Auth & Backend · side by side
Auth0 vs Descope
Compare Auth0, Descope by active-user allowances, social login, MFA, SSO, organizations and audit logs.
Auth & Backend pricing calculator
These providers bill in different units. Each estimate uses its own workload; there is no same-volume price winner.
Auth0
25K
Descope
50K
Auth0
$0 / mo
Free · 25K MAUs
Descope
$2,049 / mo
Growth · 50K monthly active users
Listed USD plan fees and tracked usage only. Unlisted compute, transfer, extras, taxes and contract terms are excluded. Custom or unsupported plan usage is not estimated.
Auth & Backend overview & pricing
| Auth & Backend | Auth0 | Descope |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Okta | Descope |
| Billing unit | MAUs | monthly active users |
| Plan at selected usage | Free | Growth |
| Monthly estimate | $0/mo | $2,049/mo |
| Workload | 25K MAUs | 50K monthly active users |
| Free access | 25,000 MAUs | 7.5K MAUs |
| Published plans | Free, Essentials, Professional, Enterprise | Free Forever, Pro, Growth, Enterprise |
| Prices checked | 2026-10-08 | 2026-10-08 |
Provider
- Auth0
- Okta
- Descope
- Descope
Billing unit
- Auth0
- MAUs
- Descope
- monthly active users
Plan at selected usage
- Auth0
- Free
- Descope
- Growth
Monthly estimate
- Auth0
- $0/mo
- Descope
- $2,049/mo
Workload
- Auth0
- 25K MAUs
- Descope
- 50K monthly active users
Free access
- Auth0
- 25,000 MAUs
- Descope
- 7.5K MAUs
Published plans
- Auth0
- Free, Essentials, Professional, Enterprise
- Descope
- Free Forever, Pro, Growth, Enterprise
Prices checked
- Auth0
- 2026-10-08
- Descope
- 2026-10-08
Auth & Backend monthly cost
Auth0: $0Descope: $2,049
Different workloads, separate estimates
Check how each provider defines an active user and separates consumer identity from enterprise organizations. SAML, MFA, custom domains and audit logs can be gated behind higher plans. A backend platform can also charge separately for storage, functions and traffic.
Auth & Backend feature comparison
| Auth & Backend | Auth0 | Descope |
|---|---|---|
| Social login | Not listed | |
| External Active Users | Up to 25,000 | Not listed |
| Machine-to-Machine Authentication | 1,000 | Not listed |
| M2M Add-on | Not listed | |
| Passwordless | Not listed | |
| Social Connections | Unlimited** | Not listed |
| Custom Social Connections | Not listed | |
| Passkeys | Not listed | |
| Auth0 Database Connection | Not listed | |
| Custom Database Connections | Not listed | |
| Cross APP SSO | Not listed | |
| Enterprise Connections | 1 | Not listed |
| Inbound SCIM | Not listed | |
| Okta Connections | Unlimited** | Not listed |
| Express Configuration | Not listed | |
| Organizations | 5 | Not listed |
| Self-Service SSO | Select Enterprise Plans | Not listed |
| Machine-to-Machine Access for Organizations | Select Enterprise Plans | Not listed |
| Home Realm Discovery | Not listed | |
| Long Lived Sessions | Not listed | |
| Custom Token Exchange | Not listed | |
| CIBA | ADD-ON | Not listed |
| Token Vault | 2 | Not listed |
| Auth for MCP | Not listed | |
| Configurable Login Experience | Not listed | |
| Accessibility | Not listed | |
| Custom Domains* | 1 | Not listed |
| Email Workflow | Not listed | |
| Customize Signup & Login | Not listed | |
| Actions + Forms | 5 | Not listed |
| The Actions Library | Not listed | |
| Event Streams | 1 | Not listed |
| Marketplace | Not listed | |
| Pro Forms | Not listed | |
| Brute Force Protection | Not listed | |
| Suspicious IP Throttling | Not listed | |
| Enhanced Password Protection | Not listed | |
| Basic Breached Password Detection | Not listed | |
| Credential Guard | ADD-ON | Not listed |
| Bot Detection | ADD-ON | Not listed |
| Tenant Access Control List (ACL) | 1 + ADD-ON | Not listed |
| Integration with Okta Universal Logout | Not listed | |
| Pro MFA Factors | Not listed | |
| Enterprise MFA Factors | Not listed | |
| Adaptive MFA | ADD-ON | |
| Security Center | Not listed | |
| Continuous Session Protection | Not listed | |
| FAPI certified Security Profile | ADD-ON | Not listed |
| Compliance Certifications | Not listed | |
| HIPAA/BAA | ADD-ON | Not listed |
| Prioritized Security Log Streams | Not listed | |
| Private Key JWT | Not listed | |
| OIDC Back-Channel Logout | Not listed | |
| User Import | Not listed | |
| Custom Attributes | Not listed | |
| Role Management | Not listed | |
| Account Linking | Not listed | |
| Number of Tenants Included | 1 | Not listed |
| Number of Admin/Contributors | 3 | Not listed |
| Admin Access Controls | Admin | Not listed |
| Auth0 Dashboard SSO | Not listed | |
| Log Retention | 1 Day | Not listed |
| Log Streaming | 1 Log Stream | Not listed |
| Private Deployment | ADD-ON | Not listed |
| SLA | 99.99% | Not listed |
| Community Support | Not listed | |
| Standard Support | Not listed | |
| Premier Support | Premier Success Options | Not listed |
| Base monthly price | Not listed | $799 |
| MAUs included / Additional MAU fee | Not listed | 25,000 ($0.05 additional) |
| Tenants included / Additional tenant fee | Not listed | 100 ($1 additional) |
| SSO connections included / Additional SSO conn. fee | Not listed | 10 ($50 additional) |
| Federated apps included | Not listed | Unlimited (SAML / OIDC) |
| M2M exchanges included / Additional M2M exchange fee | Not listed | 100,000 ($2 per 1000 exchanges) |
| Test users included | Not listed | 500 |
| MACs included / Additional MAC fee | Not listed | 10,000 ($0.05 additional) |
| MATKs included / Additional MATK fee | Not listed | 10,000 ($0.05 additional) |
| Biometrics / Passkeys | Not listed | |
| Email Magic Links | Not listed | |
| Email OTP | Not listed | |
| Authenticator Apps | Not listed | |
