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Head-to-head · Customer Identity and Access Management Software

Amazon Cognito vs WSO2 Identity Server

  • Updated Sep 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 1 check side by side
Higher score Amazon Cognito #1 in Customer Identity and Access Management Software 8.9/10 Free plan · paid from $0.01/user/mo Free plan✓ 0 of 6 features Visit Amazon Cognito
WSO2 Identity Server #8 in Customer Identity and Access Management Software 6.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 6 features Visit WSO2

Amazon Cognito leads on 0 checks, WSO2 Identity Server on 0, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 1 yes/no, price and count check where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreAmazon Cognito · 8.9/10
  • Free planboth

Amazon Cognito scores higher on our rubric for customer identity and access management software: 8.9 against 6.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #8.

Amazon Cognito is the better fit for AWS-native apps building customer authentication. WSO2 Identity Server is the better fit for teams needing open-source, self-hosted CIAM breadth.

  • Amazon Cognito fits best

    AWS-native apps building customer authentication

  • WSO2 Identity Server fits best

    Teams needing open-source, self-hosted CIAM breadth

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you click some links. It never changes our verdict. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Amazon Cognito 8.9/10 Visit ↗ WSO2 Identity Server 6.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.9 6.6
Ranking #1 in Customer Identity and Access Management Software #8 in Customer Identity and Access Management Software
Best for AWS-native apps building customer authentication Teams needing open-source, self-hosted CIAM breadth
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free
Starting price Not published Not published
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Mobile Self-hosted
Integrations 13 integrations 5 integrations
Features Amazon Cognito 0/6 · WSO2 Identity Server 0/6
Customer SSO Not published Not published
Social login Not published Not published
Adaptive authentication Not published Not published
Passkeys Not published Not published
Consent management Not published Not published
Customer profiles Not published Not published
Our review
Pros
  • Supports OAuth 2.0, OIDC, SAML, social sign-in, MFA, and passkeys
  • Identity pools issue temporary AWS credentials for resource access
  • Lite starts at $0.0055 per monthly active user, with a qualifying free tier
  • Supports OAuth, OpenID Connect, and SAML 2.0 for SSO and federation
  • Includes adaptive authentication and multiple MFA methods
  • Connects to LDAP, Active Directory, JDBC, and SCIM 2.0
Cons
  • Developer-oriented service rather than a standalone workforce directory
  • Advanced threat protection and adaptive authentication require Plus
  • Free-tier eligibility and allowances vary by account and region
  • Self-hosted deployment calls for developer and administrator involvement
  • Its platform options center on self-hosted software and APIs
  • The self-hosted edition's pricing is not clearly laid out
Our verdict

Amazon Cognito provides customer identity services for web, iOS, Android, and API applications. Its user pools manage local accounts and authentication, while identity pools can issue temporary AWS credentials for access to AWS resources.…

Read the review →

WSO2 Identity Server is open-source identity and access management software for organizations building customer, workforce, partner, and API access systems. It is designed for developers and administrators who need control over deployment…

Read the review →
  1. Amazon CognitoCustomer Identity and Access Management Software 8.9Free plan · paid from $0.01/user/mo
  2. WSO2 Identity ServerCustomer Identity and Access Management Software 6.6Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Amazon Cognito — where it wins

    • Supports OAuth 2.0, OIDC, SAML, social sign-in, MFA, and passkeys
    • Identity pools issue temporary AWS credentials for resource access
    • Lite starts at $0.0055 per monthly active user, with a qualifying free tier

    Where it doesn't

    • Developer-oriented service rather than a standalone workforce directory
    • Advanced threat protection and adaptive authentication require Plus
    • Free-tier eligibility and allowances vary by account and region

  • WSO2 Identity Server — where it wins

    • Supports OAuth, OpenID Connect, and SAML 2.0 for SSO and federation
    • Includes adaptive authentication and multiple MFA methods
    • Connects to LDAP, Active Directory, JDBC, and SCIM 2.0

    Where it doesn't

    • Self-hosted deployment calls for developer and administrator involvement
    • Its platform options center on self-hosted software and APIs
    • The self-hosted edition's pricing is not clearly laid out
  • Amazon Cognito8.9/10 · Free plan · paid from $0.01/user/mo

    A usage-priced CIAM service with deep AWS integration and flexible authentication options.

    Visit Amazon CognitoFull verdict →
  • WSO2 Identity Server6.6/10 · Free plan

    A self-hosted CIAM option with broad authentication, federation, and provisioning capabilities.

    Visit WSO2Full verdict →

More comparisons

All customer identity and access management software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Guides on customer identity and access management software

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026

Last updated · How we research and update