta Professional / Enterprise | Contact sales | Enterprise adds API Access Management and Access Gateway |
Figures are from Microsoft's Entra pricing page and Okta's pricing page. Okta carries a $1,500 annual contract minimum. Okta's per-product standalone prices are not publicly disclosed — the published page sells bundled suites.
The hidden variable: if you already pay for Microsoft 365 E3 or E5, Entra ID P1 or P2 is already in your bill, so the real cost difference is often larger than the sticker prices suggest.
Do you need Okta if you already have Entra ID?
If your apps are mostly Microsoft plus a handful of mainstream SaaS tools, Entra ID is usually enough — and you likely already pay for it. Add Okta when your SaaS estate is large, non-Microsoft, or spans multiple clouds.
Entra ID P1 ($7) unlocks Conditional Access; P2 ($10) adds risk-based Identity Protection. If you hold Microsoft 365 E3 you already own P1; E5 includes P2. For many Microsoft-standardized teams, turning on a license you already have beats buying a second platform.
Okta earns its premium when identity has to sit above several clouds and hundreds of third-party apps. Its neutrality and 8,000+ integrations are the reason multi-vendor shops pay more for it rather than leaning on Microsoft's gallery. Identity is only one layer; for the network-access side of zero trust, compare Zscaler vs Netskope.
Okta vs Entra ID: feature comparison
| Capability | Microsoft Entra ID | Okta Workforce Identity |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Cloud-native to Microsoft 365, Azure, Windows, Intune | Vendor-neutral, cloud-first |
| Third-party integrations | Large gallery, Microsoft-first | 8,000+ (Okta Integration Network) |
| SSO | All tiers, including Free | Starter and up |
| MFA | Free and up | Starter and up |
| Adaptive / Conditional Access | Requires P1 | Adaptive MFA (Essentials, or Starter add-on) |
| Risk-based identity protection | Requires P2 | Higher tiers |
| Entry price | Free tier bundled in Microsoft 365 | $6/user/mo, $1,500 annual minimum |
| Best fit | Microsoft-centric organizations | Multi-cloud, multi-SaaS organizations |
Both vendors are Leaders in the 2024 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Access Management — Okta for the eighth consecutive year, and Microsoft for eight years too. Quality isn't the deciding factor; fit is.
Which should you choose?
Pick based on where your stack already lives. For the wider field beyond these two, see our guide to the top identity and access management solutions.
- Microsoft-centric shop (Microsoft 365 + Azure + Windows): Choose Entra ID. Turn on the P1 or P2 features you may already own before buying anything new.
- Multi-cloud, multi-SaaS environment: Choose Okta. Vendor neutrality and 8,000+ integrations are worth the higher floor when no single vendor dominates your apps.
- Regulated enterprise needing privileged-access control and governance: Either works. Go Entra ID P2 (Identity Protection, PIM) if you're Microsoft-heavy; go Okta if your estate is heterogeneous.
- SMB already on Microsoft 365 Business Premium: You already have Entra ID P1. Start there — most SMBs don't need a second identity platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better: Microsoft Entra ID vs Okta?
Neither is universally better; both are 2024 Gartner Magic Quadrant Leaders for Access Management. Entra ID wins for Microsoft-centric organizations because it's cloud-native to Microsoft 365 and Azure and often already licensed. Okta wins for multi-cloud, multi-SaaS environments that need vendor neutrality and its 8,000+ integration network. Match the tool to your stack.
Which is better: Okta vs Microsoft Entra ID?
For a diverse SaaS and multi-cloud estate, Okta is usually the better fit: it's vendor-neutral with 8,000+ pre-built integrations. For organizations standardized on Microsoft 365, Azure, and Windows, Microsoft Entra ID is better and cheaper, since P1 and P2 are bundled into the E3 and E5 plans you may already own.
Is Microsoft Entra ID the same as Azure AD?
Yes. Microsoft renamed Azure Active Directory to Microsoft Entra ID, announced July 11, 2023, with SKU names changing October 1, 2023. Capabilities, licensing, pricing, and SLAs are unchanged. Azure AD Premium P1 and P2 are now Entra ID P1 and P2, and existing configurations and integrations keep working with no action required.
Can Okta and Entra ID work together?
Yes, and many organizations run both. You can use Entra ID as an identity provider behind Okta, letting Okta broker access to non-Microsoft apps while Entra ID governs Microsoft 365 and Windows sign-ins. This is common during migrations or in mixed estates, though running two platforms adds licensing cost and administrative overhead.
Editor’s note — sources: Okta Integration Network; Microsoft rename notice; Microsoft Entra pricing; Okta pricing; 2024 Gartner Magic Quadrant (Okta); 2024 Gartner Magic Quadrant (Microsoft). Each is linked inline at the claim it supports; all figures were verified against these primary sources on 2026-10-19.