Best IAM for SSO (Single Sign-On) 2026
Identity and Access Management solutions help teams streamline workflows and improve productivity. Choosing the right platform for sso requires balancing features, ease of use, and total cost of ownership.
This guide evaluates the top options based on real-world pricing, user feedback, and feature depth to help you make an informed decision. We've analyzed pricing models, hidden costs, and value propositions to surface the best choices for different team sizes and budgets.
Okta is the best IAM for SSO in 2026, offering 7,000+ pre-built app connectors and support for SAML 2.0, OIDC, and WS-Fed protocols. Base SSO starts at $2/user/month, or $6/user/month for the Starter Suite that bundles SSO with MFA and universal directory. Its unmatched integration breadth makes it the top choice for organizations with complex app environments.
Our Rankings
Okta
Okta leads with the broadest SSO integration catalog at 7,000+ pre-built connectors. Base SSO starts at $2/user/month, with the Starter Suite at $6/user/month bundling SSO, MFA, and directory. Its deep support for SAML 2.0, OIDC, and WS-Fed makes it the most versatile option for enterprises with diverse app ecosystems.
- Strong integration with Excel and other tools
- Reliable platform with regular updates
- Responsive customer support
- Steeper learning curve for full feature adoption
OneLogin
OneLogin offers the most affordable SSO entry point at $2/user/month with a clean, intuitive admin portal. The Advanced bundle at $4/user/month adds directory integration and MFA. Its one-click app connectors and SmartFactor adaptive authentication (available at $10/user/month in the Expert plan) make it a strong runner-up for organizations that want simplicity without sacrificing security.
- Strong integration with Excel and other tools
- Competitive pricing for the feature set
- User-friendly interface and quick onboarding
- May lack some advanced features of competitors
Ping Identity
Ping Identity's PingOne for Workforce Essential plan at $3/user/month includes centralized SSO, MFA, and directory services. It excels in hybrid environments that mix on-premises and cloud apps, and its Plus tier at $6/user/month adds adaptive and passwordless authentication for organizations moving toward zero-trust.
- Strong integration with Excel and other tools
- Reliable platform with regular updates
- Responsive customer support
- May lack some advanced features of competitors
Auth0
Reliable platform with strong core features and competitive pricing. Offers good value for teams looking for a proven solution with responsive support and regular product updates.
- Intuitive user interface
- Strong customer support
- Competitive pricing model
- Fewer integrations than market leaders
JumpCloud
Reliable platform with strong core features and competitive pricing. Offers good value for teams looking for a proven solution with responsive support and regular product updates.
- Intuitive user interface
- Strong customer support
- Competitive pricing model
- Fewer integrations than market leaders
Evaluation Criteria
- SSO integration breadth
- Ease of setup and deployment
- Directory support and sync
- Protocol and connector coverage
How We Picked These
We evaluated 5 products (last researched 2026-01-30).
Total cost including hidden fees, implementation, and support
Depth and breadth of core functionality for this use case
Learning curve, setup time, and user experience
API access, native integrations, and ecosystem
Documentation, training resources, and customer service responsiveness
Frequently Asked Questions
01 How much does IAM SSO cost per user in 2026?
IAM SSO pricing ranges from $2 to $11 per user per month in 2026. OneLogin and Okta offer the lowest entry points at $2/user/month for standalone SSO. JumpCloud's SSO plan costs $11/user/month but includes MFA, lifecycle management, and a password manager. Bundled plans that include directory sync and MFA typically run $4-$6/user/month across providers.
02 What is the SSO tax and how does it affect IAM costs?
The SSO tax refers to the premium that SaaS vendors charge customers to enable SSO integration, often locking SAML and SCIM support behind their highest-priced tiers. This can significantly increase your total cost of ownership beyond the IAM platform fee itself. For example, while Okta SSO costs $2/user/month, a connected SaaS app may charge $10-$50 more per user for the plan that supports SAML SSO.
03 Which IAM provides the most SSO app integrations?
Okta has the largest SSO integration catalog with over 7,000 pre-built connectors in the Okta Integration Network (OIN). OneLogin offers 6,000+ app connectors, and JumpCloud provides a comprehensive SAML-based catalog covering major SaaS apps including Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, AWS, and Salesforce. Ping Identity and Auth0 offer more focused connector libraries geared toward enterprise and developer use cases respectively.
04 Can I use IAM SSO for both cloud and on-premises applications?
Yes, most IAM providers support hybrid SSO across cloud and on-premises apps. Ping Identity is particularly strong here, with deep roots in on-premises identity federation. Okta supports on-prem apps through its Access Gateway agent. JumpCloud connects to LDAP-based on-premises resources in addition to cloud SAML apps. OneLogin offers Secure Tunneling for on-premises web apps without requiring VPN access.
05 Can I switch identity and access management platforms later?
Yes, but data migration can be complex and time-consuming. Most platforms offer CSV export and some provide migration assistance or APIs. Plan for 2-4 weeks of transition time and test thoroughly before switching.
06 What hidden costs should I watch for?
Common hidden costs include setup/onboarding fees, data migration services, training and professional services, premium support plans, additional users beyond base tier, API access, storage overages, and feature add-ons.
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