This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Deepak Gupta
If you’ve ever spent weeks researching authentication providers only to feel more confused than when you started, this guide is for you.
The Authentication Decision Dilemma
I built and scale a Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) platform 10 years ago, but now there are lots of cool CIAM vendors out there for specific B2B and B2C use cases. How to do you know which is the best platform? What seemed like a straightforward technical decision quickly became a research nightmare:
- Vendor documentation focused on marketing rather than technical details
- Pricing information hidden behind “contact sales” forms
- Scattered advice across forums with no clear comparison framework
- One-size-fits-all recommendations that didn’t match our specific needs
After months of research, I realized I wasn’t just solving our problem—I was creating a resource that every development team needs.
What You’ll Find in This Analysis
I’ve analyzed 30+ authentication providers across six key categories:
Enterprise Market Leaders
Auth0 by Okta, Microsoft Entra External ID, Ping Identity – the established players with enterprise-grade features and pricing to match.
Developer-First Platforms
Better Auth, SuperTokens, NextAuth.js – solutions built by developers, for developers who want maximum control.
Open Source Leaders
Keycloak, WSO2 Identity Server, ZITADEL – transparent solutions without vendor lock-in, but with their own complexity trade-offs.
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Key Insights That Will Save You Time
After analyzing hundreds of features, pricing models, and use cases, here are the insights that matter:
Pricing Reality Check: Auth0 enterprise can easily cost $8K-12K monthly for multi-tenant B2B applications, while alternatives like SSOJet offer similar features at $3K-4K.
Open Source Isn’t Free: While Keycloak has no licensing costs, factor in infrastructure, maintenance, and expertise requirements that can exceed $50K annually.
Passwordless is Real: Modern passwordless solutions are showing 15-25% conversion rate improvements, not just security benefits.
The Complete Analysis
Rather than summarize everything here, I’ve created a comprehensive directory with detailed analysis of each platform:
Complete CIAM Providers Directory
Each provider entry includes:
Technical capabilities and limitations- Real pricing analysis (not marketing speak)
- When to choose this platform
- Integration complexity assessment
- Honest pros and cons
Questions for the Community
What authentication challenges are you currently facing? Are you evaluating alternatives to your current setup?
Drop your questions in the comments – I’d love to help you navigate the decision based on this research.
This analysis took months to compile and represents unbiased research with no affiliate relationships.
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Deepak Gupta