Microsoft Entra ID vs OneLogin

Feature comparison

Microsoft Entra ID is the identity layer underneath Microsoft 365 and Azure. It provides single sign-on, Conditional Access for context-aware policy, multi-factor authentication, and at higher tiers full identity governance, Identity Protection risk detection and Privileged Identity Management. Its defining advantage is depth of integration with the Microsoft ecosystem, so organisations already running Microsoft 365 or Azure get a coherent identity, device and security model without bolting on a third party. The free tier, included with Microsoft 365 and Azure, already covers basic SSO and MFA.

OneLogin is an independent access manager. It delivers single sign-on across SaaS and on-premises applications, multi-factor authentication with a range of methods, directory synchronisation and, in its Professional tier, identity lifecycle and HR-driven provisioning. OneLogin's appeal is simplicity and neutrality: it is not tied to one productivity suite, so it suits organisations with mixed or non-Microsoft estates that want a focused, affordable identity provider rather than a platform whose value depends on adopting a wider ecosystem.

Pricing comparison

Microsoft Entra ID has a free tier bundled with Microsoft 365 and Azure, then Premium P1 at $6 per user per month for Conditional Access and hybrid identity, Premium P2 at $9 adding identity governance, Identity Protection and Privileged Identity Management, and the Microsoft Entra Suite at $12. Crucially, P1 is included in Microsoft 365 E3, Business Premium and several frontline plans, and P2 in E5, so many organisations already own the capability. OneLogin lists the Advanced plan at $4 per user per month and Professional at $8, with SSO components from around $2.

On headline per-seat price OneLogin is cheaper, but the comparison hinges on existing Microsoft licensing. An organisation on Microsoft 365 E3 or E5 effectively receives Entra ID P1 or P2 as part of a bundle it already pays for, making the marginal cost of using Entra ID near zero. For a non-Microsoft estate, OneLogin's transparent low pricing is genuinely lower. Buyers should compare the incremental cost of each against their current Microsoft commitment rather than the list prices alone.

Fit, ecosystem and limitations

Entra ID is the natural choice for Microsoft-centric organisations: it integrates Conditional Access with Intune device compliance, Defender signals and the wider Microsoft security graph, and it reaches production quickly where Microsoft 365 is already deployed. OneLogin fits organisations that prefer an independent identity provider, often those with heterogeneous application estates or a deliberate strategy to avoid concentration on a single vendor, and it stands up SSO in days to weeks with minimal friction.

Both have real limitations. Entra ID's most valuable governance and protection features sit behind P2 or the Entra Suite, its administration is complex, and standardising on it deepens Microsoft lock-in. OneLogin offers a smaller application catalogue and lighter governance than Entra ID or Okta, and buyers weigh the product's roadmap and investment level under One Identity ownership when committing for several years. The decision usually turns on how committed the organisation already is to the Microsoft ecosystem.

What buyers say

Buyers frequently note that Microsoft Entra ID is the path of least resistance for organisations already on Microsoft 365, with reviewers crediting Conditional Access, the breadth of integration with Microsoft security tooling and the value of receiving the capability inside existing licensing. The common criticisms are administrative complexity, the way the strongest governance and protection features require P2 or Suite licences, and concern about deepening dependence on a single vendor. OneLogin is praised for being simple to deploy, affordable and pleasant to administer, with reliable SSO and flexible MFA. Recurring complaints concern a smaller integration catalogue than the largest providers, lighter governance and uncertainty about long-term investment following its move under One Identity. Across both, sentiment tracks ecosystem alignment: Microsoft-committed organisations rate Entra ID highly and find OneLogin redundant, while organisations avoiding Microsoft concentration rate OneLogin highly for delivering dependable identity without the platform overhead.

Recommendation

Choose Microsoft Entra ID when the organisation already runs Microsoft 365 or Azure, especially on E3 or E5 licensing that includes Premium P1 or P2, since the capability is effectively bundled and integrates tightly with Conditional Access, Intune and Microsoft security signals. Choose OneLogin when the estate is mixed or non-Microsoft, when budget discipline favours transparent low per-user pricing, or when a deliberate strategy is to avoid concentrating identity on the same vendor as productivity and cloud. The deciding factor is rarely raw feature parity; it is how committed the organisation already is to the Microsoft ecosystem and whether bundled licensing makes Entra ID the lower marginal cost.

Alternatives to both