| SMS / voice call delivery with Descope | Not listed | Up to 100 per month |
| SMS / voice calls with your connector | Not listed | Unlimited |
| Email delivery with Descope | Not listed | Up to 10,000 per day |
| Email delivery with your connector | Not listed | Unlimited |
| Google One Tap | Not listed | |
| SAML / OIDC SSO | Not listed | Up to 10 connections (Add-on available) |
| Custom OIDC Provider | Not listed | |
| Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) | Not listed | |
| Fine-Grained Authorization (FGA) | Not listed | |
| User Provisioning (SCIM) | Not listed | |
| SSO Setup Suite - Widgets | Not listed | |
| SSO Setup Suite - Admin Portal | Not listed | |
| Localization | Not listed | |
| Audit Interface | Not listed | Descope UI + external connectors |
| Audit Retention | Not listed | 1 month (Add-on available) |
| Anonymous Users | Not listed | 1M |
| SSO Migration | Not listed | |
| Secure Session Management | Not listed | |
| Step-up Authentication | Not listed | |
| Bot Protection | Not listed | |
| Custom Domain | Not listed | |
| SOC 2 Reports | Not listed | |
| HIPAA BAA | Not listed | |
| Scriptlets | Not listed | |
| Connectors | Not listed | |
| CI / CD Integration | Not listed | Up to 10 Projects |
| Multi-Region Deployments | Not listed |
Social login
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
External Active Users
- Auth0
- Up to 25,000
- Descope
- Not listed
Machine-to-Machine Authentication
- Auth0
- 1,000
- Descope
- Not listed
M2M Add-on
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
Passwordless
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
Social Connections
- Auth0
- Unlimited**
- Descope
- Not listed
Custom Social Connections
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
Passkeys
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
Auth0 Database Connection
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
Custom Database Connections
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
Cross APP SSO
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
Enterprise Connections
- Auth0
- 1
- Descope
- Not listed
Inbound SCIM
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
Okta Connections
- Auth0
- Unlimited**
- Descope
- Not listed
Express Configuration
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
Organizations
- Auth0
- 5
- Descope
- Not listed
Self-Service SSO
- Auth0
- Select Enterprise Plans
- Descope
- Not listed
Machine-to-Machine Access for Organizations
- Auth0
- Select Enterprise Plans
- Descope
- Not listed
Home Realm Discovery
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
Long Lived Sessions
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
Custom Token Exchange
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
CIBA
- Auth0
- ADD-ON
- Descope
- Not listed
Token Vault
- Auth0
- 2
- Descope
- Not listed
Auth for MCP
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
Configurable Login Experience
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
Accessibility
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
Custom Domains*
- Auth0
- 1
- Descope
- Not listed
Email Workflow
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
Customize Signup & Login
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
Actions + Forms
- Auth0
- 5
- Descope
- Not listed
The Actions Library
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
Event Streams
- Auth0
- 1
- Descope
- Not listed
Marketplace
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
Pro Forms
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
Brute Force Protection
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
Suspicious IP Throttling
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
Enhanced Password Protection
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
Basic Breached Password Detection
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
Credential Guard
- Auth0
- ADD-ON
- Descope
- Not listed
Bot Detection
- Auth0
- ADD-ON
- Descope
- Not listed
Tenant Access Control List (ACL)
- Auth0
- 1 + ADD-ON
- Descope
- Not listed
Integration with Okta Universal Logout
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
Pro MFA Factors
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
Enterprise MFA Factors
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
Adaptive MFA
- Auth0
- ADD-ON
- Descope
Security Center
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
Continuous Session Protection
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
FAPI certified Security Profile
- Auth0
- ADD-ON
- Descope
- Not listed
Compliance Certifications
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
HIPAA/BAA
- Auth0
- ADD-ON
- Descope
- Not listed
Prioritized Security Log Streams
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
Private Key JWT
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
OIDC Back-Channel Logout
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
User Import
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
Custom Attributes
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
Role Management
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
Account Linking
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
Number of Tenants Included
- Auth0
- 1
- Descope
- Not listed
Number of Admin/Contributors
- Auth0
- 3
- Descope
- Not listed
Admin Access Controls
- Auth0
- Admin
- Descope
- Not listed
Auth0 Dashboard SSO
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
Log Retention
- Auth0
- 1 Day
- Descope
- Not listed
Log Streaming
- Auth0
- 1 Log Stream
- Descope
- Not listed
Private Deployment
- Auth0
- ADD-ON
- Descope
- Not listed
SLA
- Auth0
- 99.99%
- Descope
