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Head-to-head · Passkey Authentication Software

Descope vs Hanko

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score Descope #4 in Passkey Authentication Software 8.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 4 features Visit Descope
Hanko #5 in Passkey Authentication Software 8.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 4 features Visit Hanko

Descope leads on 0 checks, Hanko on 1, and 2 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreDescope · 8.8/10
  • Lowest starting priceHanko · $29/mo
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresDescope · 1 of 4

Descope scores higher on our rubric for passkey authentication software: 8.8 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #5.

Hanko is cheaper to start at $29/user/mo against $249/user/mo.

Descope is the better fit for large teams needing complete identity orchestration. Hanko is the better fit for developers needing flexible passkey authentication.

  • Descope fits best

    Large teams needing complete identity orchestration

  • Hanko fits best

    Developers needing flexible passkey authentication

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Side by side

Feature Descope 8.8/10 Visit ↗ Hanko 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.8 8.6
Ranking #4 in Passkey Authentication Software #5 in Passkey Authentication Software
Best for Large teams needing complete identity orchestration Developers needing flexible passkey authentication
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free plan + paid
Starting price $249/mo $29/mo (best)
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Mobile Cloud, Self-hosted, Mobile
Platforms Web, iOS, Android Web, iOS, Android
Features Descope 1/4 · Hanko 0/4
Mobile SDKs Not checked yet Not checked yet
Workforce authentication Not checked yet Not checked yet
Directory sync ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Authentication policies Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Deployment model Not checked yet Not checked yet
Passkey types Not checked yet Not checked yet
Included monthly users Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Passkeys, MFA, SSO, SCIM, and adaptive authentication in one platform
  • Visual flow builder plus user, tenant, role, and permission management
  • Web, iOS, Android, API access with major identity and business connectors
  • WebAuthn passkeys plus passwords, social login, SSO, and MFA
  • Web, iOS, Android, API, cloud, private cloud, and self-hosted coverage
  • Open-source Starter plan with 10,000 monthly active users and 2 projects
Cons
  • Pro and Growth pricing is billed annually
  • Free Forever is limited to 7,500 monthly active users and 10 tenants
  • Advanced enterprise capabilities require custom pricing
  • SAML SSO costs $49/month per connection on Pro
  • Pro pricing starts at $29/month before usage above 10,000 users
  • Enterprise features include volume discounts but no published starting price
Our verdict

Descope is a customer identity and access management platform for developers building B2C and B2B applications. It brings together passwordless authentication with passkeys, magic links, and OTP; MFA and step-up authentication; SSO; tenant…

Read the review →

Hanko is an open-source authentication and user management platform for developers and organizations building customer-facing web and mobile applications. Passkeys using WebAuthn are central, while email passcodes, social login, OAuth…

Read the review →
  1. DescopePasskey Authentication Software 8.8Free plan
  2. HankoPasskey Authentication Software 8.6Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Descope — where it wins

    • Passkeys, MFA, SSO, SCIM, and adaptive authentication in one platform
    • Visual flow builder plus user, tenant, role, and permission management
    • Web, iOS, Android, API access with major identity and business connectors

    Where it doesn't

    • Pro and Growth pricing is billed annually
    • Free Forever is limited to 7,500 monthly active users and 10 tenants
    • Advanced enterprise capabilities require custom pricing

  • Hanko — where it wins

    • WebAuthn passkeys plus passwords, social login, SSO, and MFA
    • Web, iOS, Android, API, cloud, private cloud, and self-hosted coverage
    • Open-source Starter plan with 10,000 monthly active users and 2 projects

    Where it doesn't

    • SAML SSO costs $49/month per connection on Pro
    • Pro pricing starts at $29/month before usage above 10,000 users
    • Enterprise features include volume discounts but no published starting price

More comparisons

All passkey authentication software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update