When it comes time to decide on a CIAM solution for your application, the potential options can be overwhelming. Sure, it's tempting to build your own auth, but you really shouldn't. You need to find a trusted partner who knows the industry, and can help you keep your user data secure.
Why Find a Frontegg Alternative?
There are several reasons why buyers look for Frontegg alternatives. For some, it comes down to pricing, especially those who are looking for smaller projects or startups. Customization is also a concern, as Frontegg does not offer the granularity that some companies need. Date sovereignty, integration challenges, scalability concerns...the list goes on.
Table of Contents
Top 8 Frontegg Alternatives
Many CIAM providers talk about their features as if they're groundbreaking, when in fact they are often table stakes. What sets providers apart these days is often less about the features and more about the experience and associated costs. Some CIAM providers charge for more identity provider IdP connections. Some provide only a microscopic number of monthly active users (MAUs) for free.
When comparing CIAM providers, it's better to focus on six key areas:
- Pricing
- Setup Time
- Customization
- Migration Options
- Key Features or Use Cases
These are the factors that we'll focus on in this guide. We'll give a quick overview of each service, but then we'll call out pricing, setup times, and the other important aspects to using them.
FusionAuth
FusionAuth stands out as a powerful, developer-friendly alternative to Frontegg, offering a comprehensive suite of authentication and authorization features.
- Pricing: Flexible options including a free Community plan and paid hosting plans starting at $37/month.
- Setup time: Typically a few hours for basic implementation, with comprehensive documentation to guide you.
- Customization: Highly customizable with theming options, API-first approach, and extensive configuration capabilities.
- Migration options: Robust import/export tools and migration scripts for seamless transitions from other auth providers.
Key Features: Single-tenant hosting, can be air gapped or hosted on premises. Simple passwordless options included even in free plan.
Use cases: Developer-focused, support from actual engineers. Ideal for companies that need to self-host, while still getting commercial-grade support.
ForgeRock
ForgeRock is an enterprise-focused identity platform offering a wide range of features for complex identity management scenarios.
- Pricing: Custom pricing based on deployment size and features; generally more expensive than some alternatives.
- Setup time: Can take weeks or months for full enterprise implementation due to its complexity.
- Customization: Highly customizable but may require significant expertise to fully leverage.
- Migration options: Offers professional services for migrations but can be complex due to the platform's extensive features.
Key features: Advanced access management, identity governance, IoT identity managementUse cases: Best suited for large enterprises with complex identity requirements and resources to manage a sophisticated system.
Amazon Cognito
Amazon Cognito is a managed authentication service that integrates seamlessly with other AWS services.
- Pricing: Pay-as-you-go model based on monthly active users (MAU), can become costly at scale.
- Setup time: Quick setup for basic auth, but can take longer to integrate with other AWS services.
- Customization: Limited customization options compared to standalone auth solutions.
- Migration options: Supports user import but may require custom scripts for complex migrations.
Key features: Easy integration with AWS ecosystem, scalable user directories, social identity provider support
Use cases: Ideal for projects already leveraging AWS services or requiring tight AWS integration.
Firebase Authentication
Firebase Auth, part of Google's Firebase platform, offers a quick way to add authentication to mobile and web applications.
- Pricing: Free tier available, with usage-based pricing for higher volumes.
- Setup time: Very quick setup, often within hours for basic implementation.
- Customization: Limited customization options, primarily through Firebase UI libraries.
- Migration options: Supports user import but may require custom solutions for complex migrations.
Key features: Easy implementation of common auth flows, multiple authentication provider support, seamless integration with other Firebase services
Use cases: Best for rapid prototyping and small to medium-sized projects, especially those already using Firebase.
Stytch
Stytch is an authentication platform focusing on passwordless solutions and integrated fraud and risk tools.
- Pricing: Usage-based pricing with a free tier for up to 5,000 monthly active users.
- Setup time: Quick setup, typically within a day for basic implementation.
- Customization: Offers customizable UI components and flexible APIs for tailored solutions.
- Migration options: Provides user import tools but may require custom scripts for complex migrations.
