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Head-to-head · Authentication Software

Amazon Cognito vs PingOne

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 2 checks side by side
Higher score Amazon Cognito #4 in Authentication Software 8.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 2 features Visit Amazon Cognito
PingOne #8 in Authentication Software 8.2/10 30-day trial Free trial✓ 0 of 2 features Visit PingOne

Amazon Cognito leads on 2 checks, PingOne on 0, and 0 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 2 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreAmazon Cognito · 8.9/10
  • Lowest starting priceAmazon Cognito · $0.0055/user/mo
  • Free planonly Amazon Cognito
  • Free trialonly PingOne

Amazon Cognito scores higher on our rubric for authentication software: 8.9 against 8.2 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #8.

Amazon Cognito offers free plan; PingOne doesn't. Amazon Cognito is cheaper to start at $0.0055/user/mo against $3/user/mo.

Amazon Cognito is the better fit for applications built around AWS authentication. PingOne is the better fit for workforces needing adaptive SSO and provisioning.

  • Amazon Cognito fits best

    Applications built around AWS authentication

  • PingOne fits best

    Workforces needing adaptive SSO and provisioning

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Amazon Cognito 8.9/10 Visit ↗ PingOne 8.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.9 8.2
Ranking #4 in Authentication Software #8 in Authentication Software
Best for Applications built around AWS authentication Workforces needing adaptive SSO and provisioning
Pricing model Free plan + paid Paid
Starting price $0.0055/user/mo (best) $3/user/mo
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial — 30 days
Deployment Cloud, Mobile Cloud
Platforms Web, iOS, Android Web
Integrations 13 integrations 4 integrations
Features Amazon Cognito 0/2 · PingOne 0/2
Passkey sign-in Not checked yet Not checked yet
Directory sync Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Monthly active users Not checked yet Not checked yet
Auth protocols Not checked yet Not checked yet
MFA methods Not checked yet Not checked yet
Deployment Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Supports social sign-in, SAML and OIDC federation, and OAuth 2.0
  • Offers MFA and passwordless sign-in, including passkeys
  • Identity pools issue temporary credentials for AWS resource access
  • Supports SAML, OIDC, OAuth 2.0, and SCIM provisioning
  • Adds adaptive MFA, passwordless authentication, and risk-based access
  • Connects Microsoft 365, Active Directory, LDAP, Kerberos, and RADIUS
Cons
  • Developer-oriented service rather than a standalone workforce directory
  • Threat protection and adaptive authentication require the Plus plan
  • Usage-based monthly active user pricing can vary with adoption
  • Workforce pricing requires annual billing and a 5,000-user minimum
  • Customer Passwordless pricing requires contacting sales
  • Cloud-only deployment with email listed as the support channel
Our verdict

Amazon Cognito provides user directories, authentication, authorization, identity federation, and temporary AWS credentials for web and mobile applications. Its user pools support local accounts, hosted Managed Login pages, OAuth 2.0,…

Read the review →

PingOne is Ping Identity’s cloud identity platform for workforce and customer access. It combines single sign-on, directory services, an employee application portal, SaaS application access, and customer identity orchestration. Workforce…

Read the review →
  1. Amazon CognitoAuthentication Software 8.9Free plan
  2. PingOneAuthentication Software 8.230-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Amazon Cognito — where it wins

    • Supports social sign-in, SAML and OIDC federation, and OAuth 2.0
    • Offers MFA and passwordless sign-in, including passkeys
    • Identity pools issue temporary credentials for AWS resource access

    Where it doesn't

    • Developer-oriented service rather than a standalone workforce directory
    • Threat protection and adaptive authentication require the Plus plan
    • Usage-based monthly active user pricing can vary with adoption

  • PingOne — where it wins

    • Supports SAML, OIDC, OAuth 2.0, and SCIM provisioning
    • Adds adaptive MFA, passwordless authentication, and risk-based access
    • Connects Microsoft 365, Active Directory, LDAP, Kerberos, and RADIUS

    Where it doesn't

    • Workforce pricing requires annual billing and a 5,000-user minimum
    • Customer Passwordless pricing requires contacting sales
    • Cloud-only deployment with email listed as the support channel
  • Amazon Cognito8.9/10 · Free plan

    A developer-focused authentication service with AWS credentials, federation, and usage-based pricing.

    Visit Amazon CognitoFull verdict →
  • PingOne8.2/10 · 30-day trial

    Adaptive SSO, MFA, passwordless access, and provisioning for workforce and customer identities.

    Visit PingOneFull verdict →

More comparisons

All authentication software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update