Identity
Okta
Cloud-based identity platform for enterprise SSO, MFA, and app integration — neutral, not tied to Microsoft or Google.
Okta is a cloud-based identity and access management platform purpose-built for enterprise SSO, MFA, lifecycle management, and application integration. It's one of the dominant enterprise identity platforms, particularly common in organizations that run a mix of cloud applications and need a neutral identity layer that isn't tied to Microsoft or Google.
Where Okta fits: organizations with complex multi-cloud environments, a large number of application integrations (Okta's Integration Network has thousands of pre-built connectors), or requirements that go beyond what's bundled in their existing licensing.
The comparison that comes up most often: Okta vs. Entra ID. Entra ID is the natural choice if you're Microsoft-first — it's already included in your Microsoft 365 licensing. Okta makes more sense when you're running across multiple cloud environments, or when you need capabilities Entra ID doesn't provide. Okta is not cheap, and the licensing cost is a real factor in the decision.
Okta also competes with JumpCloud at the lower end of the market. JumpCloud is the more cost-effective option for mid-market organizations that need a solid directory and SSO without the full Okta feature set.