Key features: Passwordless authentication methods, fraud prevention tools, APIs and SDKs
Use cases: A solid option for businesses that are focused largely on passwordless authentication. However, the tools may be lacking in some other areas.
WorkOS
WorkOS provides a set of APIs to add enterprise features to applications, including SSO and directory sync.
- Pricing: Usage-based pricing with a free development tier.
- Setup time: Quick setup for basic features, typically within a day.
- Customization: Limited to API configuration; focuses on standardized enterprise integrations.
- Migration options: Limited built-in migration tools. May require custom solutions.
Key features: Enterprise SSO, directory sync, admin portal-driven
Use cases: WorkOS's focus on the enterprise dovetail it into a particular market segment. As such, it's often not the right option for all but the largest of enterprise customers.
Descope
Descope offers a no-code/low-code approach to implementing authentication and authorization. Developers who are API-driven will likely be turned off by Descope's approach and the lack of control that it provides.
- Pricing: Offers a free tier with usage-based pricing for higher volumes.
- Setup time: Rapid setup, often within hours using the visual workflow builder.
- Customization: Customizable through the visual builder, with some limitations for highly specific use cases.
- Migration options: Provides user import tools but may have limitations for complex migrations.
Key features: Visual workflow builder for auth flows, passwordless authentication options, embedded auth UI components
Use cases: Suitable for teams looking for quick implementation of modern auth flows with minimal coding.
Open Source Options (e.g., Keycloak, Ory)
Open-source alternatives offer full control over the authentication and authorization process. However, they also lay a lot more risk on your developers while often increasing the workload. That said, here are a few worth noting:
Authelia
Authelia takes a unique approach by acting as an intermediary authentication layer. Instead of replacing existing auth systems, it enhances them by providing a unified front-end for multiple services. This strategy can boost security and create a consistent user experience across diverse platforms.
Authentik
Authentik stands out for its user-friendly design without sacrificing capability. With comprehensive OAuth and SAML support, it's particularly valuable for integrating SSO into applications that lack native support. Its balance of power and accessibility makes it an appealing choice for those seeking robust auth without overwhelming complexity.
Hanko
Hanko distinguishes itself by integrating biometric capabilities alongside traditional authentication and user management features. With an accessible free tier and budget-friendly scaling options starting at $9 monthly for production use, Hanko offers a modern approach to identity verification that sets it apart from many open-source competitors.
SuperTokens
SuperTokens focuses on streamlining the auth process with pre-built login interfaces. While it may offer fewer authentication methods compared to some alternatives, its emphasis on quick implementation has garnered significant user support, as evidenced by its impressive $300 million user-driven funding round.
Ory
Ory adopts a flexible, modular structure for authentication and authorization. This approach allows organizations to cherry-pick components based on their specific needs, providing a highly adaptable solution. The ability to add or remove modules as required makes Ory an attractive option for businesses with evolving authentication demands.
- Pricing: No licensing costs, but requires investment in infrastructure and maintenance.
- Setup time: Can vary widely, from days to months, depending on requirements and team expertise.
- Customization: Unlimited customization possibilities with full access to the source code.
- Migration options: Typically require custom migration scripts, but offer full flexibility.
Key features: Full control over the codebase, community support and contributions, tends to have extensive protocol support (e.g., OAuth, SAML)
Use cases: Ideal for organizations with specific requirements, strong technical teams, and a preference for full control over their auth infrastructure.
FusionAuth Is the Best Frontegg Alternative
We understand your skepticism. It's natural to question a company's self-promotion. However, we invite you to consider our unique approach.
FusionAuth was crafted with a singular focus: to serve developers' needs. This isn't just marketing speak; it's the core of our philosophy. When you reach out for support, you're not navigating through layers of customer service. Instead, you're connecting directly with the architects of the platform. We're not just providers, we're your partners.
Let's address the elephant in the room: user authentication is a complex challenge. While in-house development is an option, it comes with the perpetual responsibility of maintenance and updates. Why shoulder this burden alone? Our team brings not only technical proficiency but also a genuine passion for solving authentication challenges, allowing you to focus on your core business objectives.
Give us a shot: Explore our Community plan and experience firsthand how FusionAuth can transform your user login.