- Not listed
Community Support
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
Standard Support
- Auth0
- Descope
- Not listed
Premier Support
- Auth0
- Premier Success Options
- Descope
- Not listed
Base monthly price
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
- $799
MAUs included / Additional MAU fee
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
- 25,000 ($0.05 additional)
Tenants included / Additional tenant fee
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
- 100 ($1 additional)
SSO connections included / Additional SSO conn. fee
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
- 10 ($50 additional)
Federated apps included
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
- Unlimited (SAML / OIDC)
M2M exchanges included / Additional M2M exchange fee
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
- 100,000 ($2 per 1000 exchanges)
Test users included
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
- 500
MACs included / Additional MAC fee
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
- 10,000 ($0.05 additional)
MATKs included / Additional MATK fee
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
- 10,000 ($0.05 additional)
Biometrics / Passkeys
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
Email Magic Links
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
Email OTP
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
Authenticator Apps
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
SMS / voice call delivery with Descope
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
- Up to 100 per month
SMS / voice calls with your connector
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
- Unlimited
Email delivery with Descope
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
- Up to 10,000 per day
Email delivery with your connector
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
- Unlimited
Google One Tap
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
SAML / OIDC SSO
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
- Up to 10 connections (Add-on available)
Custom OIDC Provider
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
Fine-Grained Authorization (FGA)
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
User Provisioning (SCIM)
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
SSO Setup Suite - Widgets
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
SSO Setup Suite - Admin Portal
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
Localization
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
Audit Interface
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
- Descope UI + external connectors
Audit Retention
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
- 1 month (Add-on available)
Anonymous Users
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
- 1M
SSO Migration
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
Secure Session Management
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
Step-up Authentication
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
Bot Protection
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
Custom Domain
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
SOC 2 Reports
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
HIPAA BAA
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
Scriptlets
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
Connectors
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
CI / CD Integration
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
- Up to 10 Projects
Multi-Region Deployments
- Auth0
- Not listed
- Descope
Showing 15 of 108
Which authentication & backend providers fit your needs?
Auth0 features & plan notes
- Enterprise SSO
- Actions
- 1 Custom Domain*
- Secure Agentic AI workflows
- Passwordless Authentication
- Unlimited Social Connections**
- 5 Organizations
- Brand Customization
- Basic Attack Protection
- Community Support
- 1 Enterprise Connection New
- Self-Service SSO New
- SCIM New
Descope features & plan notes
- No-code flows
- Passwordless
- B2B SSO
- 25,000 Monthly active users (MAUs)
- 100 Monthly active tenants
- 10 SSO connections
- Unlimited Federated apps (SAML / OIDC)
- 500 Test users
- 100,000 M2M exchanges
- 10,000 Monthly active consents (MACs)
- 10,000 Monthly active tokens (MATKs)
- Everything in Pro, plus:
- Bot protection
- 1M Anonymous users
- Zero-downtime SSO migration
- SCIM provisioning
- Admin Portal
- Fine-grained authorization
- External audit connectors
- Multi-region data residency
- HIPAA BAA
- FedRAMP High add-on
How to compare authentication & backend providers
Check how each provider defines an active user and separates consumer identity from enterprise organizations. SAML, MFA, custom domains and audit logs can be gated behind higher plans. A backend platform can also charge separately for storage, functions and traffic.
Browse Auth & Backend pricingAuth0 vs Descope — FAQ
Auth0: $0/month on Free at 25,000 MAUs. Descope: $2,049/month on Growth at 50,000 monthly active users. Different billing units are not an equal-workload comparison. Estimates exclude unlisted add-ons and taxes.
No. Review each provider's active-user definition, external versus enterprise users, organization limits and machine-to-machine usage.
Review enterprise SSO, organizations, roles, audit logs, custom domains and support on the specific plan you intend to use.
Enterprise SSO, Actions. Free access: 25,000 MAUs. Check plan-specific availability and current terms on the provider's official pricing page.
No-code flows, Passwordless, B2B SSO. Free access: 7.5K MAUs. Check plan-specific availability and current terms on the provider's official pricing page.