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Need enterprise-ready authentication for your B2B/SaaS app? This guide explores WorkOS alternatives that deliver enterprise capabilities like SSO, SCIM provisioning; comprehensive developer testing environments; and flexible pricing models.
WorkOS helps developers add enterprise authentication features like Single Sign-On (SSO) and SCIM provisioning to their B2B SaaS applications. With comprehensive developer documentation, support for multiple SDKs, and a prebuilt IT admin portal, WorkOS aims to simplify enterprise authentication for B2B SaaS applications.
However, SaaS teams often look for alternatives due to limitations such as restricted dev and QA environments; limited flexibility; custom development needs for workflows like IdP-initiated SSO; restricted user attributes; and steep pricing.
This guide explores WorkOS's product capabilities, gaps, and introduces alternatives designed to better meet the needs of scaling B2B SaaS applications.
WorkOS provides a range of products tailored for B2B SaaS applications, including:
While WorkOS offers several enterprise authentication features, certain limitations prompt B2B SaaS teams to explore alternatives.
WorkOS supports only one development and one production environment, which can be restrictive for teams needing additional UAT or QA environments to validate authentication workflows.
These restrictions create bottlenecks for SaaS teams managing multiple products or requiring additional environments for comprehensive testing across UAT, QA, and production.
WorkOS’s authentication flows aren’t always fully standards-compliant, requiring additional development work for scenarios like IdP-initiated SSO. This adds complexity for B2B SaaS teams, increasing implementation time and maintenance efforts.
WorkOS provides a test SSO feature, but its support for testing edge cases and negative scenarios is limited. Enterprise-grade testing requires extensive simulation and flexible domain configurations. But, WorkOS’s restrictions limit such capabilities, creating challenges for robust validation.
WorkOS supports only default user attributes like email, first name, and last name. It lacks support for custom user attributes (such as manager, location) in the authentication flows. This limitation reduces flexibility for enterprise requirements.
WorkOS pricing is steep, starting at $125 per connection per month. While volume discounts are available, total costs can still add up significantly—for example, 10 SSO connections would cost $15,000 annually.
Additionally, features like custom branding incurs additional cost starting at $499/month, making WorkOS less affordable for early-stage and growing SaaS startups.
Selecting the best authentication platform is crucial for scaling your application. Here’s a quick guide to the key factors and features to evaluate when considering alternatives:
If you’re exploring alternatives to WorkOS, here are the top options to consider, each offering unique strengths and addressing specific enterprise needs.
Scalekit is an authentication platform designed specifically for B2B SaaS. It helps you onboard enterprise customers faster with solutions like SSO, SCIM provisioning, and Social Logins. With prebuilt integrations for Okta, Microsoft Entra, and Google, you can go live in just days, reducing overhead for your engineering team.
Designed for B2B/SaaS needs, Scalekit’s multi-tenant architecture and organization-first workflows let your dev team to focus on building your core product.
Key Features:
Why Choose Scalekit over WorkOS?
Scalekit is designed for SaaS teams that need to ship enterprise authentication features fast. It’s a strong choice if you’re looking for a platform with a B2B-first design, complete SSO and SCIM solutions, and easy integration. With no upfront costs and a FREE plan that includes all features, Scalekit makes it easier to start acquiring enterprise customers today.
Descope is an authentication platform that prioritizes simplicity and speed, making it a popular choice for teams looking to implement passwordless login flows quickly. Its drag-and-drop workflows allow developers to set up authentication features with minimal effort.
Despite its ease of use, Descope may not fully meet the needs of B2B SaaS teams requiring a mix of passwordless and traditional authentication methods. Advanced use cases often require deeper customization, which can only be achieved through API-level development.
Frontegg is an authentication platform for B2B SaaS applications. Its offerings include Single Sign-On (SSO), MFA. Frontegg’s admin portals allow IT teams to independently configure authentication settings, reducing dependencies on developers.
However, Frontegg's broad feature set can come with a steeper learning curve. Advanced configurations and custom workflows can be complex to set up, requiring dedicated developer resources. Additionally, its pricing model may not align well with smaller teams or early-stage startups, making it a better fit for established businesses with larger budgets.
Clerk provides auth solutions with a focus on serverless architectures. Clerk integrates well with frontend frameworks and supports features like passwordless login, MFA, and social logins. Its developer-first approach includes detailed documentation and prebuilt components that reduce integration time.
While Clerk excels in ease of use and frontend integration, it falls short in B2B/SaaS authentication. Features like multi-tenancy, SCIM provisioning, and organization-level management require custom development, making it less suited for enterprise-grade workflows.
Stytch is a developer-focused authentication platform that specializes in passwordless login solutions. It provides easy-to-integrate APIs and SDKs for features like email magic links, SMS-based one-time passwords (OTPs), and biometric logins. Stytch focuses on simplifying user experiences by reducing friction during onboarding and login processes.
While Stytch is ideal for teams prioritizing passwordless authentication, it falls short for B2B SaaS companies requiring enterprise-grade features like Single Sign-On (SSO), SCIM provisioning, and multi-tenant architecture. These gaps make it better suited for consumer-facing applications or smaller SaaS teams without complex authentication requirements.
Auth0 is one of the most well-known identity platforms, offering a comprehensive suite of features for both B2B and B2C authentication. It provides customizable login pages, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), and social logins while integrating seamlessly with major identity providers like Okta and Azure AD. Auth0’s extensive developer ecosystem, supported by detailed documentation and prebuilt tools, makes it a strong starting point for teams new to authentication.
However, Auth0’s pricing model can be a challenge for B2B SaaS applications. Costs often scale with Monthly Active Users (MAUs), and enterprise-specific features like SCIM provisioning and custom branding are gated behind higher pricing tiers. Additionally, while Auth0 supports enterprise use cases, teams may encounter limitations in adapting it to complex workflows without custom development.
For B2B SaaS teams scaling into enterprise markets, choosing the right authentication platform requires careful evaluation. Key factors include multi-tenancy, enterprise-grade features like SSO and SCIM, developer ease of use, and transparent pricing. Prioritizing solutions that align with your architecture and simplify workflows for both developers and IT admins can make the decision process clearer.
Scalekit is one such option, designed with B2B SaaS needs in mind. With features like multi-tenant architecture and self-service admin portals, it empowers enterprise customers while reducing complexity for your team. By focusing on solutions that streamline processes and support long-term growth, teams can confidently scale their applications for enterprise readiness.